The Power of Teacher Talk: Promoting Equity and Retention Through Student Interactions

The Power of Teacher Talk investigates the connections between two persistent educational challenges: high numbers of students who drop out and of teachers who leave the profession.

Based on a study of thousands of daily interactions between new justice-oriented English teachers and their students, this book proposes that teachers who show a commitment to equity in their communications can positively affect student retention and are more likely to remain in the profession.

Deborah Bieler urges teachers to be aware of and intentional about the power of their interactions with students – in everything from their classroom décor and informal corridor chats to their responses to challenging moments during class and in after-class discussions.