EdSpeak

Book excerpt: Have you ever heard of Suggestopedia? Do you know what a gallery walk is? How about the difference between a stem and a foil? Maybe you don't think it's necessary to know these education terms. Diane Ravitch thinks otherwise. Education, like most professions, has its own unique vocabulary that is often unfamiliar to outsiders. But unlike those of other professions, Ravitch contends, the language of education must be clear and intelligible to all. Because education in large part determines the future of our society, economy, and culture, it's crucial that education issues be understood by the general public. And to understand the issues, we need to understand the specialized language used in the field. In this book, Ravitch demystifies the often-obscure and ever-changing lingo of the education field. With more than 500 entries, EdSpeak translates what Ravitch refers to as the "strange tongue" of pedagogese into plain English, adding historical context and lively commentary along the way. This glossary will serve as a valuable resource both for veteran educators who need to stay abreast of newly emerging terminology and for newcomers to the profession--be they teachers, administrators, parents, students, or just citizens who care about what happens in the classroom.