" The Power of Teacher Talk exemplifies an ethos of love; a respect for the dignity and worth of all students that empowers teachers to seek meaningful interactions during the informal moments that frame their professional setting. Yet, The Power of Teacher Talk does far more express this ethos. Bieler’s work expresses a more equity-oriented pedagogy and demonstrates how teachers and teacher preparation programs can take steps to align their actions in ways that value students and their lived experiences."
—Teachers College Record
“(Bieler) offers us hope, compassion, and—crucially—manageable, concrete actions toward equity-oriented ELA classes.”
—English Journal
“I could not put it down. Instantly, I was drawn to her firsthand depictions of the four equity-oriented, justice-committed public high school English teachers she features. Thank you, Deb, for providing me an opportunity to learn with the teachers and students with whom you collaborated. Thank you for this beautiful, rich, and powerful text!”
—From the Foreword by Valerie Kinloch, Renée and Richard Goldman Dean and Professor, School of Education, University of Pittsburgh
"In an era ruled by technocratic logics and high-stakes testing, The Power of Teacher Talk wisely turns our attention to student interactions as a rich site of teacher work. Through careful research and rigorous analysis, Bieler enhances and complicates our understanding of how interactions can (and should) operate in everyday schooling practices. She also persuasively demonstrates that such interactions are key to creating more effective, engaging, and justice-centered educational environments. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding and improving life in schools."
—Marc Lamont Hill, professor, media and urban education, Temple University; and author of Beats, Rhymes, and Classroom Life
"The Power of Teacher Talk is an indispensable resource for new and practicing teachers alike. Deborah Bieler demonstrates that social justice education is more than the content of a curriculum; it is the daily interactions between students and teachers that build relationships and empower students to reach their full potential. Steeped in practical research and teacher stories, Bieler provides a roadmap for how to create the kind of loving and critical spaces where students thrive because they feel visible and valued."
—Linda Christensen, director, Oregon Writing Project at Lewis & Clark College; editor, Rethinking Schools
"This is an incredibly important, urgent, and compelling topic and Bieler clearly establishes her authority as well as her part in the ongoing conversations about new teacher burnout and student dropout."
—Jeffrey Wilhelm, Boise State University
