Use Your Words examines the ways early childhood teachers talk to children, pointing out commonly missed opportunities to support cognitive development, develop receptive and expressive language, and aid children in their primary developmental task of making sense of the world. From the author of Theories of Childhood, this humorous and thoughtful guide contains a wealth of classroom examples, as well as clear alternatives for transforming the language teachers use in the classroom.

"When Sophie's new sister won't stop crying, only two-year-old Sophie can communicate with her, even if she isn't using her words as her parents want her to"--

USE YOUR WORDS introduces the art of creative nonfiction to women who want to give written expression to their lives as mothers. Written by award-winning teacher and writer, Kate Hopper, this book will help women find the heart of their writing, learn to use motherhood as a lens through which to write the world, and turn their motherhood stories into art. Each chapter of USE YOUR WORDS focuses on an element of craft and contains a lecture, a published essay, and writing exercises that will serve as jumping-off points for the readers’ own writing. Chapter topics include: the importance of using concrete details, an overview of creative nonfiction as a genre, character development, voice, humor, tense and writing the “hard stuff,” reflection and back-story, structure, revision, and publishing. The content of each lecture is aligned with the essay/poem in that chapter to help readers more easily grasp the elements of craft being discussed. Together the chapters provide a unique opportunity for mother writers to learn and grow as writers. USE YOUR WORDS takes the approach that creative writing can be taught, and this underscores each chapter. When students learn to read like writers, to notice how a piece is put together, and to question the choices a writer makes, they begin to think like writers. When they learn to ground their writing in concrete, sensory details and begin to understand how to create believable characters and realistic dialogue, their own writing improves. USE YOUR WORDS reflects Kate’s style as a teacher, guiding the reader in a straightforward, nurturing, and passionate voice. As one student noted in a class evaluation: “Kate is a born writer and teacher, and her enthusiasm for essays about motherhood and for teaching the nuts and bolts of writing so that ordinary mothers have the tools to write their stories is a gift to the world. She is raising the value of motherhood in our society as she helps mothers build their confidence and strengthen their game as writers.”

Kitty-Kat is a good kitten, but she doesn't use her words. She points, growls, stamps and scowls, but she doesn't say what she wants!

We often lack the words to describe experiences that occur in ethically nonmonogamous relationships. Monogamous experiences have shaped the language that we use to describe situations and feelings in romantic relationships. In Use Your Words Stephanie K. Webb has unveiled an innovative approach for creating a new language in romantic relationships. Her ideas have an impact on our lexical options as she explores ways in which ethically nonmonogamous people can create new language, manipulate existing metaphors, and communicate in a way that is both effective and elicits empathy in their partners.

Want to write? Got a memoir, novel, screenplay or blog in your back drawer? Need to get ‘unstuck’? This is the magic pill you’ve been looking for. In Use Your Words writer and comedian Catherine Deveny reveals the secrets that have made her ‘Gunnas’ Writing Masterclasses sell-out successes around the country. With humour and passion, she explains the struggles all writers face and reveals how to overcome them. Whether you’re already published or just starting out, writing for others or purely for self-expression, Use Your Words has the tips, tricks, techniques and honest truths to get you writing. You’ll learn how creativity is like a vending machine, how writing is like a magnet and how not to die with your light inside you. Wait no longer – smash through procrastination and fear and get those words on the page. ‘Everyone has a book in them. Before you write yours, however, read this. It’s brilliant. The world will thank you.’ —Clare Bowditch ‘Finally the truth about writing! Buy this book if you want to get the job done.’ —Chrissie Swan ‘An insightful, funny, honest how-to, go-do, firecracker-up-you bible for the emerging and established author alike. Buy it, read it, and WRITE.’ —Maxine Beneba Clarke ‘Catherine Deveny’s no-nonsense attitude and comedic genius make learning fun. If you’ve always wanted to write but never thought you could, banish those thoughts right now.’ —Clementine Ford ‘As practical and profane as the woman who wrote it.’ —Benjamin Law ‘The most readable book on writing ever written.’ —Dee Madigan

Children's feelings and emotions are strong, but smaller children can feel helpless without the ability to identify or articulate many of these feelings. Use-Your-Words Feeling Books feature storylines that help build emotional language skills, complete with interactive facial expressions to enhance children's understanding of others' emotions.