ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the authors develop a strong rationale for why all teachers at every grade level and every subject area should be implementing elevated language throughout the instructional day as well as outside the instructional day. The authors will underscore the importance of empowering students by using teacher talk in order to be career and college ready. In addition, the authors will discuss the amount of formal academic language in textbooks; therefore, students need to have a strong working vocabulary. The authors will provide examples from the field of teaching, highlighting the importance of using robust vocabulary while interacting with students and how this, in turn, provides an equitable education for all students. As experienced English language development teachers, the authors recognize the benefits of using diverse language and implore others to do the same. The chapter concludes by giving the readers an opportunity to reflect on their current use of elevated language throughout their day.
