Ways with Words: Language, Life and Work in Communities and Classrooms

by Shirley Brice Heath

Ways with Words is a classic study of children learning to use language at home and at school in two communities only a few miles apart in the south-eastern United States. 'Roadville' is a white working-class community of families steeped for generations in the life of textile mills; 'Trackton' is an African-American working-class community whose older generations grew up farming the land, but whose existent members work in the mills. In tracing the children's language development the author shows the deep cultural differences between the two communities, whose ways with words differ as strikingly from each other as either does from the pattern of the townspeople, the 'mainstream' blacks and whites who hold power in the schools and workplaces of the region. Employing the combined skills of ethnographer, social historian, and teacher, the author raises fundamental questions about the nature of language development, the effects of literacy on oral language habits, and the sources of communication problems in schools and workplaces.

Genres: Education, Nonfiction, Academic, Linguistics, Ethnography, Professional Development, Language

450 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 7, 1983

Reviews

[J-Lynn Van Pelt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an amazing example of qualitative research. Heath was in the field for 11 years and gathered an unbelievable amount of data from two very different communities in the south--one White and one African American. She observed differences in the use and exposure to language by the children of the communities and then went into classrooms and observed how the differences impacted children during schooling. Her extensive work is to be praised and this book makes all the labor very accessible and enjoyable.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I found this book extraordinarily informative on how language, reading, and writing acquisition occurs in young children, and how it gets messed up if it’s not addressed the same way at school, the book and research is considered outdated at this point.

Heath’s ethnographic expertise is immeasurable. She dedicated several years of observation in the Piedmont south of South Carolina to analyze two very distinct communities, Rodaville and Trackton, who all go to a school located in a more “appropriate” town nearby with students who are more prepared for learning in a school setting. She sets out to prove that despite the racial differences in the two communities, neither provided preschool children with the skills needed in school. This historically caused failures, dropouts, and countdown timers in their youth to leave school and to lock themselves in a workforce with a lower socioeconomic status quo than they are capable of.

The research herein has merit and certainly holds some insight for educators, parents, and even people generally interested in literacy acquisition, but it is outdated. Not a fault of the researcher or the research, but the reader should take this all with a grain of very large salt. It is still rife with helpful, thoughtful, and incredibly in-depth knowledge.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book covers a researcher who goes in to two rural communities, literally on either side of the tracks. One is predominantly white, the other black. The researcher looks at how children learn to speak, read and write before considering the wider implications on teaching and learning.
Fascinating study.

[Baily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic ethnographic study, centered around language acquisition between two different communities. A bit slow in the beginning (and admittedly dense to get through if language acquisition and literacy are not your forte) but it was definitely a better read than I thought it would be. A solid choice for language and literacy educators particularly.

[Elizabeth Braden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book 20 years ago and I wanted to read it again. It is a wonderful book about three different communities and how they learn. The comparisons of these communities were amazing and full of lots of examples. I would highly recommend this book if you want to learn more about learning in these communities, how the children learn at home and then how they learn at school and beyond.

[Tabitha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating look at literacy practices in two different Southern communities, and the impact these contrasting practices have on children’s success at school. Would highly recommend to anyone interested in education, language socialization, or issues of inequality.

[Sarah Hanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intriguing qualitative research that focuses on development of literacies connected to the power of community norms. My book is rife with bookmarks to return back to while thinking of my students’ literate identities.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this year's ago. Remembering it as I start to read Hillbilly Elegy. Family traditions, ways of speaking and being in the America that we don't usually read about.

[Edy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting look at children learning to use language at school and at home. Read it as part of the prep work I had to do to write a dissertation on bilingual education.

[Alexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in college after a professor recommended it. It's a wonderful eye opening book that shows daily life in physically close but culturally different communities.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful ethnographic study of the ways in which children use language in their homes and communities. I appreciated the rich, detailed description that the researcher gave of all three communities and their ways with words. It truly honored and respected their knowledge and the fact that it is not the quantity of language utilized, but rather the kind of language used.

The teachers in the study, also used ethnographic methods to study their ways with words and begin to realize that they, too, bring their ways to school. This enabled them to see their classrooms and students in new ways, providing bridges between the community ways with words and the school ways with words.

Rather than subtract the resources of the community, add to their ways with words and provide spaces for children to explore language and the way that language is used in different contexts.

This community work is close to my heart---and this study resonated with me in so many ways.

[Jonathan Brammer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brice Heath's ethnography of two commmunities in Piedmont South Carolina illuminates ways that culture influences language and literacy learning. Her conclusions show that schools cater to the success of "townspeople", students from middle class, educated backgrounds, while students from rural or blue collar communities fail and drop out at alarming rates. By training teachers to look at instructional strategies from an ethnographic standpoint, progress was made in student retention, engagement and performance. The ending is bittersweet because, as her study ends during the Reagan era there was a shift to federal mandates for student performance, which has reached absurd proportions today under "No Child Left Behind". A one-size-fits-all approach will never work in a country as diverse as the U.S.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was really impressed by this book. Shirley Brice Heath does excellent research in this accessible book. I loved reading about the different communities of Trackton and Roadville. Each community had a certain way of bringing up their children, and Brice Heath studied the way language developed among the children. It was very fascinating. I was even impressed by some of the teacher techniques mentioned later in the book. The very ending was slightly depressing, because it hints that teachers aren't given as much freedom in their creative teaching methods as they were in the past because of the restrictive standards implemented. That part was depressing as a future educator. However, the rest of the book overshadowed that detail, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I learned a lot and plan to implement some of my knowledge into my teaching. I highly recommend this work.

[Audra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have certain excerpts and sections of this book printed out from CU's online library. One in particular that any conscientious person, especially one who is planning on having children or just working with them, is a piece called "What No Bedtime Story Means". Heath describes the sociolinguistic teaching methods in an affluent West Virginia family, a lower middle class Appalachian family, and an African American family. What is discovered is crucial to every person's success in American schools; that if a child is not read to, and susequently taught that the two-dimensional thing in the story is a thing in the real world, that they will suffer the ill effects of what she refers to as "the inability to decontextualize". Seriously, read it if you care for humanity.

[JodyReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book for school, this one is the foundation for the type of research I'm doing -- looking into family literacy usage before school and how it mirrors (or does not mirror, as the case may be) how students are taught literacy in school. As it was published in the 1980s, it is obviously out-dated in some of the ways families behave -- like not using the telephone because it costs so much money. But, once Heath gets into the context of how language is used it does become informative. I can see how I speak to children is reflected in the ways that children are taught language. More importantly, I am beginning to understand how children's early lives effect how and what they learn in school.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another important book for teachers. Heath looks at the way people talk and the literary experiences we have growing up. It's important that those of us who teach in multicultural classrooms realize that talking differently than a "normal white middle class person" isn't talking wrong. And different families, cultures, classes (I could go on and on here) have experienced literature differently and, again, different literary experiences can be learned from, there is not one right way to experience literature.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic on how students' home lives and culture affect their experiences in school, starting on day one. All teachers should read this and adapt their curriculum accordingly. Probably not for those who don't work in education, anthropology, or sociology, since it could appear to be a very dry read. But for those who are interested in how one's sub-culture interacts with formal education, then it's necessary.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it long ago as part of my Rhetoric and Tech Com degree. Left a big impression and I continue to recall its lessons about the connection between literacy to both homelife and schooling whenever in a discussion of literacy. These lessons also extend to other home influences and do much to explain why some succeed and others don't. It has a lot to do with the fact that the institution of schooling favors certain dominant elements of society and presents obstacles to minorities.

[melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating ethnography of language acquisition in two North Carolina Piedmont communities in the 1970's. In a way, though, it's still relevant today, and I'm left wondering about the various ways students are learning language from their parents/communities and whether that does or does not align with the language I expect in my classroom. So much to think about! I'll be considering the kids in this book for a long time.

[Ann Yanchura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yes, it's a classic, but you could save yourself a lot of trouble and just read the epilogue. Heath's research project is unmatched in the field, and her detailed data is just that. I recommend the Cliff Notes version to learn some very important lessons about oral language and literacy development.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book really spoke to me. The mill workers of "Roadville" are my family and boy, did those descriptions ring true. Excellent explanations for why "poor kids" don't do well in school. It is a complete communication breakdown. But there are ways around it and this book is so helpful to show examples of how it can be done.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book fascinating. It is about how different cultures teach, learn, and value language and the consequences on education. I do not think this book would appeal to everyone and it did lend itself to repetition, but the insight and conclusions were revealing.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating read for teachers, but somewhat discouraging for those of us that work in the field of professional writing. If nothing else, it carries a strong message for parents to involve and engage children in reading- and writing-related activities in the home as often as possible.

[Krystin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting, well researched and still relevant today. Really opened my eyes to the differences created by culture in the way children act and expect to be treated. A little long and repetitive though.

[Marilee C-R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book to understand how communities rich languages and lived experiences are not always understand or used in schools to benefit all. I especially loved reading the rich language of African American communities.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thorough and thoughtful ethnography of how students/children in two social groups use language at home. It also addresses ways that teachers can use home literacy to build understanding, interest and competence.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in a terrific class, and it was a really helpful book for me. I've been meaning to reread it for a while though because I don't remember it as well as I'd like to.

[Ralls John]

went in to this gruding...shocker...but it turned into a very nice asssignment....wlll post more soon.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This ethnography is so interesting to read.

[anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

loooved this book. so interesting to read about the different ways children aquire language and how that affects their learning experience when they enter school. (i'm such a nerd.)