Oftentimes, one of our greatest mistakes as teachers is that we set our expectations too low for our students. We buy into the image they are projecting as the sullen teen or the “cool” middle schooler or the trouble-making 4th grader, and we give up the fight to call them into their natural giftings. Sometimes, we unconsciously label them and put them into a category which says that they will only reach this level of achievement and, though we would never admit it, we determine from outer appearances that perhaps they won’t be “easy to teach.”
And, thus, we stop looking, seeking, treasure-hunting for the undiscovered talent, the beauty each student has to offer the world. And make no mistake about it, our students understand our opinions of them, and more often than not, they rise to our expectations, however high or low they may be.
But, sometimes, sometimes, we as educators taste surprise of the greatest kind. Despite the world’s low opinion or even our own unfortunate cycnicsm, we get to witness a student rising to an occasion with shocking talent. It’s the shy girl who lands the lead role in the school play. It’s the kid with learning disabilities who is a genius at the piano. It’s the boy with autism who lands six three-pointers at the end of a game.
Or, in the adult world, it’s an opera star wowing a jeering, eye-rolling crowd. {Remember Susan Boyles? Watch the surprise she gave the world here.}
And, so, teaching-friend, may this weekend find you hopeful again, expectant once more in your teaching career and in each of your students. May you commit to destroying the subtle stereotypes and may you become a bit of a treasure-seeker, yourself.
- Laura blogs at aLifeOverseas.
