My Teacher Thought I Was Smarter Than I Was…So I Was
This is one of my favorite education-related quotes. I’m not sure where it originated, but I believe it should be shown in every school.
It’s a quote by a 6-year-old that reads, “My teacher thought I was smarter than I was, so I was.”
These 12 words from a child resonate with me because they perfectly sum up the power of a teacher’s expectations. Teachers can change the way children think, feel, and act simply by influencing their perceptions of themselves. Children will live up to what we believe they can be, so everything from the expectations we have of them to the words and body language we use with them to the labels we give them matters.
And no one understands that better than me.
My Teachers’ Expectations of Me
In elementary school, I wondered why I was never invited to join the “smart” kids. In 8th grade, it was recommended I stay in the “average” math class instead of taking advanced math. I had good grades and I did all my work, yet I was never considered a part of the “advanced” group.
In high school, I was able to choose my own path. My parents encouraged me to sign up for honors and advanced classes. They knew I could handle the challenge, even though my test scores didn’t agree. In fact, I had to take the SAT seven times to get a score high enough for the colleges I applied to!
I’m thankful I had parents and teachers who never let me settle for average. I chose to enroll in advanced and honors courses. I didn’t let my average test scores from elementary and middle school limit my mindset because I had people in my life who believed I was above average.
At my high school graduation, I was the valedictorian of my class. I wasn’t necessarily the smartest student in my class, but I was a hard worker, always motivated to do my best and be above average. All because someone believed I was smarter than I was.
Seeing Past Labels
I tell you this story not to brag, but to shed light on the importance of seeing past labels. So many students in our schools aren’t afforded the opportunities that I was because they’re stuck with the labels our education system gives them. No one tells them they’re smart, that they’re leaders, that they should believe in themselves.
The troubling reality is that our current education system places too much emphasis on test scores. As a result, students are given labels that don’t necessarily define them: ADHD, BED, AIG, ADD, ODD, and so on.
We use labels in schools for reasons like funding, facilitating communication among teachers, and helping students with disabilities. However, they can also have a major harmful consequence:
They shape teachers’ expectations of their students.
Labels can lower teachers’ expectations, leading to low self-esteem in students. How many times have we expected less of a child because they had an IEP? The weaknesses of a child with an IEP or a behavior plan have already been determined by the teacher before that child ever walks into the classroom.
Now, how many times do we focus on the strengths of these students?
The problem with labels is that they often determine the type of education children should receive, which can limit their true potential. Based on my “average” label, I shouldn’t have enrolled in AP or honors courses in high school. I didn’t test well, but I was fully capable of doing the work at the advanced levels. I wasn’t stuck with my label, but many students aren’t as lucky as I was.
Changing Labels with Words
The language we use with our students is powerful. Tell children every day that they are intelligent, excellent leaders and it will start to sink in. Understanding you have high expectations of them will transform their mindset!
We need to stop labeling our students and instead use words of affirmation, success, and leadership to show them we expect the best from them.
I understand that students have different strengths and weaknesses. But every student has the potential to succeed at something. Not all of our students will go to college and become doctors and lawyers, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have the potential for greatness.
We need plumbers, electricians, construction workers, and painters. I don’t know about you, but I see the plumber who comes to my house as above average! He’s skilled in a craft that, to me, is advanced. Everyone is good at something; that’s why we should help all our students find their strengths, realize their intelligence, and embrace their true potential.
I’m no better at taking tests today than I was 25 years ago. But I am a good teacher. I’m smart, I’m a leader, and I never let a test define me.
Our language is powerful, so we need to understand how our students internalize it. How will you make your students feel smarter than they are? What are you doing to challenge labels in your school? What messages are your students internalizing? Are you labeling them without realizing?
Whatever you choose to do, remember that it will make a difference in their lives. Believe your students are smarter than they are, and they will be.
