IF YOU CALL THEM LOW, YOU’LL TEACH THEM LOW. No educator has ever referred to a student as ‘low’ and expected him to learn at high levels. Have an honest conversation with yourself. What marginalizing labels are currently used to define your students? Many educators may scoff at the “low” label, but instead of eliminating it, they replace it with more palatable yet equally damaging terms like: - cusp kids - trailer-park kids - apartment kids - kids from that side of town - Title I kids - struggling learners - minorities - poor kids You cannot have a culture of learning for all while some students receive below-grade-level instruction year-round. Your students know when you believe they’re dumb, even if you never say it. Thomas Good’s research shows that teacher expectations create a significant difference in interactions based on whether students are perceived as high or low-performing. Students perceived as low-performing: - are criticized more for failure - are praised less - receive less feedback - are called on less often - are seated farther from the teacher - have less eye contact - experience fewer friendly interactions - have their ideas accepted less often Smith et al. call this a “chilly” classroom climate, in which some students feel their presence is at best peripheral, and at worst, an unwelcome intrusion. How can we expect the best from students when they receive these messages daily? Lowering expectations because your heart hurts for a student’s situation turns them into charity cases and your instruction into a favor. This is the worst message you can send, and it can cripple them for life. Teacher expectations are the primary determinant of student success. We need to challenge the notion that teachers only account for fifteen percent of student learning outcomes. The work begins by discovering students’ strengths and gifts, a practice often overlooked for students labeled as ‘low.’ We cannot allow labels to determine student destiny." 💡 Reflection: How are the labels we use shaping our students’ futures? Let’s ensure every student has the opportunity to thrive. Excerpt from Ruthless Equity: Disrupt the Status Quo and Ensure Learning for All Students by Ken Williams @unfoldthesoul #RuthlessEquity #HighExpectations #StudentSuccess #EquityInEducation #TeacherImpact