Thread by @TeachMrReed

When I was going to 5th grade, I heard my 4th grade teacher tell my new one to “Watch out for this kid.” That following school year, I sensed a target on my back, all because of what my old teacher told my new one. At 9 yrs old, I felt like I was guilty before I’d done anything.

No matter what good I did that 5th grade year, I could tell that my teacher still always viewed me as “the troublemaker.” I was never given the chance to prove myself as a good student—again, because my 4th grade teacher told my story for me, instead of letting me tell it.

Thankfully, I cared more about what my mom thought of me, and of how I viewed myself, than about how I appeared to my 4th & 5th grade teachers. I wasn’t the perfect student, but even then, I knew I was no “troublemaker,” or one to “watch out for.” #KnowYourWorth

17 years later, and now I’M the 5th grade teacher. Being new to the school, I have no idea about any of my incoming students, so many of the teachers (who are genuinely trying to be helpful), tell me the 411 on each kid, and offer their opinions on their behavior & performance.

Right before the school year begins, one of my scholars asks me: “Have you heard all the bad things about me?”

I stretch the truth a bit and say, “Not really.” Then I follow up with, “I actually don’t care what others have to say about you. What do YOU want me to know?”

As someone who had probably experienced YEARS of old teachers telling her new ones to “watch out for her,” this scholar lit up at my offer to listen to her tell her story in her own way. She began rattling off every positive thing about herself she could think of! It was awesome!

Though we had a touching moment then, that doesn’t mean everything went perfectly 😂 . That scholar and I had a roughhh year 🙃🙃🙃, but only because of what she chose to do or say in class—NOT because of some perception I’d gotten of her from what others had said about her.

This is why giving people the time, space, and opportunity to tell their own story is so important! It’s not fair to someone if we only listen to the narrative another person paints of them. Instead, let’s give people their own canvas, palette, and brush, and watch them work.