Last week I was chatting with Autumn about how fabulous my students are--a favorite topic of mine. I started talking about Jose. He is what some might call "trouble-with a capital T." However, I've tried to see him as he truly is--funny, energetic and thriving for structure in his life. We've butted heads throughout this year, however, I've really tried to follow the counsel to "reprove betimes with sharpness...and then showing forth afterwards an increase in love." I've been so pleased to see him really mature and become motivated about learning in the past few months. I don't do this to toot my own horn, but to show how powerful an influence expectations can be for children. I've told him and my other students that they are my "little mathematicians", "my inquisitive scientists" and "my famous authors". I'm always amazed (for good or bad) at how my perspective of my student not only affects my attitude towards them, but also how they begin to perceive themselves.
I then started thinking deeper about what beliefs I've seen manifested in myself because of other's expectations/beliefs about me. A small one comes to mind when I think about a choreographer I've worked with who always tells me that I'm a dancer. You know, after hearing that for weeks on end, I've started to believe it. I know I'm not a great one, but I also know I can do it.
So here's the question for you--what are your beliefs and expectations about those around you and how do you share them? It's crazy to think that we have such influence on someone's perspective and the development of their character. But, we do. I've seen it.
