As someone who doesn't hand out grades but rather assesses and has feedback discussions with students, I shudder at the word "weakness." I shudder at the thought of sharing a child's weaknesses with them based on a test. I shudder at the thought of pointing anything out as a weakness. Now, don't call me sentimental or foolhardy, but hear me out. I know that all of us have weaknesses, I know that we all have things that need work and time and dedication. And yet, how many of us soar to the challenge of overcoming a weakness when we are told those words exactly; this is a weakness for you?
Weakness tends to connotate something set in stone, a character trait that cannot be manipulated or changed. Weakness means that a child fails in an area, that this is their achilles heel that can slay the rest of their results. Weakness is everything opposite of strength. You tell a cild multiple times that math is their weakness and yes they will believe you. They will leave your classroom having resigned themselves to the fact that math is something they will never master, that it is a weakness, and totally out of their hands.
Why not flip the word on its head and tell them it is a challenge? Why not discuss with students how they are still developing in some areas and they should focus on conquering those? Why not be realistic but not demolish their learning? We all have things we need to focus on. We all have things/ideas/concepts that are not our strengths. And yet, when we choose to call them weaknesses we accept them as such. We are done fighting to change them and instead can hold up our badge of weakness and shrug, oh well, it is just my weakness.
Words have power, we know that, and the word "weakness" has so much power it can effectively slay a person. Let's use our words to build, to challenge, to be realistic but make it attainable. Let's not stop a child in their tracks.
Weakness tends to connotate something set in stone, a character trait that cannot be manipulated or changed. Weakness means that a child fails in an area, that this is their achilles heel that can slay the rest of their results. Weakness is everything opposite of strength. You tell a cild multiple times that math is their weakness and yes they will believe you. They will leave your classroom having resigned themselves to the fact that math is something they will never master, that it is a weakness, and totally out of their hands.
Why not flip the word on its head and tell them it is a challenge? Why not discuss with students how they are still developing in some areas and they should focus on conquering those? Why not be realistic but not demolish their learning? We all have things we need to focus on. We all have things/ideas/concepts that are not our strengths. And yet, when we choose to call them weaknesses we accept them as such. We are done fighting to change them and instead can hold up our badge of weakness and shrug, oh well, it is just my weakness.
Words have power, we know that, and the word "weakness" has so much power it can effectively slay a person. Let's use our words to build, to challenge, to be realistic but make it attainable. Let's not stop a child in their tracks.
