# Chateau de la Tobler

## Tuesday, December 16, 2008

### Labels

As I have about 10 minutes free time right now (free time meaning I am choosing to write as opposed to grading papers, writing lesson plans, doing my laundry, or fixing dinner) I will add a quick update to the blog.
One: I think Mom ought to paint an intricately detailed world map on her ceiling that way when it's late at night and she's reading or watching t.v. and needs to look up a location, she can simply shine a high powered flashlight above her and find whatever information she needs on her ceiling. Michelangelo- eat your heart out.
Jenafer- about your question- as with most things in life, there is no easy answer because the answer, in my opinion, is both yes and no and here is why? Actually- in my quick ten minutes I cannot give you an adequate answer. I believe it is true that part of our ability to perform is based on expectations- whether you are a child or an adult. I guess it depends on where your expectations come from. Some people get their expectations from a label (gifted, learning difficultly, smart, dumb etc.) For some people in the world- this is the only expectation they know.
A statement I have heard in my classroom often is, "Well, she's in Tag (Talented and Gifted)," when a Tag student gives a correct response to a question. I hate it because it seems to preclude that another students (not in Tag) could have come up with that same correct answer. It almost seems to exclude the "non" Tag student from even trying to find out the answer. In addition- it does not credit the Tag student for any research or work of his/her own to find the answer, as if he/she was born with the correct response, that it required the no effort on his/her part to find the correct answer. I think labels used in that manner demean both students in their efforts and abilities.
On the other hand, there has to be some way to understand a student's ability and learning styles so we (as teachers) can challenge that student so they can both grow and succeed- both the "TAG" students and the "LD" students (learning difficulties). It is a tough tight rope.
On the third hand- isn't it great, though, when our expectations can come from somewhere totally different- The Lord. Not that this doesn't exempt us from labels from the world- but it does allows us to put those "labels" in the correct framework to use or discard as needed to complete the work the Lord has sent us here for.
Goodness- look at the time. I need to get out of here and I haven't read this over to proofread it. I hope it makes some sense. Love you all and Merry Christmas!!!
LaDale

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