"Student potential is like an iceberg," writes Carol Ann Tomlinson and coauthor Edwin Lou Javius in the February issue of Educational Leadership. "Most of it is obscured from view." This "obscuring" of potential can be especially dangerous when it comes to low-income and racially and linguistically diverse students. Teachers may unwittingly fall into the trap of underestimating students whose potential they don't immediately see.
In their article, "Teach Up for Excellence," Tomlinson and Javius tackle the real issue head-on: equal access to excellence. They contend that through "high trust, high expectations, and a high-support environment," teachers can access all students' hidden potential and give all students the opportunity to flourish.
It's a matter of developing the skill—and the will—to do so. The authors suggest seven principles that will guide you on your way:
- Accept that human differences are not only normal, but also desirable.
- Develop a growth mind-set.
- Work to understand students' cultures, interests, needs, and perspectives.
- Create a base of rigorous learning opportunities.
- Understand that students come to the classroom with varied points of entry into a curriculum and move through it at different rates.
- Create flexible classroom routines and procedures that attend to learner needs.
- Be an analytical practitioner.
How many of these do you follow in your classroom?
