Is it how many are right, or how many are wrong?

Dear Reader,

Sometimes we have to reach back into our memories, and think about our own experiences as a reader? Did we love it, or was reading a chore? How did we perform in school?

My oldest son, is preparing to go off to college next year and he was asking me about my experiences taking those dreaded ACT. I forgot that I refused to take them, and he was shocked that I would be so defiant. You see, I am an advocate for education and my diploma has the Magna Cum Laude inscribed, of course I must do well, therefore my test scores should be high. Who knows? Of course his next question would be why?

You see when I was in elementary school, I was not considered to be the best student. I struggled because our primary language was Spanish, and I was enrolled in an American school system. However, my mother made me feel as if I was the brightest student ever. She would always applaude my efforts, and would tell me that at least I answered half the questions right, instead of 50% F :( I loved to see myself through her rose colored glasses, and I think the key is that she still continues to believe in me to this day. She never doubted the fact that I would not do well in school, and always had those high expectations. Yes, I took the longer path by having to enroll in a junior college and take extra classes that helped me tremendously.

I think that as parents and teachers, we need to have those high expectations for our children. Yes, we do expect them to learn, but in their own way and time. They are all superstars, and that number that we place on them does not define who they are. Instead we need to teach to their strengths, knowing that in time they will learn and reach their potential, celebrating what they do well.

-Maria Creighton