All right friends, it’s time to slay some back-to-school myths!
Originally published August 1, 2023
Seasoned teachers know that we get a TON of bad advice from well-meaning colleagues, parents, and the general public. It’s important for teachers to critically evaluate advice we receive and look for evidence-based strategies on what actually works.
You want to use strategies that align with your teaching philosophy and the unique needs of your students.
I’ve seen too many toxic back-to-school myths about teaching, ones that all teachers must break away from in order to foster positive and effective learning environments, for you and for your students. Because with anything you do, your mindset is what will set you up for success.
Time to get straight with these myths!
Back-to-School Myth #1: “Don’t smile until Christmas”
This is sooo not true. In fact, it burns me up every time I hear it.
Strong teacher-student relationships are the foundation of effective classroom management. Students need to know you care about them and value them as people. Not smiling or building positive rapport for months is a great way to ensure that students believe you don’t care.
While setting boundaries and expectations is essential, building trust and rapport with students is equally crucial. Being overly authoritarian creates an adversarial relationship, which hinders student motivation and engagement in the classroom.
Effective classroom management involves establishing clear expectations and consistent routines, but it also incorporates warmth, empathy, and positive reinforcement.
If you hear anyone tell you this myth, they clearly don’t understand the importance of positive teacher-student relationships and how those relationships support important academic outcomes. They are likely trying to control rather than lead their classroom. Relying on punitive measures and being strict can lead to a negative and fear-driven classroom environment.
So don’t let anyone tell you that you have to be tough on your students from day one, and they’ll fall in line.
The truth:
Take the time to get to know students’ interests, backgrounds, and strengths and show them you care about them personally and academically. Building connections with students fosters trust and mutual respect, which helps you create a positive and inclusive classroom culture.
Back-to-School Myth #2: You must cover the entire curriculum, no matter what!
This one may be surprising. If you have ever participated in curriculum mapping, you know that we try to ensure students have exposure to all the required content over the year in order to meet academic standards.
However, effective teaching involves prioritizing essential concepts and ensuring students grasp foundational knowledge, even if it means adjusting the pace.
Rushing through the curriculum based on a one-size-fits-all timeline without ensuring students have gained proficiency in foundational concepts may result in superficial learning and gaps in understanding. Prioritizing depth in key concepts allows students to build a solid foundation and retain essential knowledge they can build on later.
Many teachers and administrators believe that completing the entire curriculum is necessary to prepare students for standardized tests and assessments. They may also be concerned that leaving out parts of the curriculum may lead to incomplete learning, leaving gaps in students’ knowledge.
While assessments are important, they are only one measure of student learning at one point in time. A comprehensive understanding of core concepts contributes to better performance on tests.
Effective teaching involves thoughtful selection and sequencing of content to ensure that foundational understanding before moving on the more complex topics. You can still cover critical content while allowing time for deeper exploration and understanding.
The truth:
Effective teaching goes beyond a rigid adherence to the entire curriculum. You have the expertise to make instructional decisions that meet each of your student’s unique needs.
Adapting the curriculum to suit the learning pace and style of your class enhances student engagement and comprehension. Prioritizing essential concepts and focusing on quality over quantity is a key to fostering long-term retention of foundational knowledge.
Back-to-School Myth #3: Grades are the only measure of student success
I can totally understand why someone would believe this, especially if you are looking for a standardized way to evaluate student performance for consistency and accountability.
I’ve been there myself, and I can tell you that while grades can provide valuable feedback on performance, they don’t capture the full spectrum of a student’s abilities, strengths, and areas for growth.
Effective teaching goes beyond grades – it involves assessing students’ progress using multiple methods. While consistency is essential, you can enhance accountability and transparency by leveraging diverse assessment methods.
You can use formative assessments, projects, student reflections, peer evaluation, and other strategies to promote a more holistic understanding of student abilities. Formative assessments focus on ongoing feedback and improvement for your students and inform your instruction.
Student-led assessments and reflections build intrinsic motivation and a deeper commitment to learning. Encouraging students to set learning goals, track their progress, and reflect on their achievements fosters a sense of ownership for and agency in their learning.
Some people focus on grades because they believe good grades are necessary for college admissions and future career opportunities. While grades certainly continue to be a component of college applications, admissions committees also consider factors such as extracurricular activities, recommendations, and personal statements.
Additionally, employers increasingly value skills such as problem-solving, teamwork, and adaptability, which are better assessed through a multifaceted approach to assessment. This comprehensive approach enhances learning outcomes and supports individual student needs.
The truth:
Relying solely on grades as a motivator or as the primary indicator student performances may lead to a limited view of students’ capabilities. It can also push a focus on extrinsic rewards rather than fostering a genuine love of learning.
Effective teaching extends beyond grades as the sole measure of student success. By embracing a holistic approach to assessment, you can support your students’ individual strengths and build their skills far beyond a letter grade.
Why is it misleading to believe these 3 back-to-school myths?
Believing in these myths can have adverse effects on students in your classroom as well as for you. These back-to-school myths mislead teachers by promoting rigid and ineffective teaching practices.
And I absolutely know you have everything it takes to teach in ways that are most effective for your students. You just need the right guidance to succeed in the classroom. Otherwise, you risk high levels of stress and burnout for yourself, along with reduced job satisfaction and lack of enthusiasm for teaching. You also risk strained teacher-student relationships and limited classroom engagement. That’s no fun for anyone.
Never fear – you can get your year off to the right start!
I’ve seen lots of teachers achieve creating an amazing classroom that lights them up and supports their students. There’s nothing mysterious or special about them.
They did it by building positive relationships while intentionally creating an empowering classroom, and putting in the hard work of effective teaching.
I created this Back-to-School Checklist (click the image below) to help you kick off the year successfully by providing key activities to do as you set up your classroom, build relationships, plan for the year, and work on curriculum and assessment. Let’s slay those back-to-school myths!
