Beth

===Reflect on when you were in school. Can you recall a time when a teacher made a comment to you that either helped you as a learner or hindered your ability to learn? === My first recollection of a reoccurring issue was in 4th grade. My teacher explained to my parents and me that I often doubted my answers and would ask for affirmation rather than giving myself time to think and take a risk with an answer. In 4th grade I didn't really understand what was wrong with this. I just wanted to make sure I was answering questions and completing assignments correctly.

I also remember this happening in 7th grade science. This experience was a bit more traumatic for me. I didn't know how to balance chemical reactions. When given time to work on it, I went to ask for help. My teacher immediately met me with an annoyed﻿ look and told me to "go to my desk, close my eyes and think." This comment shut me down as a learner. I felt defeated and lost. I had no confidence in myself to even begin to "think."

To this day I remember the negative and hurt feelings I had as a result of these comments

**Chapter 3**
I give students the identities as "the older kids" who need to and will help the "younger kids". In a sense, the kids who are returning to room 207 are given the identity of leaders in our class. After reading chapter 3, I will and need to be more thoughtful about the identities to give the younger students. I also want to change how I reprimand kids and use a positive identity to help them understand their behavior and what is expected of them.