Looking back at Nikki's 2nd grade teacher, it is clear to me that Mrs. Skrobarcyk was willing to dive in. She believed in her ability as a teacher and in Nikki's ability as a learner. She looked beyond the label and allowed Nikki the freedom to discover her ability to succeed. This is an example of what I was saying above, about being conscious of the language we use to talk about the work we do. Language use has consequences.
Words can hurt.
As a tecaher, I struggle with creating my own approach teaching. I also realize there are different motivations behind the same question. Some students want to know the bare minimum they need to produce. Others ask becayse the length gives them an idea abou how to structure the paper and how much content can be included. I also feel guilty for having to address comma splices fragments, and run-ons in class.