I was particularly interested in what you said about not being noticed for your reading ability/language gifts, perhaps because you were quiet? I wonder, too, about the ways that your fellow students got placed in the advanced groups or honor’s courses. Grades? Perceived ability? Favoritism? Influence of another teacher or even a parent? The Mrs. Blackwells of the world?

I remember in the second grade the teacher asked us to name our reading groups. Since we were in the advanced reading group, my fellow second grade reading group members decided to call ourselves “The Roadrunners” because we were fast readers. The “lower” group referred to themselves as “The Slowpokes,” likening themselves to turtles. I remember at the time it all seemed logical and quite funny (I remember the “Slowpokes” giggling and laughing when they announced their name), but I cringe now that the labeling and tracking was so blatant, so self-consciously created, and that the students even bought into it so that we named ourselves accordingly….

Good stuff here, Terri!