Until Recently, Hope Has Had a Consistent Record of High

question 72

Essay

Until recently, Hope has had a consistent record of high achievement in all areas of the school curriculum. Now, at the beginning of junior high school, her self-confidence has fallen dramatically. Mr. Lester, her science teacher, sees signs of intelligence lurking under the surface but doesn't know why Hope's self-esteem is dropping. He consults with her math teacher, Ms. Arons, who says, "Hope didn't do very well on the pretest I gave her, so I've been going easy on her and trying not to push her too hard." Drawing on the discussions of sense of self and motivation in Chapter 13, speculate on at least two different reasons why Hope's self-esteem has dropped.

---

Definitions:

Stereotype Threat

The apprehension or fear that one's behavior will confirm an existing stereotype about one's group, which can negatively impact performance.

Standardized Tests

Exams that are administered and scored in a consistent, or "standard", manner, which are designed to measure a student's academic performance against a common criteria.

African American Students

Refers to students of African American or Black heritage who may encounter unique cultural, social, and educational experiences and challenges within academic settings.

IQ Test

An assessment designed to measure a person's cognitive abilities and potential.