Edutopia – Holly Hagman
“Easy. It is a common word in education. Often, teachers will ask if the class wants the easy quiz or the hard quiz. They’ll give the option for an easy day or a day that presents a challenge. They’ll subtly suggest to a student that they can handle the work because it is “easy.” While often said in an encouraging undertone, the word easy can be dangerous for student success. Literally and figuratively a four-letter-word, “easy” can set students up for decreased self-esteem, reduced confidence, and failure to understand a subject. When a teacher refers to a subject as “easy,” they create a standard that not all students may be able to reach.” (more)