"That's not Like You"

Here goes another teacher talk showing the function of identity as both a tool and a constantly developing achievement.

Rather than reprimand her student, the teacher suggests that the problematic behaviour just observed is atypical and that the overall pattern suggests a more admirable person. It invites the child to consider who he wishes to be - and whether he wishes to alter an assumed positive identity. The stronger the relationship between teacher and student, the more powerful and productive this prompt is... The teacher is rather like the editor for a writer saying, "the way you have developed the character of your protagonist, he couldn't behave that way in this situation. He's acting out of character."