Lies We Believe

March 11, 2013 in Theory & Policy

Someone I looked up to once said, “Those that know, do; those that can’t, teach.” I believed this at the time. That idea kept me out of the teaching profession for at least 10 years.

I’ve since learned that the actual proverb is from Aristotle, and it goes like this:

Those that know, do. Those that understand, teach.

This makes much more sense to me.

What lies have you believed?

Michelle Boyd Waters, M.Ed.

Share 0

Tweet 0

Michelle taught secondary ELA in public schools for 10 years. She served as an award-winning journalist before transitioning into education and is now Assistant Director of the OU Writing Center and a teacher consultant for the Oklahoma Writing Project. Michelle co-edited the Oklahoma English Journal for five years. She is a PhD candidate in Instructional Leadership and Academic Curriculum at the University of Oklahoma. She started reThink ELA LLC as a teacher blog in 2012.

Michelle Boyd Waters, M.Ed.

Teachers, Parents Renew Call For Investment In Students At #OklaEdRally

#reflectiveteacher – 9/7 – Who is your most inspirational colleague?

Final Day Of #SOL15: Making Changes, Making Progress

Finding Strength in the Mountains: A Personal Connection to “The Trouble with Heroes”

Spark Writing Enthusiasm: Join Me at the 2025 MSELA Summit!

Understanding English Language Arts (ELA): A Comprehensive Overview

Generative AI in the Classroom: Tools, Challenges, and the Power of Human-Centered Teaching

Helping Student Writers Overcome Imposter Syndrome: A Resource for English Teachers

Reflections on NCTE2024: Inspiration, Imposter Syndrome, Writing Centers and Place-Based Pedagogies