Why did this teacher think so highly of me as a student?

[WhoKnows1316]

I made a thread on another forum but none of the responses really helped me. I'm probably over-thinking this but it's just such a weird situation. It's the first time something like this has ever happened to me. Last year, one of my teachers told another teacher that I was the smartest person in class and way above average. He actually thought I needed more challenging material. It was flattering but I don't even know how he thought that. I always have either a low C or a high D average. I completely failed the final for the class too. He's also one of those teachers who can be somewhat judge-y regarding grades. For example, someone in my class had a 3.2 and he said it wasn't "that bad" and told her she should have been an A student. He didn't know what my GPA was (it was a 1.6 when I heard that) but I'm surprised he thought I was that good of a student? Quite a few people in that class had B averages. He asked me if I was in some Honors class once and I was like "my grades aren't good enough to be in anything Honors" in my mind lol.

Has this ever happened to anyone before? Has a teacher ever thought you were smarter than you actually were? Why? How?

[Elysium]

Perhaps that teacher was referring to your actual intelligence and not what your grades tell you. For example, I have a friend who's incredibly smart, but she just doesn't care for school, so her grades can be less than stellar. Despite that, her teachers recognize just how smart she is; they don't base that opinion off of her grades. Does that make sense?

[Ben_Frost]

Your teacher probably wasn't talking about the grades, but the true potential you have as a student. Having an F in a given subject doesn't always mean you're a utter idiot in that field.

[WhoKnows1316]

Perhaps that teacher was referring to your actual intelligence and not what your grades tell you. For example, I have a friend who's incredibly smart, but she just doesn't care for school, so her grades can be less than stellar. Despite that, her teachers recognize just how smart she is; they don't base that opinion off of her grades. Does that make sense?

Yeah, I definitely get that. I don't think of myself as too smart though. I'm can be sometimes but other times, I can be really stupid. I'm definitely not way above average. The year before, I had a C in this subject and I had a C this year even though I tried really hard. What would make a teacher think a student like that's way above average and the smartest one in class?

Your teacher probably wasn't talking about the grades, but the true potential you have as a student. Having an F in a given subject doesn't always mean you're a utter idiot in that field.

It's just so weird. I transferred into another class with a different teacher and she actually remembered that I did really badly on the final even with 150+ students. I got a 30% and a 40% curved...I actually didn't understand anything. That was a higher F than I expected. It's depressing.

Posts merged. Next time, please use the "Edit" or "Multi" button. ~Elysium

[LouBerry]

I made a thread on another forum but none of the responses really helped me. I'm probably over-thinking this but it's just such a weird situation. It's the first time something like this has ever happened to me. Last year, one of my teachers told another teacher that I was the smartest person in class and way above average. He actually thought I needed more challenging material. It was flattering but I don't even know how he thought that. I always have either a low C or a high D average. I completely failed the final for the class too. He's also one of those teachers who can be somewhat judge-y regarding grades. For example, someone in my class had a 3.2 and he said it wasn't "that bad" and told her she should have been an A student. He didn't know what my GPA was (it was a 1.6 when I heard that) but I'm surprised he thought I was that good of a student? Quite a few people in that class had B averages. He asked me if I was in some Honors class once and I was like "my grades aren't good enough to be in anything Honors" in my mind lol.

Has this ever happened to anyone before? Has a teacher ever thought you were smarter than you actually were? Why? How?

Both of my parents were teachers, and they used to talk about things like this all the time. Whether you think you are smart, or whether your grades reflect that, your teacher probably saw something inside of you that you don't see yourself. Maybe if you challenged yourself, you could do better. (And that's most certainly true, regardless of the circumstances)

[ksdnfkfr]

There's a lot of times that gifted students get lousy grades because the work they're doing isn't challenging enough.

[WhoKnows1316]

Both of my parents were teachers, and they used to talk about things like this all the time. Whether you think you are smart, or whether your grades reflect that, your teacher probably saw something inside of you that you don't see yourself. Maybe if you challenged yourself, you could do better. (And that's most certainly true, regardless of the circumstances)

I think I'm okay and I think my grades reflect both my capabilities and effort. It's still such a confusing situation. What do you think this teacher saw in me? What made your parents think something like that of a student? I probably could get better grades though many times, I don't understand things.

There's a lot of times that gifted students get lousy grades because the work they're doing isn't challenging enough.

Hi! And I really doubt I'm gifted. I just read a lot. The work's often very easy but the actual material's quite difficult. Also, do you watch PLL?

[Melodic]

I'd say it's probably intelligence.

I got B's and C's in classes in Public, and a lot of teachers thought I should be in Honor Roll.

[TheN3rdyOutcast]

Some teachers actually believe in people as human beings, perhaps he was trying to encourage you just to push yourself a little harder, besides, a little effort can go a long way.:D

[WhoKnows1316]

I'd say it's probably intelligence.

I got B's and C's in classes in Public, and a lot of teachers thought I should be in Honor Roll.

Why? What made teachers think that about you?

Some teachers actually believe in people as human beings, perhaps he was trying to encourage you just to push yourself a little harder, besides, a little effort can go a long way.:D

I still just don't get it. He didn't say this to me. He said this to another teacher. I always put in the most effort I could possibly muster in this class. I still got a C and completely failed the final.

[Croconaw]

My English teacher tells me that if I did my homework, I would get straight A's in her class. I think your teacher is referring to the fact that you have potential.

[Camazotz]

Well why are your grades poor? Not doing homework? Not studying? Your teachers want you to succeed in life through hard work. Maybe your teacher believes you'll get good grades if you work hard.

[WhoKnows1316]

My English teacher tells me that if I did my homework, I would get straight A's in her class. I think your teacher is referring to the fact that you have potential.

That's nice of her to say! I just don't understand this situation because I did all my work and tried my hardest yet still didn't understand anything. That's not a sign of being way above average or intelligent.

Well why are your grades poor? Not doing homework? Not studying? Your teachers want you to succeed in life through hard work. Maybe your teacher believes you'll get good grades if you work hard.

Sometimes I just don't get material. Sometimes I'm lazy and turn in unfinished work. Sometimes I do stupid things when I take tests. My grade for this class was mediocre because I didn't understand anything. He definitely doesn't know my grades lol. He just thought I was a much better student than I actually am.

[WhoKnows1316]

Also, would it be okay to ask teachers for more challenging material next year? I might start doing that in some classes regarding certain topics...