James R. Delisle. Doing Poorly on Purpose: Strategies to Reverse Underachievement and Respect Student Dignity. New York, Free Spirit Publishing, 2018.

Doing Poorly on Purpose explores how to help smart students who do poorly in school, but many of the ideas can be used with any student. The word “dignity” appears in the subtitle of this book. Author James Delisle explains “that if smart students don’t feel they are getting it from those in charge of their learning, then their desire to conform and achieve is being minimized.” He further explains “that by asking students to do work that is below their ability, we ignore the very qualities that got them identified as intelligent in the first place.” Teachers need to ask themselves, “Where’s the dignity in that?”