Teacher Expectations Raise Student Achievement

Increased Expectations Improve Student Behavior and Achievement

Nov 9, 2009

Low expectations often result in low achievement and poor behavior. Raising expectations may improve behavior and achievement even in the youngest students.

It is a common understanding that children will rise to meet the expectations placed upon them. This includes behavior, academic success and social skills. Raising expectations for students needs to be done carefully though, in order for those expectations to be reasonable for students.

Teacher Expectations for Student Behavior

Teacher will often find that when they expect a child to disobey, disobedience usually follows. While sometimes children do surprise and follow the rules when expected to disobey, usually that expectation for disobedience is met. Teachers need to begin to expect more from their students regarding their obedience and classroom behavior.

While expecting children to obey is not a good classroom management plan, it is the only right attitude that should accompany a classroom management plan. Students should understand the rules and consequences for misbehavior, and know that their teacher believes in their ability to follow those rules. Teachers may find that changing their expectations is all that is necessary to turn a misbehaving class into a focused, obedient class.

Teacher Expectations for Student Academic Achievement

Too often teachers become desensitized to poor student achievement and as a result expect too little from the children. Raising expectations for academic achievement is tricky because students who struggle and have difficulties learning in some areas can be pushed too far and fail. At the same time, though, students who are capable of reaching higher levels of academic success should be pushed and required to meet higher expectations.

Teachers should make a habit of expecting just a little more from their students each day. Pick a subject, an assignment and push students a little more. It is important that these expectations are not portrayed in an angry, frustrated or impatient tone. Expectations should be conveyed with patience, confidence and in gentleness.

Teacher Expectations for Student Social Behavior

Students often get into petty arguments and scuffles on the playground, at lunch and even in the classroom. Teachers need to spend some time teaching students simple social skills that help them understand how to make a friend, how to be good friends, how to walk away from a fight and other basic social skills. When speaking with students about how a situation was handled, the teacher should convey the expectation that next time the students will act and react more positively. Additionally, teachers need to reward students for the small actions that show they are meeting expectations.

While it is easy to fall into a rut of expecting the same poor behavior, academic failures and social blunders from children, teachers need to make a habit of expecting more. Each day teachers should pick an area or a situation in which to expect more from students.

Quick Tips for Student Discipline – Article that provides numerous resources for managing classroom behavior including writing a behavior plan, handling disruptive behavior in the classroom and more.

Closing the Achievement Gap – Information on how to raise student achievement and close the achievement gap.

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