High Expectations in the Classroom

by Andrew Negru | Jul 18, 2018 | Teaching

High Expectations

I have yet to meet and or see a teacher like those portrayed in the 80s films of nonchalant teachers who do not care, are there for a pay-check and are waiting for the day to be done. Are there teachers out there like that? I’m sure there are, but at my school, I see teachers working hard before and after school trying to take what we have and give the best possible education to every single one of our children. I can not vouch for other teachers, but I can tell you that in my classroom,

“NOT TRYING, IS NOT AN OPTION”

It took a few weeks for the kids to figure out that Mr. Negru will not let us quit. This was made clear to me when the students took the end of the year survey and halfway through, the kids mumbled out the question, “Does your teacher allow you to quit” (not sure how exactly it was worded, but it was similar) I just remember one of students give a loud mhmm Mr. Negru sure don’t let us quit. Research is proven that high expectations is the driving force of high student achievement. Even in students who are not as successful academically, research proves that a teacher who has high expectations for the class, it will resonate and spread amongst all the students.

There are right ways of creating high achievement and there are wrong ways of doing it. I can attest that I may have pushed the boundaries with my expectations unknowingly, but the effect it had was amazing. The common answer of “I don’t know” was not whispered or said ever again in my class. I treat my class like the musketeers, all for one and one for all. We all need to get it before we move on. Is this always the case, no, but a majority of the time it is. Let me give some background on this one specific scenario: It was morning class with my middle school 6th graders, I tend to randomly choose students who have that “I’m not getting it look” on their face. I choose this student, and their first response was I don’t know. I said okay, well then, tell me what you think? I don’t know is the response. It went on like this, it was also dead silence. The students around her were trying to whisper, encourage her and lift her up, though none of it had taken affect. It had now come to a stand off, will Mr. Negru let her go and just choose another student. I being stubborn in my ways I did not let it go. After what seemed like ages, I was finally able to get a thought process that eventually led to the correct answer, but at what cost. After she had answered she asked to go to restroom, I could see the teary eyed child get up and walk out. I felt horrible, I just made one of my favorite students cry. I pushed too much on this. Fast forward a few more weeks, parent teacher conference rolls around, I get to speak with her mother and let her know the details. I told her that I do not allow students to get away with an “i don’t know” answer. The mother told me that she heard what had happened and that she appreciated that I did not let her quit. This situation turned out well, and it benefited the classroom. Should you do what I did? Probably not, know your limits, and know when to turn around. So then, what are some ways that I can have high expectations for my kids without pulling a Mr. Negru and making a child cry. Here are a few tips for creating and keeping high expectations in the classroom.

It’s not okay not to try.

Early on you need to establish a culture of getting it wrong leads to getting it right. You can do this through several ice breaker games at the beginning of the year, but also through difficult problems to solve in the class. You must create this high expectation for the class. As I said earlier, we are one in our education and we all must understand. Build this culture in the classroom that leads to students helping. I am amazed at when my students really get it, they really want to help. Let them help, let them create that atmosphere that you can get it too. You have to try, even if you get it wrong, you have to try.

Circle Back

Okay, so what if the student really does try and does not get it. Well, half the battle is won! Start with positive reinforcement and head on to the next student. When and if we get to the right solution is imperative that you do a turn around and get back to that specific student and ask “So, how do we solve so and so”. This sequence of the student being unable to answer the questions and than coming around to answer is the key to high expectations. I call this circle back. My favorite way of doing this typically when a majority of the students are unable to solve, and I go through them asking, do you know, do you know and until I find that right answer I circle back through each one in reverse. It seems tedious, it seems redundant, but to the children, they see this as not giving up. We ALL have to get it. We ALL have to know this before we move on.

Culture

The end result with circle back and pressure is that students practice rehearsed success. This kind of practice leads to a culture of, yea I got it wrong, now I have to find a way to get it right. If you can build this culture in your class, it will honestly blow your mind. As a teacher, All I want is my students to try. Have you tried your best? Did you give me your best? I’m sure there is some research on that phrase, but for me it has worked miracles. The answer I always get is no. I did not try my best. This leads my students to circle back and work harder to figure it out. My favorite phrase, which will probably written on my tombstone as well is “No Work, No Points” I used this phrase specifically in math class to force my students to show their work, but it wasn’t until graduation that one of my students who did not make valedictorian, was shy just 2 points, used it in his speech. If i would have just worked a bit more, I would have the points. This phrase goes a long way. Want your students to succeed, then you must have high expectations of them. Build that class culture, do not let them quit and the work you put in will reverberate all the way till the last day of school.