Teach Now (Teacher Certification): High Expectations and Providing Intervention

Module 6 Unit 2 Activity 4

High Expectations and Providing Interventions

As educators, we need to develop a learning atmosphere that promotes students to achieve great objectives encouraging students to meet high standards. Setting high expectations is important to help our young learners to be challenged, progress in bigger steps at a faster pace, and also show them that we care about the strives that they make to improve themselves. When we set high expectations and our students reach or surpass those standards, it sets the bar a little higher. By doing this, us educators can proudly watch our students meet those objectives and see our young learners grow. This doesn’t mean that teachers should set the bar high just to make the students’ lives harder with no purpose. All of our students come from different situations and backgrounds, and as educators we need to understand that our expectations need to be flexible and particular to each student.

Some examples of high expectations that I have for my students are to try their best with whatever task, work, or activity they have at hand, not be scared of mistakes, and respect everybody.

I usually have success with my students and I usually keep very high expectations for all of my classes but sometimes not everybody is able to keep to those expectations. If a student is struggling in class, they may have just been having a bad day, or other situational issues outside of school causing them to not keep up with the rest of the class. Sometimes they may need extra help or even regular help outside the classroom.

Communication with the student is key and if needed an RTI can be made for the student. Often times it is essential to recognize that the students are falling behind before it’s too late and the gap is too wide for them to catch up with the rest of the class. One of the best quotes that I heard in my master’s class was from a man called Richard Lavoie that said that fair treatment is not always equal. What one student may need is not exactly the same as the next student and giving them the same standard or expectation to adhere to is not always a successful way to help students to do better. Expectations can be differentiated just as lessons are and in sum it is very important to discuss the students’ goals and plans.

References:

Borich, Gary D. (2011). Observation Skills for Effective Teaching. Boston, MA: Pearson Education. Inc.

The Power of High Expectations. (n.d.).  Retrieved July 29, 2014, from http://teachingasleadership.org/ sites/default/files/Related-Readings/Diversity_CommunityandAchievement_Chapter2.pdf