Module 4 Unit 2 Activity 4
Reflections on High Expectations
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.
Ways
to demonstrate that a teacher has high expectations for their classrooms is to
encourage accomplishment in any form, develop a positive classroom climate
where all students are respected and treated maturely, give constructive
feedback, and let the students take control of their learning process. A research
conducted by teachingleadership.org, shows that having high expectations for
students closes the achievement gap in classrooms. It states that even students
with different backgrounds and socioeconomic status should be looked at beyond
their traditional expectations and instead of limiting their standards, they
shouldn't be disadvantaged of gaining knowledge at the speed and level of
students in more affluent communities (The Power of High Expectations, 2014).
Teachers
can help young learners define their goals and strategies to accomplish these
objectives. Defining these goals is a
key element that our students need, to encourage them, give them structure, and
assist them in attaining and evaluating such goals. Also, if teachers are good
role models setting high expectations for themselves, they may instigate a
positive aspiration for their students to set high goals as well. Managing the
classrooms in an organized way, meeting lesson goals, being consistent with
rules and being respectful towards their students is a good example of a
teacher demonstrating great expectations. When a teacher helps their students
take the steps to get to their goals, they really need to make sure the
students have short-term and long-term goals. One that I really emphasize to my
students is means goals and end goals taken from mindvalley.com, (where I do a
separate lesson with my students about the meaning of these two goals). This
really helps my students clarify the importance of temporary achievements and
lets them visualize their learning process in a larger scale.
When
an objective is clear and goals are met, students take pride in their work.
This gives them a sense of accomplishment and makes each and every one evaluate
what they have achieved. It helps them find out more about their strengths and weaknesses.
In some cases it may also open doors to self-realization about talents they
didn’t know they even had, or they might even develop new interests, if not
just build their confidence in an area that they were already proficient in.
This is essentially what us educators want our students to feel. We guide them
to grow and develop under our care and support, maintaining high expectations
and a positive classroom environment.
References:
Borich, Gary D. (2011). Observation Skills for Effective
Teaching. Boston, MA: Pearson Education. Inc.
Marzano, Robert J. (2007). The Art and Science of Teaching: A
Comprehensive Framework for Effective Instruction. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
The
Power of High Expectations. (n.d.).
Retrieved July 29, 2014, from http://teachingasleadership.org/ sites/default/files/Related-Readings/Diversity_CommunityandAchievement_Chapter2.pdf
Group Members’ Performance
My group members were Ian
Pollard and Christopher Shears. We had to finish this project last week because
we are pressed for time as our intense master’s course is coming up in a couple
of weeks. Since we work together, we designated a day to go into our office and
work on this project. Everyone collaborated very well. We first highlighted
what was required to get an “outstanding” on the rubric, and discussed what we
thought needed to be placed in the page. Ian opened up a new Glogster page, and
while he was writing the headings, Chris and I were busy defining the terms. We
started recording audio and sending them simultaneously to Ian so he could upload
them on to the page. He also did a few recordings himself. When they were all
uploaded, we searched for images together and also searched for different
videos making sure that the content was not only relevant but enhancing our
project. It took us a good portion of the day to finish this project but as a
group I think we were very organized and collaborated with each other
successfully and effectively. My group members really put in a lot of effort
and we are very happy with the result of our project.
No comments:
Post a Comment