High ExpectationsThe Teaching and Learning Group

Objectives Outline what is meant by ‘high expectations’

Share some practical ideas for setting high expectations in the classroom

Why? It is principled

It is well established that students will live up (or down) to the expectation you set for them

The Rosenthal-Jacobson Study

Teachers told they had a ‘more able’ or a ‘less able’ class

‘More able’ class did significantly better

Actually both classes were of the same ability

A penny for your thoughts… What does ‘high expectations’ mean to you in the classroom?

Please discuss.

High Expectations…or just the minimum expectation? Homework and assignments completed (on time)

Behaviour appropriate to the activity

Students properly equipped and dressed

Seeking help rather than accepting failure

Students expected to have a go

Encouraging a growth mind-set…ability increases with effort

Following up on students who fail to meet expectations

Believe the Baseline

-5 -4.5 -3.5 -3 -2.5 -2 -1.5 -1 -0.5 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 30

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Performance in May 2013 IGCSEs Relative to Baseline Prediction

Difference (in grades ) between actual performance and baseline prediction(positive means better than baseline, negative means worse)

Num

ber

of

Occure

nces

Deviation from

Baseline (grades)

Proportion of All

Grades(%)

0.0 20.1%

0.5 48.3%

1.0 68.3%

1.5 86.7%

2.0 95.6%

2.5 99.3%

3.0 100.0%

Teach Like A Champion The following ideas are from ‘Teach Like A Champion’ by Doug Lemov

Amongst other things, gives five low-effort ideas for raising expectations

Idea 1: No Opt-out Rationale

This sets the expectation that it is not okay not to try.

As a bonus, it also helps those who are trying but honestly don’t know the answer.

The Technique

1. Ask students a question

2. If no answer or incorrect answer, seek input from other students

3. Once the correct answer has been given, return to the original student and get them to repeat the correct answer

Idea 2: Right is Right Rationale

To set the expectation that the questions that you ask are important, and that their answers matter.

Minimise the lower expectations set by ‘rounding-up’ students answers.

The Technique

Only praise fully correct answers

Let students know they are almost there

Expect more detail from partially correct answers

Ask the student for more detail Give prompts to encourage further

thought Ask other students to help out

Don’t partial answers, and don’t round them up

Idea 3: Stretch It Rationale

Sets the expectation of knowledge as the reward for achievement rather than praise.

The Technique

Answer fully correct answers with a more challenging question:

Explain how/why Give an alternative

method/approach Think of a better answer Ask for evidence Apply a related skill Apply understanding to new

context

Idea 4: Format Matters Rationale

Sets high expectations about the way knowledge is communicated.

Effective communication is essential for success at all levels.

The Technique

Set an expectation for:Full sentencesGrammatically correct answersAudible answers: loud and clearCorrect units: no ‘naked numbers’

Insist that answers not meeting this are repeated until they do

Idea 5: No Apologies Rationale

Sets the expectation that everything you teach (and thus knowledge more generally) has intrinsic value.

Avoid Instead…Assuming something will be boring

Find a way to make it interesting

Blaming the great ‘they’…CIE, the IB, your HoD etc

Explain to the students why something is on the curriculum

Dumbing down Embrace the challenge‘This is difficult stuff, so it will feel great to master it.’

Apologising for students

Avoid pre-deciding that a student won’t be able to do something, or wouldn’t be interested in something

To Discuss Which of these five ideas do you think are good?

If you don’t think any are good, what suggestions of your own do you have?

Which do you already do?

Which would be most keen to try to do?

What concerns do you have about these ideas?

Ideas Recap:

No Opt Out Right is right Stretch It Format Matters No Apologies