Positive expectations are important for students and teachers. When teachers have high expectations for their students, the students are likely to rise to meet those expectations and perform better academically. Conversely, low or negative expectations can become a self-fulfilling prophecy where students fail to meet low expectations. It is important for teachers to communicate positive expectations to students from the first day of school, such as stating that students will have a successful year and learn a great deal. Setting high standards along with high expectations can encourage students to work hard to achieve those standards.

1. WHY POSITIVE
EXPECTATIONS ARE
IMPORTANT

3. An EXPECTATION is what you believe you
can or can’t accomplish or what will or will
not happen.
HUMANS HAVE A SUCCESS
INSTINCT: This is what makes humans
different from all other living things
What is a success and an expectation?

4. Types of Expectations
 Prepare a statement of positive expectations for the
first day of school.
 Example: You will do well in this class and will get
good grades and have an exciting year.
There are two types of expectations:
1. Positive (or high)
2. Negative (or low)

5. An optimistic person believes that
whoever you teach or whatever you do
will result in success or achievement
A pessimistic believes that whoever
you teach or whatever you do will
not work out or will fail.

6. Positive Expectations Negative Expectations
Optimism Pessimism
Who I teach and what I do will result in
success and achievement.
My efforts in the classroom will result in
failure.
Every child can and will learn. My students can’t or don’t want to learn.
Every child will reach his or her potential. My students will not focus or behave and
therefore can’t be successful in my
classroom.
I am a good teacher. I don’t know what I’m doing in the
classroom.
I will continue learning to become a better
teacher.
I despise in-service, conferences and
opportunities to continue my education.
Examples of
Positive vs. Negative Expectations

7.  The odds are in your favor when you have high expectations for
yourself and your students.
 You and your students are likely to fail when you set negative or
low expectations.
Do not spend your time or energy expecting to
achieve negative results. The higher your expectations,
the more success you will have.
This is also true for students and parents.

9. Expectations and standards are two different concepts.
Standards indicate levels of achievement.
High expectations will encourage students to reach your high
standards.

10. Example: Tell your students that they will have a successful year and
will learn a great deal.
 Doing so encourages them to reach your high standards of doing
well in class.
Give your students more than they expect, and you will get
back more than expected.” (Wang & Wang, p. 38)

11.  Research indicates that students learn to the level at which their
teachers have set expectations. The higher your expectations, the better
academic performance your students will exhibit.
 The two most important people to
young children are their parents and
teachers. BOTH can make a
difference by setting positive
expectations for students from day
one.

12. Develop a statement of positive expectations and
share it with your students on the first day.
Set a personal goal of high expectations and have that
same goal for your students.
Create an environment of positive expectations.
Communicate positive expectations.

13. CONCLUSIONS
 You wont see
dramatic changes
overnight, but hang
in there and the
results will happen.
 The important thing
is to never give up
kharlenia
Bibliography: The First Days of
School (Wang and Wang)