Positive Expectations Mark Benthall 2007
Positive Expectations Your expectations of your students will greatly affect their achievement in your class… and beyond! EXPECT THEM TO SUCCEED!!!
Positive and Negative Expectations Knowing what you can or cannot achieve is called an expectation. An expectation is what you believe will or will not happen. Do you expect this presentation to be boring? Do you expect to get useful information from it?
Expectations tend to fall into two categories: Positive Expectations and Negative Expectations
Positive Expectations An optimistic belief that you WILL reach the kids and your teaching will be successful. You believe that EVERY child in your room will benefit and grow in knowledge and skills as a result of your teaching.
Examples of Positive Expectations “I guarantee you will have a successful year!” “I believe EVERY child can learn and will achieve to his or her fullest potential.” “I will have a great day today. Many good things will happen.” “Each day I get better and better at what I do.”
Results of Positive Expectations The odds are greater that what you expect to happen will happen.  Your time and energy will be spent working for positive things to happen. You will be  looking  for positive things to happen and you will notice them when they occur.
Examples of Negative Expectations “These kids don’t want to learn.” “These kids are low. They are so far behind, they can’t catch up.” “These kids are poor.  Most are minorities.  Some of them don’t even know English.  They can’t be expected to learn as much as rich kids.”
Results of Negative Expectations Once again, what you expect to happen will probably happen. You expect NOTHING to happen so nothing will happen. You set yourself up for failure and you feel your teaching is all a waste of time… so you don’t put your HEART into it.
Always Remember… There is absolutely no research correlation between success and family background, race, national origin, financial status, or even educational accomplishments. The #1 factor in success is ATTITUDE!!!
Positive Expectations You will be in that classroom each day… why NOT have positive expectations. YOU  determine whether you are teaching for success or just going through the motions, waiting for eventual failure. Have the right ATTITUDE!!!
Things Teachers Say to Kids “You are dumb.” “You are stupid.” “Teaching you is a waste of time.” “You will never amount to anything.” “You are ruining my class.” DO YOU THINK TEACHERS SAY THESE THINGS OUTLOUD?
Your mind conveys as much as your mouth. TEACHERS SAY THESE THINGS TO KIDS WHEN THEY  THINK  THESE THINGS!!! If you  think  bad things about kids they WILL pick up on it and live up to your negative expectations!
Realistic Expectations The KEY to having realistic expectations is simply to give yourself enough time. The journey of a 1000 miles begins with a single call to a travel agent. It’s all about the pacing.
Teachers and Body Builders Have a Lot in Common
Teachers and Body Builders Have a Lot in Common Little by little… Step by step… Day by day… You won’t see dramatic change overnight, but hang in there and the results WILL happen. The important thing is to NEVER give up!
One last tip… AVOID NEGATIVE PEOPLE LIKE THE PLAGUE… THEY ARE CONTAGIOUS!!!

Positive Expectations

  • 1.
  • 2.
    Positive Expectations Yourexpectations of your students will greatly affect their achievement in your class… and beyond! EXPECT THEM TO SUCCEED!!!
  • 3.
    Positive and NegativeExpectations Knowing what you can or cannot achieve is called an expectation. An expectation is what you believe will or will not happen. Do you expect this presentation to be boring? Do you expect to get useful information from it?
  • 4.
    Expectations tend tofall into two categories: Positive Expectations and Negative Expectations
  • 5.
    Positive Expectations Anoptimistic belief that you WILL reach the kids and your teaching will be successful. You believe that EVERY child in your room will benefit and grow in knowledge and skills as a result of your teaching.
  • 6.
    Examples of PositiveExpectations “I guarantee you will have a successful year!” “I believe EVERY child can learn and will achieve to his or her fullest potential.” “I will have a great day today. Many good things will happen.” “Each day I get better and better at what I do.”
  • 7.
    Results of PositiveExpectations The odds are greater that what you expect to happen will happen. Your time and energy will be spent working for positive things to happen. You will be looking for positive things to happen and you will notice them when they occur.
  • 8.
    Examples of NegativeExpectations “These kids don’t want to learn.” “These kids are low. They are so far behind, they can’t catch up.” “These kids are poor. Most are minorities. Some of them don’t even know English. They can’t be expected to learn as much as rich kids.”
  • 9.
    Results of NegativeExpectations Once again, what you expect to happen will probably happen. You expect NOTHING to happen so nothing will happen. You set yourself up for failure and you feel your teaching is all a waste of time… so you don’t put your HEART into it.
  • 10.
    Always Remember… Thereis absolutely no research correlation between success and family background, race, national origin, financial status, or even educational accomplishments. The #1 factor in success is ATTITUDE!!!
  • 11.
    Positive Expectations Youwill be in that classroom each day… why NOT have positive expectations. YOU determine whether you are teaching for success or just going through the motions, waiting for eventual failure. Have the right ATTITUDE!!!
  • 12.
    Things Teachers Sayto Kids “You are dumb.” “You are stupid.” “Teaching you is a waste of time.” “You will never amount to anything.” “You are ruining my class.” DO YOU THINK TEACHERS SAY THESE THINGS OUTLOUD?
  • 13.
    Your mind conveysas much as your mouth. TEACHERS SAY THESE THINGS TO KIDS WHEN THEY THINK THESE THINGS!!! If you think bad things about kids they WILL pick up on it and live up to your negative expectations!
  • 14.
    Realistic Expectations TheKEY to having realistic expectations is simply to give yourself enough time. The journey of a 1000 miles begins with a single call to a travel agent. It’s all about the pacing.
  • 15.
    Teachers and BodyBuilders Have a Lot in Common
  • 16.
    Teachers and BodyBuilders Have a Lot in Common Little by little… Step by step… Day by day… You won’t see dramatic change overnight, but hang in there and the results WILL happen. The important thing is to NEVER give up!
  • 17.
    One last tip…AVOID NEGATIVE PEOPLE LIKE THE PLAGUE… THEY ARE CONTAGIOUS!!!