I try to keep in mind the limits of my students' abilities and give them assignments that I know they can do so that they do not become discouraged.
Background
Students do need to experience success in order to stay motivated. It makes sense, therefore, to give students work that they can accomplish. The potential downside here is that this will lead to lower expectations by both students and teachers. The challenge for teachers, then, is to be clear about the ultimate academic goal and ensure that students engage in increasingly demanding work in order to meet that goal. When that work is accompanied by teacher support and the expectation of success, students achieve at high levels.
Question to Consider
- What are some ways that educators can simultaneously have high expectations of their students and acknowledge their individual needs?
To explore this and other questions, take a closer look at the resources below. At any time, add your comments to the Discussion by starting a new discussion or viewing an ongoing discussion.
- Sonia Nieto points out that too often educators have a deficit view of the experiences students bring with them to school. Instead, they need to build on students strengths:
You are missing some Flash content that should appear here! Perhaps your browser cannot display it, or maybe it did not initialise correctly.
- Ronald Ferguson shows that setting high goals without providing adequate support actually reduces student achievement, especially for students of color.
- Pedro Noguera explains why some disciplinary practices are counterproductive and how strategies for maintaining orderly learning environments can enhance student learning
Supporting Struggling Students While Holding Them to High Standards
- The Educator Check-In on Effort is a checklist for teachers to self-assess the range of instructional strategies they use to learn about and meet the needs of their students, developed by the National Education Association's C.A.R.E. division
Motivating Students Who Appear to Lack Interest in Learning
- The Educator Check-In on Abilities is a checklist for teachers to self-assess their efforts to promote higher order thinking and the attainment of high standards among their students, developed by the National Education Association's C.A.R.E. division
