High Expectations and Caring Relationships

As a staff we have been concentrating on improving student behaviour over the past few weeks.  We have collected data and implemented several strategies.  The results so far are promising.  Even though classroom management and student behaviour are “Education 101” for teachers in university, we all need to refresh our thinking and re-evaluate our progress from time to time.  The same is true for me not only as an educator but as a parent as well.

I believe that good classroom management, school management, and even parenting hinge upon two things:  consistent application of high expectations and healthy relationships.

About 15 years ago I took a course on the power of positive thinking in achieving success.  The facilitator taught us a quote that has stuck with me since then, “You don’t get what you want, you get what you expect.”  The human brain has a knack for living up (or down) to its preconceived beliefs.  We all have a preconceived notion of ourselves and of our children or students.  It is based upon repeated experiences and memories that have formed our self-concept over a long period of time and it can be difficult to change.

Over the course of the next few posts, I will consider the power of high expectations, beliefs, positive thinking, affirmation, and positive relationships in helping our children and our students grow into the best possible version of themselves.