Expect Students to Rise to the Challenge

Every student has the potential to achieve great things—but sometimes, they need someone to believe in them before they believe in themselves.  

That’s where teachers come in.

When educators set high expectations, they’re not just asking for better grades or stronger essays; they’re sending a powerful message: “I know you can do this.” And, more often than not, students rise to meet those expectations.

Having high standards isn’t about piling on pressure or being overly strict. It’s about showing students that they are capable, smart, and resilient. It’s about pushing them just enough to help them grow while offering the support they need to get there.

In his book Hacking Classroom Management: 10 Ideas to Help You Become the Type of Teacher They Make Movies About, Mike Roberts covers the Why and How of high expectations. But why should we believe him? Well, Mike is a longtime educator, nationally featured speaker, and a Utah English Teacher of the Year. More importantly, he’s a movie star to his students.

In our weekly Educator’s Edge digest this Thursday, we’ll cover some of Mike’s philosophy about expecting the best and share some of his tried-and-true Hacks, so stay tuned (or sign up!). For now, though, let’s cover some of the questions you might have … and Mike’s advice to power through them.

Believe and Achieve

Look, there is no denying that holding students to high expectations is more challenging than letting them take the easy way out. And while there will be challenges along the way, movie-type teachers are willing to accept—and overcome—obstacles and questions such as these:

1: My students already know my expectations.

I frequently hear this piece of feedback. But too often, we assume our students understand our expectations rather than being absolutely certain that they know our expectations. One glaring example is cell phone use.

Just like the key concepts taught in your class, the expectations need to be taught, modeled, and performed on a regular basis in order for them to stick.

2: But what about the students who cheat?

A student who wants to cheat on an assignment is going to cheat, regardless of whether it’s in class or at home. So rather than creating a rule based on the chance that a small minority of your class might cheat, I instead recommend that you focus your expectations on the fact that the vast majority of your class won’t cheat or otherwise betray trust.

So how do I let my class know that I expect them not to cheat? I follow these three simple steps:

• During my explanation of the assignment, I tell them, “I am trusting you not to cheat on this. Don’t let me down!”
• As students pick up the take-home test/assignment, I require them to look me in the eye and say, “I will not cheat.” I often repeat my “Don’t let me down” comment to each of them individually at this point.
• When they hand in their work, I ask them to look me in the eye yet again and say, “I promise I did not cheat.” As I take the assignment from them, I usually add, “Thank you for being honest with me.”

As crazy as it sounds, this approach has substantially reduced the number of students I catch cheating in my class. And let me be clear here: The grades on the take-home exams usually mirror the scores that students receive on their in-class exams, so it’s not like students are lying to me about cheating. It’s almost as if the trust I place in them outweighs the almighty grade. How’s that for a crazy concept?

3: I don’t have fancy clothes to wear to work.

As you know, teaching doesn’t exactly pay a Wall Street CEO salary. That said, many teachers could upgrade their attire without breaking the bank. You don’t need to buy an entirely new wardrobe, but I am suggesting that if you wear jeans and a T-shirt to your class, you may want to class it up and strive for a more professional look.

4: It’s impossible to be happy and positive every day.  

There’s no debating this one. Sometimes, whether because of illness, lack of energy, or just life in general, you are going to have days when you are just off your game a bit. And that’s when you fake it. We expect our students to be on every day, and we should hold ourselves to that same standard. So put on some nice clothes, throw on a happy smile, and go model for your students what it means to persevere!

At the same time, when those truly serious occasions arise (like a death in the family), it is absolutely acceptable to let your class know that you are having a tough time. And while I don’t recommend dwelling on it, sharing this kind of information can enhance your relationship with your class by creating a bond that just can’t be established otherwise.

Final Word

These tips turn the tables on the status quo by challenging you to establish—and model—high expectations for your students. And rather than simply letting your students’ past determine their present, the ideas presented here empower your students to create their own future. 

Worth a try, right?

Read More

Roberts, Mike. 2017. Hacking Classroom Management: 10 Ideas to Help You Become the Type of Teacher They Make Movies About. Times 10 Publications.

• Sturtevant, James Alan. 2020. Teaching in Magenta: 100 Paths to Joy and Well -Being for You and Your Students. Times 10 Publications.
• “6 Principles All Teachers Should Use to Improve Classroom Management.” X10 Publications blog. May 22, 2023.
• “New Changes to Student Cell Phone Use.” X10 Publications blog.  November 25, 2024.
• Rubie-Davies, Christine M, and John A Hattie. 2024. “The Powerful Impact of Teacher Expectations: A Narrative Review.” Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand 55 (2): 1–29.

Resources

• Part of this text is taken from Hacking Classroom Management by Mike Roberts.
• Teacher and student image by Yan Krukau from Pexels.