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Sunday, July 3, 2011

#ASCD11 Inservice: Three Myths About High Expectations

ASCD Inservice: Three Myths About High Expectations

Three Myths About High Expectations

Are high standards the same as high expectations? What are the core values that drive what's important in your classroom? Do you believe in your ability as a teacher more than you believe in your students' abilities?

In an #ASCD11 session taking on the sacred cow of high expectations, Robyn Jackson explained the importance of uncovering the myths that guide our expectations. She outlined three major myths:

The Standards Myth: The belief that higher standards will equal higher expectations. In fact, teachers must also assess, assign, be accountable, and provide support at the level of the standard to have both high standards and high expectations. Raise the standards, but also raise the resources for kids to reach and exceed them.

The Attribution Myth: Says that we attribute reasons for kids' successes and failures based on our own core values and cultural currencies. In fact, kids succeed and fail for many reasons, and bring their own currencies to the classroom. Help them leverage and expand their currencies to access their own and shared values (like autonomy, sense of belonging,