1. Why Positive Expectations are Important
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Why Positive Expectations are Important
Wong, H. K., & Wong, R. T. (1998). How to be an effective teacher: The first days of school. (pp ). Mountain View, CA: Harry K. Wong Publications, Inc.

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3. Content of this presentation was adapted from How to be an effective teacher: The first days of school, Harry K. Wong and Rosemary K. Wong. Harry K. Wong Publications, Inc. ISBN: Order online at
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.

4. Being successful depends on your attitude.
The success of your students depends on your attitude as well.
The higher your expectations, the better your students will do.
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.
Wong, H. K., & Wong, R. T. (1998). How to be an effective teacher: The first days of school. (pp ). Mountain View, CA: Harry K. Wong Publications, Inc.

5. What is an Expectation?
An expectation is what you believe you can or can’t accomplish or what will or will not happen.
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.
Wong, H. K., & Wong, R. T. (1998). How to be an effective teacher: The first days of school. (pp ). Mountain View, CA: Harry K. Wong Publications, Inc.

6. Types of Expectations There are two types of expectations:
Positive (or high)
Negative (or low)
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.
Wong, H. K., & Wong, R. T. (1998). How to be an effective teacher: The first days of school. (pp ). Mountain View, CA: Harry K. Wong Publications, Inc.

7. Positive expectations are important because your expectations influence your students, their success and their achievements in your classroom and when they leave your classroom.
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.
Wong, H. K., & Wong, R. T. (1998). How to be an effective teacher: The first days of school. (pp ). Mountain View, CA: Harry K. Wong Publications, Inc.

8. Your positive, or high, expectations can positively impact your students for the rest of their lives.
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.
Wong, H. K., & Wong, R. T. (1998). How to be an effective teacher: The first days of school. (pp ). Mountain View, CA: Harry K. Wong Publications, Inc.

9. Statement of Expectations
Prepare a statement of positive expectations for the first day of school.
Example: You will do well in this class and will get good grades and have an exciting year.
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.
Wong, H. K., & Wong, R. T. (1998). How to be an effective teacher: The first days of school. (pp ). Mountain View, CA: Harry K. Wong Publications, Inc.

10. Examples of Positive vs. Negative Expectations
Positive Expectations
Negative Expectations
Optimism
Pessimism
Who I teach and what I do will result in success and achievement.
My efforts in the classroom will result in failure.
Every child can and will learn.
My students can’t or don’t want to learn.
Every child will reach his or her potential.
My students will not focus or behave and therefore can’t be successful in my classroom.
I am a good teacher.
I don’t know what I’m doing in the classroom.
I will continue learning to become a better teacher.
I despise in-service, conferences and opportunities to continue my education.
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.
Wong, H. K., & Wong, R. T. (1998). How to be an effective teacher: The first days of school. (pp ). Mountain View, CA: Harry K. Wong Publications, Inc.

11. The odds are in your favor when you have high expectations for yourself and your students.
You and your students are likely to fail when you set negative or low expectations.
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.
Wong, H. K., & Wong, R. T. (1998). How to be an effective teacher: The first days of school. (pp ). Mountain View, CA: Harry K. Wong Publications, Inc.

12. Do not spend your time or energy expecting to achieve negative results
Do not spend your time or energy expecting to achieve negative results. The higher your expectations, the more success you will have. This is also true for students and parents.
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.
Wong, H. K., & Wong, R. T. (1998). How to be an effective teacher: The first days of school. (pp ). Mountain View, CA: Harry K. Wong Publications, Inc.

13. Expectations vs. Standards
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.
Wong, H. K., & Wong, R. T. (1998). How to be an effective teacher: The first days of school. (pp ). Mountain View, CA: Harry K. Wong Publications, Inc.

14. Expectations vs. Standards
Expectations and standards are two different concepts.
Standards indicate levels of achievement.
High expectations will encourage students to reach your high standards.
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.
Wong, H. K., & Wong, R. T. (1998). How to be an effective teacher: The first days of school. (pp ). Mountain View, CA: Harry K. Wong Publications, Inc.

15. Expectations vs. Standards
Example: Tell your students that they will have a successful year and will learn a great deal.
Doing so encourages them to reach your high standards of doing well in class.
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.
Wong, H. K., & Wong, R. T. (1998). How to be an effective teacher: The first days of school. (pp ). Mountain View, CA: Harry K. Wong Publications, Inc.

16. “Give your students more than they expect, and you will get back more than expected.” (Wang & Wang, p. 38)
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.
Wong, H. K., & Wong, R. T. (1998). How to be an effective teacher: The first days of school. (pp ). Mountain View, CA: Harry K. Wong Publications, Inc.

17. Research indicates that students learn to the level at which their teachers have set expectations. The higher your expectations, the better academic performance your students will exhibit.
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.
Wong, H. K., & Wong, R. T. (1998). How to be an effective teacher: The first days of school. (pp ). Mountain View, CA: Harry K. Wong Publications, Inc.

18. The two most important people to young children are their parents and teachers. BOTH can make a difference by setting positive expectations for students from day one.
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.
Wong, H. K., & Wong, R. T. (1998). How to be an effective teacher: The first days of school. (pp ). Mountain View, CA: Harry K. Wong Publications, Inc.

19. Summary
Develop a statement of positive expectations and share with your students on the first day.
Communicate positive expectations.
Create an environment of positive expectations.
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.
Wong, H. K., & Wong, R. T. (1998). How to be an effective teacher: The first days of school. (pp ). Mountain View, CA: Harry K. Wong Publications, Inc.

20. Summary
Set a personal goal of high expectations and have that same goal for your students.
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.
Wong, H. K., & Wong, R. T. (1998). How to be an effective teacher: The first days of school. (pp ). Mountain View, CA: Harry K. Wong Publications, Inc.

21. Content of this presentation was adapted from How to be an effective teacher: The first days of school, Harry K. Wong and Rosemary K. Wong. Harry K. Wong Publications, Inc. ISBN: Order online at
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved.