One crucial thing to remember about our jobs is that we have such a huge impact on so many of the students we come into contact with. @MsFindlater writes about bumping into old students HERE. Often the impact we might have is invisible to us at the time, but it's there. Having high expectations of our students is one of the most important things we can do. It instills confidence in them, an independence, a sense of ownership over their own work and behaviour.
Schilling and Schilling (1999) wrote about the importance of high expectations in education:
'...the literature on motivation and school performance in younger school children suggests that expectations shape the learning experience very powerfully. For example, classic studies in the psychology literature have found that merely stating an expectation results in enhanced performance, that higher expectations result in higher performance, and that persons with high expectations perform at a higher level than those with low expectations, even though their measured abilities are equal.'
'A characteristic shared by most highly effective teachers is their adherence to uniformly high expectations. They refuse to alter their attitudes or expectations for their students—regardless of the students' race or ethnicity, life experiences and interest, and family wealth or stability' (Lumsden 1997).
Getting students accustomed to the rules and expectations of the classroom is essential. Bridget James in the science department is strict about food and drink in the labs. Anyone seen breaking the rules is dealt with. They get into habits of eating in breaks and putting lab coats and goggles on as soon as they enter the classroom.
Richard Duckett in the sixth form displays a large online clock on screen at the start of the lesson. Within the first week, his students are under no illusion that he is strict about punctuality.
Nichola Beasley in the Health and Social Care department has high expectations of her students' work. If they hand it in and the presentation of it is not up to expected standards then it is handed back and they must submit it again. This kind of process prepares learners for the workplace.