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Emphasize Excellence in Teaching and Learning

What is it?

Schools need to “set the bar high” for teachers while supporting them in encouraging students to do their best in their academic, social and athletic pursuits. School leaders need to create an environment in which excellence in teaching and learning is expected and nurtured. This involves never giving up on a single student. In practice this means holding each student accountable for their school performance, refusing to accept half-hearted efforts, and providing constructive feedback and assistance as needed.

An environment of excellence is characterized by

  • teaching practices that reflect high expectations for student achievement,
  • multiple opportunities for students to meet and exceed educational standards, and
  • varied teaching strategies that support inquiry, higher-order thinking and problem solving.

This commitment to excellence is as important for education related to health and wellness as it is for math and reading.

Level of research support: Strong evidence of effectiveness

Why do it?

High expectations, coupled with strong social support, produce desirable outcomes. Students learn more in schools that emphasize excellence in teaching and learning. They do even better when these schools also provide good social supports to students. In fact, only in schools that set high standards for academic performance does social support actually influence learning (Lee & Smith, 1999).

Clearly the evidence supports a learning environment that at once communicates high expectations and offers consistent help for students to meet those expectations (Marks et al., 1996).

Who is it for?

  • All students (universal)

Who can facilitate it?

  • Administration
  • Teachers

How can we implement it?

Demonstrate that academic achievement is a priority

  • Reward innovation by recognizing teachers through informal notes and comments as well as formal awards and evaluations.
  • Provide teachers with in-service training and professional development opportunities.
  • Support teachers in aiming for teaching excellence by providing good classroom materials and minimizing administrative disruptions.
  • Reward students for academic achievement, but also for improvement and effort.

Develop and communicate high expectations while providing strong support for learning

  • Hold all students accountable for work completion.
  • Provide "second-try" opportunities for students to improve their assignments based on constructive feedback.
  • Provide support for academic achievement such as tutoring, study-skill sessions and catch-up opportunities.
  • Engage students about their futures (students who have frequent conversations about their futures have higher educational expectations for themselves).

Improve and diversify teaching methods

  • Provide training to support the effective application of a variety of teaching techniques.
  • Strengthen the ability of teachers to select best methods to use with all students, not just high achievers.
  • Choose materials based on students' interests and developmental needs.
  • Offer applied projects and service-learning opportunities to connect academics to real life.

 

Sources and related material