Teacher Expectations and Student Achievement

TESA

Since the 1970's, research has revealed inconsistencies in teacher-student interactions. Many teachers find its easy to teach to a small group of students who look like they are interested, but difficult to encourage students who seem turned off or anti-social. A common problem for many teachers is getting all students to participate in class.

Teacher Expectations and Student Achievement (or TESA) is a program which trains teachers to interact with students on a more equitable basis. This approach is based on expectation theory, which says that teachers make inferences about a student's behavior or ability based on what a teacher knows about a student. This can have a potentially damaging effect on students, and is sometimes referred to as a "self-fulfilling prophecy" - what you expect from a student is what the student gives you.

TESA:

sensitizes teachers to their expectations of all students
shows how expectations affect student learning
involves teachers in reflection and careful, attentive practice of new behaviors
helps teachers practice talking more to low achievers, in and out of class
encourages teachers to ask more questions to students who may normally
be quiet in class

Advocates of TESA say the real benefits come when teachers take an honest look at themselves as ask question s such as:

How am I communicating my expectations to my students?
Are my expectations different for my "high", "average", and "low" achievers?
Does the ethnic, racial, or cultural background of my students affect my expectations for them? How do I know?
During class, do I call on students of all abilities equally?
Am I making an attempt to get to know all my students on a personal level?

Susan McGlasson, an Economics teacher at Bloomington High School South (IN) went through TESA training in her district. Afterward she found her students "...began to talk more in class and their performance improved." When she called on them in a non-threatening way, those who initially didn't have anything to say, participated more. McGlasson said TESA really changed how she related to her students and positively influenced their achievement.