As I continue my journey through student teaching, I've been reflecting deeply on how my expectations of students influence their achievement and behavior—this week provided several enlightening moments that highlighted the profound impact our expectations can have on student success.

During my math lessons, I experienced a profound sense of fulfillment as I saw students rise to meet the challenges I set when I communicated high expectations while providing supportive guidance. For instance, when teaching students how to find the circumference and area of a circle, I approached the lesson with the firm belief that every student could grasp the material. While some students initially struggled with understanding the relationship between pi, diameter, and radius, my faith in their abilities was grounded in Philippians 4:13, which reminds us that 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.' By extending this principle to my students, I saw them tackle problems with increased confidence.

However, the most powerful lesson came when working with a struggling student who typically needed more interest in mathematics. Instead of lowering expectations, I remembered Proverbs 22:6: 'Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.' This scripture inspired me to maintain high standards while providing additional support and encouragement. By the end of the week, this student was voluntarily participating in class discussions and showing significant improvement in problem-solving activities, bringing me great joy and reinforcing my belief in the power of high expectations and support.

From a Christian worldview, our expectations of students should reflect how God sees each of them - as unique creations with unlimited potential. 2 Peter 1:3 tells us that "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life." This scripture reminds me that each student has been given gifts and abilities that, when properly nurtured, can lead to success.

The Bible provides numerous examples of God's high expectations, unwavering support, and love. Just as Jesus saw potential in his disciples—ordinary men who would do extraordinary things—we must see the potential in each of our students. Matthew 19:26 reminds us that "with God, all things are possible," which encourages me to maintain high expectations while trusting in God's power to work through me as an educator.

My Christian faith has taught me that practical expectations must be:

  1. Grounded in love (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)
  2. Accompanied by patience and support (Galatians 6:9)
  3. Focused on individual growth rather than comparison (2 Corinthians 10:12)
  4. Balanced with grace and understanding (Ephesians 4:32)

In my classroom, this translates to:

  • Setting challenging but achievable goals
  • Providing scaffolded support
  • Celebrating individual progress
  • Maintaining a growth mindset rooted in faith
  • Creating a supportive, Christ-centered learning environment

Looking ahead, I am reminded of Isaiah 41:10: "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." This verse encourages me to continue setting high expectations while trusting God to provide the wisdom and strength I need to help each student succeed.

Our expectations as Christian educators should reflect God's perfect balance of high standards and unconditional love. When we view our students through this lens, we create an environment where they can genuinely flourish academically, emotionally, and spiritually.

As I continue my student teaching experience, I pray for wisdom to maintain this balance and see each student as God sees them - full of potential and worthy of our highest expectations and deepest commitment to their success.