High Expectations Teaching: How We Persuade Students to Believe and Act on "Smart Is Something You Can Get"

by Jonathon (Jon) D Saphier

The myth of fixed intelligence debunked

For all the productive conversation around "mindsets," what’s missing are the details of how to convince our discouraged and underperforming students that "smart is something you can get." Until now. 

With the publication of High-Expectations Teaching , Jon Saphier reveals once and for all evidence that the bell curve of ability is plain wrong―that ability is something that can be grown significantly if we can first help students to believe in themselves. 

In drill-down detail, Saphier provides an instructional playbook for increasing student confidence and agency in the daily flow of classroom All children in all schools, regardless of income or social class, will benefit from the strategies in this book. But for children of poverty and children of color, our proficiency with these skills is essential . . . in many ways life saving. Jon Saphier challenges us all―educators, students, and parents―to get started today.

About Jon Saphier

The author of nine books, including The Skillful Teacher,  Jon Saphier is founder and president of Research for Better Teaching, Inc. (RBT), a professional development organization dedicated since 1979 to improving classroom teaching and school leadership throughout the United States and internationally.

Genres: Education, Nonfiction

248 pages, Paperback

Published December 7, 2016

Reviews

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent layout of both rationale behind combining high expectations with nurturing a "growth mindset" and strategies for doing so. Interesting to me, though, that probably half the strategies have also been recommended for years by those who, like me, use psychological type as a framework for improving teaching and learning.

[Lindsey Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book for my Ed.S. program and I’m so glad it was on the required reading list. It gave me a renewed sense of how important it is to have high expectations for every student, regardless of their attitudes, background, or current performance level. Saphier gives applicable strategies for conveying that “Smart is something you can get” to your students and how to help them develop the same mindset. So often, professional development books like these are aimed towards educators in grades 3-12. But this book gave examples and strategies that I can implement in my kindergarten classroom. This book is worth reading and referencing throughout the school year. I will be recommending this book to my colleagues who are looking for a summer PD read.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for a book study which is what we did! Lots of good conversation and helpful ideas were talked about. We all know a student or two saying they aren't smart and can't do it. Not that this book is a problem fixer, however it sets a different tone for teachers to help with those students. The book addresses research-based ways to get students to believe in themselves. I really appreciated that 37 strategies focused on teachers and it is a great reminder that we as teachers have an impact on students in a positive and negative way. It certainly helped elementary teachers change some statements and reactions to students. I think this would be a great book for all teachers.

[Spacek Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book highlights practical strategies for teachers to employ 'growth mindset' into their classroom practice. Educators must always emphasize that what we are doing in class is important, the student can do it, and the educator is not going to give up on the student learning. The name of the book has a different connotation in that the title indicates action by the teacher, whereas if the book was title 'teaching high expectations' it would emphasize what the teacher is doing to students.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Currently using this for our staff book study and can't wait to see our teachers' presentations on how the book's content informs their teaching!

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

...more grad school reading.