What instructional strategy best communicates high teacher expectations to a struggling first-grade student?

Helping the student set challenging learning goals with necessary assistance is an effective instructional strategy because it communicates a belief in the student’s potential to succeed while also fostering a growth mindset. By collaboratively setting high expectations, the teacher demonstrates confidence in the student's abilities. This approach encourages the student to strive for improvement and pushes them beyond their current capabilities.

Additionally, providing necessary assistance ensures that the student does not become overwhelmed by the challenge. This scaffolding allows the student to take on achievable objectives within a supportive framework. As the student works towards these goals, they develop resilience, a stronger work ethic, and a sense of ownership over their learning process, all crucial elements in fostering long-term academic growth.

While other strategies may have valid educational benefits, they do not as directly convey high expectations. For instance, focusing solely on the student’s strengths without challenging them can limit their growth. Engaging in heterogeneous groups may offer benefits in collaboration and social interaction, but it does not emphasize individual academic expectations. Similarly, providing praise and rewards for inadequate performance may cultivate a lack of motivation for improvement and does not uphold high standards for learning. In contrast, the chosen strategy embodies the balance of expectation and support necessary for effective teaching.