FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

What phenomenon describes how a teacher's expectations can influence student performance?

1. Self-fulfilling prophecy

2. Expectation theory

3. Performance bias

4. Positive reinforcement

The correct answer is: Self-fulfilling prophecy

The self-fulfilling prophecy is a phenomenon that illustrates how a teacher’s expectations can shape a student's performance. When a teacher holds certain expectations for a student, those expectations can lead to behaviors and treatment that ultimately influence the student's outcomes. For instance, if a teacher believes that a student will perform well, they may provide more encouragement, focus more attention on the student, or offer more advanced opportunities. This positive feedback can boost the student’s confidence, leading to improved performance. This effect works conversely as well. If a teacher expects a student to struggle, they may unconsciously provide less support or lower academic expectations. The student may internalize these low expectations, resulting in decreased motivation and performance. Thus, the teacher's beliefs become a self-fulfilling prophecy, as these expectations are reflected in how they interact with their students. While expectation theory might seem like a relevant alternative, it doesn't specifically capture the dynamic of expectations leading to outcomes as precisely as the concept of a self-fulfilling prophecy. Performance bias refers to a differential treatment based on perceptions, which is related but not solely about expectations affecting outcomes as self-fulfilling prophecies do. Positive reinforcement relates to encouraging desired behavior rather than addressing the overarching influence of