Isn't it great when someone or something exceeds your expectations?  Michelle Obama was pleased to learn that students at GWU had exceeded her challenge of achieving 100,000 community service hours during the last year.  She gave the students a clear and attainable, yet challenging, goal to which they responded with determination and success.  To read more, click here. Students have a funny way of doing that.  Good teachers learn early on that it is important to figure out how to set clear, attainable, challenging goals for their students.  All too often, though, we see students and teachers fall into the self-fulfilling prophecy trap that ultimately stunts or reverses any progress.  Self-fulfilling prophecy is when you expect the very least, communicate that fairly clearly, and proceed to stand in the way of any possible progress.  And surprise, surprise, your low expectations are met.  Setting unrealistic, or lofty, expectations may create the same negative results as setting insultingly low ones.  If students feel completely incapable or unequipped to reach a certain goal they will most likely respond with indifference.  Know your students, set goals appropriate for their ability and interest, then facilitate achievement by encouraging them every step of the way.