HOW TO EXPECT IT, INCREASE IT, AND CREATE IT PRESENTED BY JAN STILWELL INSTRUCTIONAL SPECIALIST, TITLE I READING NOVEMBER 2010 RIGOR is NOT a 4-letter Word!

RIGOR: What is it? ENTRANCE TICKET Talk with your group to define RIGOR. 2 11/15/2010

Does your definition look like this? Rigor is creating an environment in which each student is expected to learn at high levels, each student is supported so he or she can learn at high levels, and each student demonstrates learning at high levels. -- Barbara R. Blackburn (2008) 3 11/15/2010

Ways to Enhance Rigor in the Classroom: 11/15/ Raise the level of instruction in content 2. Increase the complexity of assignments 3. Provide appropriate support and guidance to students 4. Open your focus – shift from a narrow focus to an open-ended focus 5. Raise expectations for students

Increasing the Complexity RRaise level of content IIncrease complexity GGive appropriate support and guidance OOpen your focus RRaise expectations 5 11/15/2010

Expecting Students to Learn at High Levels High Expectations Challenging Curriculum Instruction: High Level Questioning Instruction: Differentiation and Multiple Intelligences 6 11/15/2010

Models for Questioning New Blooms Taxonomy Ciardellos Four Types of Questions Quality QUESTIONS Question Matrix 7 11/15/2010

Gardners Multiple Intelligences 11/15/2010 8

How to Raise the Level of Content 11/15/ Value a depth of understanding Increase text difficulty Create connections Review, not just repeat of same information Evaluate expectations of content

Ways to Increase Complexity 11/15/ Complexity through projects Complexity in writing - RAFT Complexity in assessing prior knowledge – More than K-W-L! Complexity with vocabulary – Frayer Model Complexity in review games

Writing Structure: RAFT 11/15/ R- ROLE A- AUDIENCE F - FORMAT T - TOPIC

Support & Guidance 11/15/ Scaffolding during reading instruction Modeling expected instructional behaviors Providing clear expectations Chunking big tasks Presenting multiple opportunities to learn

How to Open Your Focus 11/15/ Open-ended questioning Open-ended vocabulary instruction Open-ended projects Open-ended choices for students Open-ended from the beginning

How to Raise Expectations 11/15/ Expect the best Expand the vision Learning is NOT optional Track progress Create a culture for learning

Creating a Culture for Rigor! RIGOR ENGAGEMENT MOTIVATION 15 11/15/2010

Final Insights EXIT TICKET One way I plan to apply this information in my school is … The most important idea I heard today was … I wonder … 16 11/15/2010