Instructional Leadership: Planning Rigorous Curriculum (What is Rigorous Curriculum?)

© AZ Board of Regents, All rights reserved, Name of Superintendent –Welcome –Why Important Welcome

© AZ Board of Regents, All rights reserved, Name of Facilitator –Overview / Agenda –Enduring Understandings –Guiding Questions –Targeted Objectives –Introductions Overview & Introductions

Proposed Norms & Expectations Stay focused and fully engaged –no competing conversations please Participate to grow –share openly and monitor your listening Be a learner –create your own meaning and application Get your needs met –ask questions that benefit the group –personal questions on breaks Housekeeping –silence cell phones –handle business later – share ONE point …then next person

© AZ Board of Regents, All rights reserved, Student Achievement Teacher Quality Instructional Leadership ImplementingMonitoring Supporting CommunicatingAdvocatingPlanning Instructional Leadership Core Component is Managed through Key Processes

© AZ Board of Regents, All rights reserved, Plan curriculum to maximize student opportunity to learn essential knowledge and skills. Develop a rigorous curriculum for all students. Develop a rigorous curriculum for students with special needs. Plan access to rigorous curricula for students with special needs. Develop an understanding that a rigorous curriculum is a vital component of a school’s vision in order to assure and promote high levels of student achievement and success. Research-Based Critical Behaviors

© AZ Board of Regents, All rights reserved, By the end of the workshop you will develop an action plan focused on applying the Research-Based Critical Behaviors In the column labeled “Current Reality” –Rate yourself on a scale of 1-5 –5 = highly effective –3 = effective –1 = ineffective –Describe the evidence that supports your application of this concept Action Plan

© AZ Board of Regents, All rights reserved, What does Rigor mean? What are Critical Elements of a Rigorous Curriculum? What is Rigorous Curriculum? Segment Guiding Questions

© AZ Board of Regents, All rights reserved, Write down what rigor means to you. What does the phrase “rigorous curriculum mean to you? Talk in your table groups about the challenges you face in your school in regards to rigor. Surfacing Prior Knowledge Rigorous Curriculum-What Is It?

© AZ Board of Regents, All rights reserved, Review rigor definitions in Handout: Defining Rigor Compare YOUR key words to those in the handout. What challenges could arise from such diverse views/definitions of rigor? Comparing Rigor Definitions Handout: Defining Rigor

© AZ Board of Regents, All rights reserved, RESEARCH: Three (3) major stumbling blocks to rigor: No consistent definition of rigor Clear pathway to rigor Poor professional development Stumbling Blocks to Rigor

© AZ Board of Regents, All rights reserved, Read: Using a Cognitive Rigor Matrix to… –Individually, use Close Reading strategy: I know this  Significant idea (post-it note too) ? Question / I’d like to know more –As a group, List significant ideas on post-it notes Organize by category Identify 2-4 BIG IDEAS Creating The Pathway

© AZ Board of Regents, All rights reserved, Based on your reading (discuss by table/school team): 1.How can a consistent definition of rigor contribute to more rigorous curriculum? 2.How can Cognitive Rigor Matrix contribute to… –more rigorous curriculum? –more rigorous assessments? –more rigorous instruction? 3.What do you need to do in your school to increase rigor (including overcome obstacles)? Planning Rigorous Curricula

© AZ Board of Regents, All rights reserved, Study –What is our definition of rigor? Reflect –What is our current level of rigor in each subject area? Plan –What are our next steps? Do –Who, What, When School Improvement: Rigor

How is Rigor Increased? Handout: How is Rigor Increased? Raise Level of Content Increase Complexity Give appropriate support and guidance Open your focus Raise Expectations Rigor is NOT a Four Letter Word Barbara R. Blackburn, Winthrop University

© AZ Board of Regents, All rights reserved, –Building Academic Vocabulary –Writing – varied types/levels of writing, journals, writing across the curriculum –Problem-solving – case studies, challenge problems, essay exams –Oral Communication – debates, role playing, summary presentations –Collaborative Projects – explore, research, & solve complex problems –Motivation & Engagement are required for rigor –Time & opportunity to navigate sophisticated and reflective learning experiences Student Activities that Build Rigor:

© AZ Board of Regents, All rights reserved, –Providing PD to ensure staff understand and apply Bloom’s taxonomy within lesson design PLC focused on instruction & results –Completing a “Curriculum Audit” (assessment of curriculum document existence & quality) Clearly defined standards/expectations –Engaging teachers in Curriculum Mapping Identifying critical topics, skills, etc per grade Analyzing vertical alignment and/or overlap –Utilizing “action research” strategies –Focusing on student results Regular monitoring of progress Teacher Activities that Build Rigor:

© AZ Board of Regents, All rights reserved, –Frequent supervision focused on raising the rigor of curriculum and improving instruction Observe classroom curriculum & instruction Examine student work samples –Ensure teachers receive on-site and/or embedded professional development –Time & opportunity for teacher collaboration focused on improving curriculum & instruction –Focus on student results Ensure staff uses data to adjust instruction Monitor student progress Leadership Activities that Build Rigor:

Would anyone like to share your thoughts on next steps based on this information? What is the role that professional development will play in this process? How Is Rigor Increased?

© AZ Board of Regents, All rights reserved, At your table, using round-robin Share answers to the 4 questions below 1.How can a consistent definition of rigor contribute to more rigorous curriculum? 2.How can Cognitive Rigor Matrix contribute to… more rigorous curriculum? assessments? instruction? 3.What do you need to do in your school to increase rigor (including overcome obstacles)? 4.What is the role that professional development will play in this process? Share

© AZ Board of Regents, All rights reserved, Whole Group –Share ONE idea you heard from another person at your table Share

© AZ Board of Regents, All rights reserved, At your table, using round-robin How will you know rigor is increasing? Discuss the data that needs to be collected? Make a list of appropriate “data points” –Which 2-4 are most critical? Whole Group Share ONE idea from your group Data / Evidence

© AZ Board of Regents, All rights reserved, Consider the guiding questions Use column labeled “Strategies/Ideas” –connect today’s discussions with the “Research- Based Critical Behaviors.” –List at least THREE things per box Closure for this Segment 23

© AZ Board of Regents, All rights reserved, Review the following… –Targeted Objectives –Research-Based Critical Behaviors Next Steps –What additional data do you need? –Who will you involve in process? –What resources do you need? Action Plan –Do what? –By when? Conclusion and Development of an Action Plan

© AZ Board of Regents, All rights reserved, In table groups (in a round robin format) –Share one new learning and describe how you will apply it in your job –NO REPEATS! Workshop Closure

© AZ Board of Regents, All rights reserved, THANK YOU Please complete “Participant Feedback” Workshop Closure