1. Academic Rigor in the Classroom
“Do not confine your children to your own learning, for they were born in another time.”
Hebrew Proverb

2. Objectives Assess our current understanding of rigor in the classroom
Review a set of best practices for promoting academic excellence through rigor in the classroom

3. Assess our current understanding of rigor in the classroom
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4. Rigor - students
Assists students in fulfilling predetermined outcomes and
competencies by challenging them with high expectations.
Essential components for rigor in the classroom:
Content acquisition
Critical thinking
Relevance
Integration
Ability to apply concepts
Long term retention
Responsibility

5. Staff Demanding Relevant Engaging Addressing different learning styles
Self-challenge
Adaptability

6. Develop a set of best mgt practices for promoting academic excellence through rigor in the classroom

7. Best Practices
Writing (journals, varied levels of writing, writing across the curriculum, etc.)
Problem-solving (case studies, group activities, essay exams, etc.)
Oral communication (debates w/expert judges, summary presentations, role playing)
Reading/comprehension (reading and analyzing – ie. in-class discussion, quizzes, summaries, etc)
Collaborative group projects

8. Best Practices continued
Socratic method/interactive discussion
Knowing your students (contact, interaction, praise, showing interest, meeting w/students)
Providing a detailed, clear syllabus with faculty and student objectives; grading rubric, calendar, etc.
Class size - use technology to enhance efficiency of content delivery, engage students, don’t let tech drive faculty
In-class small group discussion and report findings (think-pair-share)