“True 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 (Blackburn, 2008).”
Barbara Blackburn in her blog post Rigor and the Common Core State Standards makes some excellent points about rigor in school. But I want to challenge everyone to think about what true rigor looks like.
Let’s think about what true rigor is not:
- Covering the textbook from beginning to end and having students answer all the questions.
- Having a perfect bell curve of grades at the end of the grading period.
- Keeping kids hands busy with pencil, paper and worksheets-bell to bell.
- Lecturing with a PowerPoint from bell to bell.
- Allowing no student interaction.
- Using whole group instruction and asking one student to answer does not accomplish this goal.
- Implementing standards bases instruction. (the fact the teacher is teaching the standards)
What does true rigor look like?
- Having high expectations for all students. Everyone can achieve.
- Engaging student in learning.
- Emphasizing the process and the thinking models in the process.
- Allowing for high levels of collaboration. Think-pair-share models are in places. Think-write-share models are in place. Regular opportunities to reflect on learning process and what has been learning.
- Allowing opportunities to write (compose) what is being learned. Using digital spaces for composing.
- Allowing opportunities to share what is being learned (even in public spaces).
- Allowing students to use multiple ways to show what they have learned.
- Expecting every student to grow. Don’t let any student off the hook.
- Giving every student opportunities to learn and read at high levels (above and beyond)
- Modeling (the teachers) all learning and thinking process….
What is missing?
Sorry I missed this last week!! It’s a GREAT list. I’d add to what rigor is…providing the support needed for each student to rise to those high expectations. Thanks for a great list, I just retweeted it!
Thank you Barbara! I appreciate you reading and leaving a comment. (and the shout out) Yes, teachers need to provide the support so our students can rise to the occasion. I think we should have more conversations with teachers about what rigor looks like! I am tired of visiting classrooms where the teacher is busier than the student.
Thanks,
Bill
I agree, when I’m doing workshops, I tell teachers their students should go home as tired as the teacher! With principals, I recommend they ask three questions of all stakeholders (anonymously): What is rigor, what are teachers doing in a rigorous classroom, what are students doing in a rigorous classroom? That helps being the conversation!
[...] Rigor! [...]
Thanks Barbara- I like this thought “What is rigor, what are teachers doing in a rigorous classroom, what are students doing in a rigorous classroom? ” Great questions for school leader to ask.
[...] Rigor! [...]