elementary grade level meetings october 15, 17, 19, 2012
DESCRIPTION
Elementary Grade Level Meetings October 15, 17, 19, 2012. Welcome Introductions Reminders. Goals for Today: SOL update for Science, Mathematics, English/Language Arts What is rigor? How can all grade levels and content areas assist in the student’s mastery of a subject? - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Elementary Grade Level Meetings
October 15, 17, 19, 2012
• Welcome • Introductions
• Reminders
Goals for Today:
1. SOL update for Science, Mathematics, English/Language Arts2. What is rigor?3. How can all grade levels and content areas assist in the student’s mastery of a subject?4. How can we help you?
The Improved Classroom
PURPOSEThe purpose of this workshop is to enlighten teachers about ways to build academic rigor into every lesson, in every classroom.
WHAT IS RIGOR?Noun1. strictness, severity, or harshness, as
in dealing with people.2. the full or extreme severity of laws,
rules, etc.3. severity of living conditions;
hardship; austerity; the rigor of wartime existence.
4. a severe or harsh act, circumstance, etc.
5. scrupulous or inflexible accuracy or adherence: the logical rigor of mathematics.
ACADEMIC RIGOR
The set of standards we set for our students and the expectations we have for our students and ourselves.
We expect our students to demonstrate not only content mastery but applied skills and critical thinking about the disciplines being taught.
National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development,
IS RIGOR APPROPRIATE FOR EVERYONE? Exposure to high levels of
authentic intellectual work are associated with gains in standardized test scoresStudents exposed to high quality
assignments had 20% higher gains than national average.
Students exposed to low quality assignments had gains 25% lower than the national average.
RIGOR IS NOT… Something extra you have to do on top of everything else.
More.More pages ≠ rigorMore of the same math problems ≠ rigorMore homework ≠ rigor
RIGOR IS … Part of quality instruction. Part of a quality schooling experience.
You cannot have quality
instruction or a quality school without rigor.
RIGOR IN THE CLASSROOM Focus on what students are asked to do
Three main pieces: course content, instruction, assessment
Course content:Doing a good job with state standardsBasic skills coupled with key
concepts/important ideasApplications of core content to problems
RIGOR IN THE CLASSROOM Instruction:
Activities that engage students in higher order thinking
“Elaborated communication”
Assessment:Aligned to higher order goalsContain higher order thinking,
engage with academic content, and require extended, elaborated responses
HERE’S A NEW THOUGHT!Noun1. Active strength or force2. Healthy physical or mental
energy or power; vitality3. Energetic activity; energy;
intensity4. Force of healthy growth in any
living matter or organism, as a plant
5. Active or effective force, especially legal validity
WHEN DEALING WITH THE INCREASE RIGOR IN THE CLASSROOM, LET’S ALSO FOCUS ON VIGOR!
!
VIGOR WILL… fosters active, healthy growth create readiness for energetic action develop active mental strength prepare students to be able and ready
to use subject knowledge to understand the natural world and human experience
empower students to think boldly and intensely
VIGORThe Improved
Classroom!!!