What is Academic Rigor, What Do We Do with It? By: Jordan Catapano The term “academic rigor” has been perambulating its way through educational circuits, but many teachers are not familiar with the concept or how to support rigor within their classroom. Understanding rigor is essential for understanding how to approach and measure the learning of students. It questions the standards we demand from our students and reconsider exactly what we consider as true achievement. “Rigor,” in the academic sense, is referring to that fine line between challenging and frustrating a student. It means that students are challenged to think, perform, and grow to a level that they were not at previously. It means that students must work, like an athlete at a team practice, to build their skills, understanding, and thinking power so that they can achieve at higher and higher levels. It means that the standards of the course are calibrated so that students are compelled to grow, but are not frustrated and overwhelmed in the process. Academic rigor is commonly thought of in three different phases of the educational process. The first is setting the standard for students; the second is equipping students through instructional and supportive methods; the third is student demonstration of achievement. These three phases were popularized by Barbara Blackburn’s 2008 book “Rigorous Schools and Classrooms: Leading the Way.” Setting the Standard We all know that there is a certain standard of excellence that we implicitly expect of our students. Sometimes these standards are made clear to students via examples, rubrics, directions, and instruction. Sometimes these standards are less defined. What is essential for establishing the appropriate degree of rigor in your classroom is making sure that you overtly demonstrate to students what the expected outcome is. Here are a few key characteristics of a classroom that communicates the standards. Related Articles Helping Kids Cope with School & Test Anxiety Here are a few ways teachers can help students feel less anxious about school... March into Womens History Month Every March, schools across the nation recognize Womans History Month by... What is Academic Rigor, What Do We Do with It? Understanding academic rigor is essential for understanding how to approach and... 8 Google Apps Tricks Every Teacher Should Know Ive been using Google Apps for about a year now and have alist of my eight... Classroom Management for Substitute Teachers Substitute teachers should use these tips and ideas to help you maintain... Total classroom environment endorses a high-degree of performance from each student. Teacher believes in the potential for each student’s success and communicates this belief. Lessons and tasks are designed to lead students to expected outcomes. Examples of desired outcomes and undesired outcomes are overtly shared with students. Students have opportunity to revise their academic attempts. Higher-level, thought-provoking questions are asked by teacher. High-level, thought-provoking answers are shared by students. Teacher does not accept lower-level thinking or answers in discussion or academic tasks. Supporting Rigorous Achievement Not only is maintaining a high standard essential for student success, but excellent teachers must also make sure that they are supporting each and every student to move progressively toward the desired level of achievement. Teachers must consistently ensure that whatever the content or skill they are covering, they provide the requisite materials and instructional patterns. Here are the signs of a classroom environment supportive for student progress: Lessons are systematically scaffolded from one to the next. Materials are consistently organized to clearly provide instructions and demonstration of task. Intervention tasks or instructions are regularly utilized to ensure no students are left behind. Teacher is available for helping students individually at other points throughout the day. Parents are communicated with regularly regarding the academic goals of the course. Learning tools are color-coded, graphically organized, reinforced, and interactive. Content is made relevant and relatable to student background information and interest. Validation of Achievement It’s not enough for teachers simply to “teach” and expect students then to “learn.” The final step for true assessment of academic rigor within the classroom is for the teacher to provide students with various opportunities to demonstrate their degree of achievement in relation to the given standard. Here are a variety of methods available for allowing students to exemplify their progress: A balance of formative and summative assessments intermittently provided. Student demonstration measured using a rubric or other standard-based assessment tool. Students allowed the opportunity to conference and revise work. Homework and class activities thought of as “practice.” Students work independently or collaboratively on a given project. Students connect material to real-life examples and situations. Students provide a written or spoken summative report. Students metacognitively apply a variety of content learned. Student performance compared to previous student attempts. Students provide high-level answers to high-level questions. Students do not give up or feel overwhelmed when faced with challenges. Students reflect on their learning progress and efforts. So what are your standards in your classroom? How are those communicated, supported, and demonstrated throughout the year? Take time to consider how “rigorous” the academic requirements are for your classroom, and shape the environment to consistently demand of students higher and higher levels of academic progress! What do you consider “rigorous” for your students? Do you think it is different depending on the class? How do Common Core standards affect the type of rigor you engage your students in? Share your thoughts on this subject below! Jordan Catapano is an English teacher at Conant High School in a Chicago suburb. In addition to being National Board Certificated, he also sits as the District Leader for the Illinois Association of Teachers of English and serves as a school board member for a private school. You can follow him on Twitter at @BuffEnglish, or visit his website ACTWritingTips.
Posted on: Sat, 08 Mar 2014 02:26:58 +0000
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