Academic Rigor is learning through …
- strategically, intentionally planned curriculum
- focused and aligned standards
- diverse and multiple learning styles, needs, and experiences
- immersing students as workers, investigators, and problem solvers
- utilizing critical, creative, and higher order thinking skills
- generating student self-discovery and intellectual engagement through new ideas, meanings, and knowledge
- working with challenging text and mediums that pose dilemmas, conduct inquiry, take positions, examine multiple meanings, and apply to current life situations.
Questioning –How will I know I am successful?
Teachers will:
- Intentionally and strategically plan questions and how to ask them at the right time to be a catalyst for powerful, exciting, and memorable learning.
- Frame their questions around knowledge, skills, and big ideas that students needs to learn.
- Choose the right type, kind, and level of questioning to reinforce and intensify different kinds of learning.
Students will:
- Formulate questions and initiate topics.
- Initiate discussion participation through self or teacher direction.
- Build upon the contributions of others through relevant and meaningful responses/ questions.
Effective questioning puts learning ahead of activities.
Engagement – How will I know I have it?
Teachers will:
- Strategically and intentionally utilize the questions planned for their instructional purpose.
- Provide learning tasks that are relevant, meaningful, and important.
- Provide a productive mix of different types of groupings and learning opportunities suitable for lesson objectives.
- Be passionate about teaching.
Students will:
- Show an observable attraction to their work.
- Persist in their work despite challenges and obstacles.
- Show application of their work in real time connections.
Engagement is NOT just keeping students busy!