1. Increasing Rigor to Develop Critical Thinking Skills
Presented by Kim Lawrence and Melanie Garnett

2. Find Someone Who…
Let’s get to know each other a little!

3. Rigor-the latest cliche
A search for “rigor” on the VDOE site returned 974 hits
A search for “rigorous” on the VDOE site returned 1,470 hits

4. Rigor-the latest cliche
The word “rigorous” appears 16 times in the U.S. Department of Education Document “A Blueprint for Reform”
Rigorous Standards
Rigorous Assessments
Rigorous Interventions
(The word America appears 9 times)

5. What is rigor? With a team of 2 or 3 discuss the following:
What does RIGOR look like in the classroom?
Why is it important?
How do you implement it?
Construct a poster using your creativity

6. Rigorous Learning Experience Non-rigorous Learning Experiences

7. Many Definitions of Rigor
Rigor requires active participation from both teachers and students.
Rigor asks students to use content to solve complex problem and to develop strategies that can be applied to other situations, make connections across content areas, and ultimately draw conclusions and create solutions on their own

8. Many Definitions of Rigor
Rigor requires teachers to create a learning environment where students use their knowledge to create meaning for a broader purpose
Rigor requires students to learn how to develop alternative strategies if their first attempts are unsuccessful

9. OLD SOL Question

10. NEW SOL Question-More Rigorous!!!

13. Comprehensive interpretation of SOL and Curriculum Framework
The student will-
a) tell time to the nearest minute, using analog and digital clocks; and
b) determine elapsed time in one-hour increments over a 12-hour period.

14. Under Essential Knowledge and Skills, the third bullet says:
When given the beginning time and ending time, determine the elapsed time in one-hour increments within a 12-hour period (times do not cross between a.m. and p.m.).
There are three elements in this type of problem: a beginning time, an ending time, and the amount of time that has elapsed. If given ANY two of these three elements, the students should be able to find the missing piece.

15. Additional Ways for Students to Demonstrate Understanding
Addition of non-multiple choice items called technology-enhanced items (TEI):
Fill-in-the-blank
Drag and drop
Hot-spot: Select one or more “zones/spots” to respond to a test item; i.e. select answer option(s), shade region(s), place point(s) on a grid or number line
Creation of bar graphs/histograms

16. BREAK!

17. How Can Teachers Achieve and Maintain Instructional “Rigor”?
Engage students in the learning process, providing relevant activities and tasks that require a high level of cognitive demand
Ask high-leverage questions that require students to think, process, and communicate
Require students to justify their thinking and reasoning

18. Math Rigor become mathematical problem solvers that
Provide instruction that requires students to
become mathematical problem solvers that
communicate mathematically;
reason mathematically;
make mathematical connections; and
use mathematical representations to model and interpret practical situations

19. Reading Rigor
Standards at each grade address reading fiction and nonfiction
Nonfiction emphasizes text structures and organizational patterns
Inferences and conclusions based on explicit and implied information
Differentiate between fact and opinion
Increase rigor by choice of texts
Offer students choice in reading/writing topics
Use project-based learning
Use cooperative groups

20. Evidence of Rigor Students not only learn, do, and reflect.
They also master skills such as:
Critical thinking,
Problem solving,
Creativity,
Collaboration,
Project management, and
Written and oral communication.
21st century skills are embedded in all of the above!

21. Examples from L.A.
Take a look at the vertical alignment of the Reading Comprehension SOLs for grades K-2
Read excerpt about the Gradual Release of Responsibility
Video of a Teacher Think-Aloud
Share examples of rigorous comprehension instruction

22. Examples from Math
Take a look at the vertical alignment of the math SOLs for grades K-2
Read the “Rigor in Mathematics Teaching and Learning” article
Share examples of rigorous math instruction

23. Time for you to work
Now we are going to give you more time to explore:
Professional books
Blackboard site
VDOE website (Enhanced Scope and Sequence)
Number/Number Sense Module
How do you plan on incorporating more rigor to your math and/or reading instruction?