Learn how to increase instructional rigor so that all students can reach higher levels of learning! In this new edition of a best seller, author Barbara R. Blackburn offers practical ideas for raising expectations, increasing complexity, integrating scaffolding into instruction, creating open-ended choices and projects, and much more. This timely new edition provides connections to rigorous standards, plus it features new sections on topics such as questioning models, student ownership, Genius Hour, summative assessments, becoming a teacher-leader, and increasing rigor in instructional technology. Appropriate for teachers of all grade levels and subject areas, the book is filled with helpful strategies and tools that you can implement immediately. In addition, full-sized templates are available as eResources on our website (www.routledge.com/9781138569560) so you can download and print them for classroom use. With its practical advice and helpful tools, Rigor Is NOT a Four-Letter Word will set you and your students on the fast track to higher learning and sustained success.

Reader-friendly and practical, Rigor is NOT a Four-Letter Word is filled with tools you can use every day to raise the level of rigor in your classroom. These strategies can be incorporated immediately across content areas, grades, and subjects. Barbara Blackburn clearly defines what rigor is and how individual teachers can provide challenging learning experiences in their classrooms to prepare students for a better future.

Learn how to increase rigor so that all students can reach higher levels of learning! With this new edition of a teacher-tested best seller, you get practical ideas for increasing text complexity, providing scaffolding during reading instruction, creating open-ended projects, and much more. The enhanced second edition provides important connections to the Common Core State Standards, plus new sections on problem-based learning, implementation of high standards, and working with special-needs students.

This practical, easy-to-read guide explains how to raise the rigor for students with special needs so they can achieve higher levels of learning. Learn how to set clear goals and expectations establish a climate of success scaffold and model lessons use graphic organizers and "think-alouds" apply modifications and accommodations use rigorous questioning strategies differentiate instruction increase family involvement Get even more out of this book by discussing it with others! It’s ideal for study groups and the appendix features a detailed guide on how to make it work for your group! Bonus! You get a great variety of handy black line masters for use in your own classroom.

Connect theory to practice with this timely, comprehensive whole-child approach to accelerated learning. Planning for equitable accelerated learning is analogous to preparing a meal. Similar to a chef selecting the menu, gathering ingredients, and planning the occasion, educators choose aligned curricula to prioritize learning, organize and internalize instruction, and plan for opportunities to advance student learning. Grounded in research and employing the Science of Learning Development (SoLD) principles, this book offers bold new thinking about unfinished learning, equity, and student success. The five-course framework guides educators through the process of Assessing the current school conditions and mindset for acceleration versus remediation Reflecting on empowerment Surveying and reimagining curriculum Understanding and embracing diversity and equity Establishing and implementing effective foundational instruction Promoting, expanding, and reflecting on student engagement Including frequent opportunities for reader reflection, real-world vignettes, and tools that can be brought directly into the classroom, this book delivers everything educators need to adopt a whole-child approach to advancing student learning and engagement.

Turn your school into a student-centered learning environment, where rigor is at the heart of instruction in every classroom. From the bestselling author of Rigor is Not a Four-Letter Word, Barbara Blackburn, and award-winning educator Ronald Williamson, this comprehensive guide to establishing a schoolwide culture of rigor is for principals and other administrators who seek to create the conditions in which rigorous classrooms flourish. School leaders will learn to manage a movement toward increased schoolwide rigor; engage teachers in conversations about improving instruction; build support for rigor among families and community members; learn methods for gathering meaningful data on student learning; and much more! With practical, ready-to-apply strategies, this book outlines and simplifies the steps toward achieving rigor at the school level. It represents a successful program that principals and administrators can use to put student learning first!

The activities in the guide will help you connect the suggestions and strategies in Classroom Motivation from A to Z to your real-life teaching experiences. For each of the 26 chapters in the book, you will find a series of three activities that will help you reflect on your current practices. They ask you to ACT now and turn your classroom into a place where students can thrive. Assess where you are right now. Identify your strengths and pat yourself on the back! Then, identify your challenges and get busy deciding how to be more effective. Consider trying something new. This portion of the study guide asks you to step out of your comfort zone and consider trying one of the strategies or practices you've read about. Take away a valuable idea. Finally, be prepared to walk away with something you could literally use tomorrow.