"Rigor is creating an environment in which each student is expected to learn at high levels, each student is supported so he or she can learn at high levels, and each student demonstrates learning at high levels."
-Rigor is Not a Four-Letter Word, By: Barbara R. Blackburn
As a Mentor teacher in my home school, I am faced with a rare opportunity to work with teachers who are working with the same students I have taught for the past two years. As a former 6th Grade Language Arts teacher, I now know the majority of 7th and 8th grade students, and get to interact with them in a different way, as I am in and out of their classrooms.
One of my mentees approached me with a concern about their current Advanced Language Arts students in 8th grade. As a teacher already known for his solid classroom management, and the ability to gain strong relationships with some of the hardest to reach students, he was baffled at their lack of concentration and motivation for today's lesson.
My first question: "Did you do the same lesson with them as you did with your 1/2?"
Answer: "Yes."
Response: "That's the problem. This particular bunch of advanced students will absolutely revolt if they are asked to do anything that they feel is beneath their abilities."
I knew immediately, that with this particular group of bright and thirsty students, that they never settled for less than they knew they deserved out of their education, and therefore from their teachers.
It reminded me of a book I had previously read, and thought now was the time to bring it out again to use with my mentee, "Rigor is NOT a Four-Letter Word" by: Barbara R. Blackburn. In this book teachers are called upon to not only understand what Rigor is, but to act upon their instruction each day as a way to reach students at high levels by questioning, prompting, engaging, and raising the bar. To do this you must use many styles and approaches to reach the students, from Bloom's Taxonomy, Hess's Matrix, Differentiation, to the Multiple Intelligences.
I am thankful that my mentee sought out my help, and I'm even thankful he went through this difficult lesson. Each failure is an opportunity to learn and grow for future experiences. He will become a better teacher to learn about rigor and attempt to be proactive with differentiation, as well as I will attempt to be proactive to reach more of the new teachers to help them raise rigor in their rooms, BEFORE they also have a class revolt in the name of learning.
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Teach Like a PIRATE
Design a lesson that students will remember for the next 25 years. This is a lofty goal, but a goal that one teacher makes for himself every single day.
Dave Burgess is a Social Studies teacher who has published the book Teach Like a PIRATE: Increase Student Engagement, Boost Your Creativity, and Transform Your Life as an Educator,
The Mentor teachers were asked to choose a book study topic, so I chose how to engage students at high levels, while incorporating rigor within the lessons. Teach Like a PIRATE was suggested to me, and seemed the perfect fit, as one section is titled "Crafting Engaging Lessons."
PIRATE is an acronym for how to live and breath teaching in a way that will foster relationships with your students, help you fall in love with your profession all over again, and be ENGAGING.
One thoughtful question that stood out to me was regarding the set up of the climate and culture the minute the students walk into the room. Burgess says to ask yourself the following.
"What could I write on my board for this lesson that would spark a conversation or create a buzz even before the bell rings?"
By setting up the expectation for yourself, that you are going to spark their attention before the bell rings or the music stops, you are on the road to creating a lesson or conversation, that a student might remember for the next 25 years.
To learn more about how to inspire yourself and your students, check out Teach Like a PIRATE: Increase Student Engagement, Boost Your Creativity, and Transform Your Life as an Educator, by Dave Burgess. Or you can go to his website: http://daveburgess.com/
Dave Burgess is a Social Studies teacher who has published the book Teach Like a PIRATE: Increase Student Engagement, Boost Your Creativity, and Transform Your Life as an Educator,
The Mentor teachers were asked to choose a book study topic, so I chose how to engage students at high levels, while incorporating rigor within the lessons. Teach Like a PIRATE was suggested to me, and seemed the perfect fit, as one section is titled "Crafting Engaging Lessons."
PIRATE is an acronym for how to live and breath teaching in a way that will foster relationships with your students, help you fall in love with your profession all over again, and be ENGAGING.
One thoughtful question that stood out to me was regarding the set up of the climate and culture the minute the students walk into the room. Burgess says to ask yourself the following.
"What could I write on my board for this lesson that would spark a conversation or create a buzz even before the bell rings?"
By setting up the expectation for yourself, that you are going to spark their attention before the bell rings or the music stops, you are on the road to creating a lesson or conversation, that a student might remember for the next 25 years.
To learn more about how to inspire yourself and your students, check out Teach Like a PIRATE: Increase Student Engagement, Boost Your Creativity, and Transform Your Life as an Educator, by Dave Burgess. Or you can go to his website: http://daveburgess.com/
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