TEACHING WITH RIGOR AND RELEVANCENorthside ElementaryJune 2013

FOCUS FOR 2013/2014: P.I.E.R.Planning

Instruction

Engagement

Rigor

HOW DO WE PREPARE STUDENTS FOR HIGHER EXPECTATIONS WITH STAAR? Teach with a focus

on the TEKS Teach the depth

required by the TEKS

Design engaging lessons that are rigorous and relevant

ACTIVITY: TOWER OF PASTA Objective: participants will

understand the relationship between shapes and strengths of structures in construction.

Materials: 20 pieces of dry spaghetti and 20 small marshmallows for each group and a meter stick

Procedure:1: Construct the tallest possible

tower using 20 pieces of spaghetti and 20 marshmallows (must stand for 5 minutes)

2: Submit tower design for approval (brainstorm / research designs, agree on a design and sketch it)

3: Begin construction using sketch; make design alterations as needed.

4: Each person completes written summary including a description of the planned tower, design modifications made during construction, and suggestions to other builders on techniques to improve designs of towers.

5: Measure towers and recognize winning groups

6: Discuss design elements7: Discuss this project as a

learning activity

DEFINING RIGOR AND RELEVANCE Rigor…

Dictionary: A condition that makes life difficult, challenging, or uncomfortable

Relevance… Dictionary: Practical

and especially social applicability.

But what does rigor and relevance look like in the classroom?

RIGOR/RELEVANCE FRAMEWORKFROM INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR LEADERSHIP IN EDUCATION, INC.

C D

A B

Rigor/Relevance Framework

Application

Know

ledg

e

KNOWLEDGE TAXONOMY (Y-AXIS) 6: Creating 5: Evaluating 4: Analyzing 3: Applying 2: Understanding 1: Remembering

APPLICATION MODEL (X-AXIS) 1: Knowledge of one

discipline 2: Application within

discipline 3: Application across

disciplines 4: Application to real-

world predictable situations

5: Application to real-world unpredictable situations

COMPLETED FRAMEWORK

NORTHSIDE’S FRAMEWORK

C: Higher order thinking, content

specific, no real-world

application, typical formal assessments

D: Higher order thinking, high relevance and

application, cross-curricular

projects

A: Understanding basic skills in one subject,

B: Understanding basic skills in

real-world experiences with simple solutions

BENEFITS OF USING RIGOR AND RELEVANCE: Better prepare students for future work Way to focus student learning on priority

standards Ensure students achieve standards Align curriculum, instruction, and assessment Prepare for state tests Increase student interest and motivation

(engagement)

R/R AND ASSESSMENT Determine the level of Rigor and Relevance

on STAAR test Develop your tests to parallel state tests

when preparing for them (mini common assessments, district common assessments & benchmarks)

Use performance assessments when you want Quadrant D achievement

Keep level of assessment consistent with expectation for performance

Let students know assessment in advance

INCREASING RIGOR AND RELEVANCE Challenging assessments Interdisciplinary instruction Reading in the content

area Relationships Use of technology New teaching ideas Peer teaching observations Action research Continuous Professional

Development (In House) Thematic Teaching

SUGGESTIONS FOR SEQUENCING LEARNING Don’t always start in

Quadrant A Consider starting with

real world problems Use inquiry for

launching activities Use variety of

individual and group student work

Make each part of the learning experience important

ACTIVITY: BUILDING A QUADRANT D LESSON