Rigor in the classroom

I develop curriculum for middle school math. I focus on using critical-thinking skills in my content so the math makes sense to the students.

Last summer I attended a GT training and was introduced to choice boards! I LOVE THIS IDEA!!! I think that students are more engaged and even challenge themselves more when they are given choices. The great thing is....they aren't just for GT students. Choice boards work similar to tic-tac-toe; the student completes 3 activities in a row {up, down, diagonal} They can be adapted for ALL students and actually lend themselves well to differentiated instruction. On Tuesday, I will be attending…

Classroom rigor is not about work load, difficulty, curricular choices, or grading policies. It's about Bloom's Taxonomy.

I develop curriculum for middle school math. I focus on using critical-thinking skills in my content so the math makes sense to the students.

Over the past 4 years, I have worked on the creation of many Common Core documents including curriculum guides, pacing guides, standard checklists and so on. When you review the language of the standards and look at nouns and the verbs, you will readily notice the close alignment with Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy and Webb’s Depth of Knowledge. In 2001, the new version of Bloom’s Taxonomy was released with Bloom’s six major categories changed from nouns to verbs. The knowledge level was renamed…

I felt really frustrated with word study so far this year. My class is made up of two types of kids right now: ones that know ALL their letters and sounds and ones that literally know like, three. Everyone around me is teaching via centers/stations but friends, if you've followed me at all then you know that centers are NOT MY JAM. I was jaded my second year teaching when I worked at a school that had a solid 5 center a week rotation. I printed, copied them on 5 different colors of paper…

Increase math rigor with these simple strategies to enhance Common Core lessons. Improve student success in math by adding depth and...

Differentiating for rigor ELA Gifted Guru

Guest Blog Post By Sam Bradford Let’s talk about “Classroom Rules.” Are they something you keep in your syllabus and mention the first day of class and never return to? Do you find that printing--and, if necessary, even laminating--a list of rules and tacking them on your wall safeguards you from problems with student conduct? We’ve all had the experience where a student comes to us and says “Gee, teacher, I sure was on a bad path, but when I saw that little sign that said ‘Respect Yourself…

Are you struggling with differentiating instruction for gifted students? Check our ideas out here for teaching tips and ideas for engaging high achieving students in the classroom. It is important for teachers to engage all learners in the classroom but can be hard to balance gifted and talented activities along with everything else. Find more information here on how to challenged gifted students here.