Adding Rigor to Your Classroom
Expect Evidence
What Does This Look Like in the Classroom?
As teachers, we have learned so much about changing the way we ask questions in the classrooms, but do we really think about how the students are answering these new types of questions? Sometimes, it's a huge accomplishment to get one two sentences, or even one to two WORDS out of students. But that's not enough!
In Rigor in Your Classroom: A Toolkit for Teachers, it states that teachers shouldn't shy away from probing for better responses. Don't be afraid to ask questions like:
- "Can you explain that a little more?"
- "How did you know that?"
- "Give me some more details about that."
If we settle for "just enough", we are sending the message to our students that we don't expect any more than "just enough" from those students. Guide them, support them, but be sure to help them to get to the "tell me more" part of the answer.
Examples of Evidence in the Classroom
Student- Created "How- To" Educreation Videos
Kindergarten students use Educreations to CREATE "how to" videos for math concepts to prove that they understand the concept.
Guided Reading Prompts to Promote Comprehension
Sometimes all students need is a little prompting...
Landforms Thinglink
Third grade students made landform collages, and then used thinglink to explain what they learned about each landform.
Student Made Commercials
Students who enjoyed certain books created a "commercial" to showcase that book to EXPLAIN why others should read the book. They gave a brief summary, and then REASONS why they enjoyed it.
Student made Videos
Second grade students made weather forecasts to explain a particular extreme weather that they have been studying.