Rigor Made Easy

Can rigorous instruction be implemented with English language learners? Our guest says yes. Here's how...

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Katherine B. Watts is the Director of Curriculum for Monson Public Schools in Monson, Massachusetts. Prior to this position, she had been honored to work as a classroom Spanish teacher in Springfield Public Schools for 6 years, as a reading specialist and 7th – 8th grade English Language Arts teacher for 12 years in Monson and the Assistant Principal of Granite Valley Middle School, Monson for one year.

Keeping with the spirit of the season, we ask our guest to reflect on a few of her favorite educational things.

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Sharon Davis is the Executive Director for School Leadership for the Killeen, Texas School District. She has been in education for 36 years - having served as Curriculum Director, principal, assistant principal, curriculum specialist, and 17 years as a classroom teacher.

Some of the ideas we hold about gifted students are misguided. Our guest debunks some of the established myths and misconceptions.

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Dani Sullivan is a Nationally Board Certified Teacher who has been teaching AIG students for 11 years. Currently the AIG coordinator for Union County Public Schools and a member of the North Carolina Association of Gifted and Talented Board of Directors.

Yes, it's possible to increase rigor with students in poverty if you understand these key points.

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Abbigail Armstrong is an educational consultant on rigor, motivation and working with diverse populations. She is also an assistant professor at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

Increasing rigor in preschool, Kindergarten and first grade? Our guest believes that rigor in early childhood education is appropriate and produces positive outcomes.

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Tara Zaremba has been in education for 16 years working as a teacher and facilitator for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District.

Our guest loves math and has developed some creative and enjoyable ways to make solving math problems enjoyable.

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Dr. Elizabeth A. Johnson is a high school math teacher and college professor in southern Ohio. She holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership, is a member of the Ohio Department of Education Network of Regional Leaders, and on her District's Leadership Team, Building Leadership Team, and Teacher Based Team. Dr. Johnson has provided professional development for Mathematics Instructional Techniques in both Ohio and Kentucky.

Our guest shares strategies for increasing the rigor of literacy instruction for all students.

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Lara Harris has been an educator for 20 years and most of her experience has been in Title I schools. She started teaching in 1994 and worked in eleven schools before joining Project L.I.F.T. as a teacher, facilitator, or instructional coach. Currently, she supports nine schools (grades ranging from Pre-K-12) and works with the literacy leaders in each school.

In this segment we peek under the hood of a high-needs school and explore the processes and techniques they're successfully using to support rigorous instruction.

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Cara Brown is a native of Pittsburgh, Pa and a graduate of Johnson C. Smith University, in Charlotte North Carolina. She completed her graduate studies of Curriculum and Instruction from Montreat College, in Montreat North Carolina. Ms. Brown enjoys teaching and coaching teachers and currently serves as the Literacy facilitator and and Real Time Teacher Coach at Bruns Academy in Charlotte, NC.

In this segment we begin to think about the coming school year and how we can raise the bar for ourselves and our students.

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Julian E. Doster, III is a third year middle grades math teacher in Volusia County Florida. He previously worked in television advertising sales. He graduated with a Masters degree in Education Leadership.

In this segment we talk about the process of leading a learning community toward greater rigorous instruction.

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Cheryl Clarke has been in administration for 15 years, the last 10 in Monson. She is completing her second year as Superintendent. Prior to that time she was the principal at the middle school.