Rigor is a favorite buzzword in education these days, but
the problem is that the word lacks common meaning from district to district,
campus to campus, and classroom to classroom. The reality is that if students
are not challenged to think in deep, complex, and meaningful ways, they begin
to equate smart with easy, and begin to resist challenges and hard work. In this session, we will review the elements
of depth and complexity, noting how they are used to increase student
expectations, teacher support, and quality products and performances. Finally
we will explore what rigor really looks like in the classroom from a student,
teacher, parent, and administrator point-of-view.