Barbara R. Blackburn

In today’s world of being able to find answers at the click of a button, students need to learn how to grapple with complex concepts. But when is that struggle actually productive, and when is it just frustrating or discouraging? In this important book, bestselling author Barbara R. Blackburn shows how to help secondary students tackle hard topics in ways that will truly aid their learning. You’ll learn how productive struggle is connected to intrinsic motivation, and how to scaffold instruction so you’re not just throwing students into the deep end. You’ll also find out how to pick the appropriate level of struggle, and how to scaffold learning for students. Throughout, there are tons of practical charts, rubrics, and examples across subject areas, along with reflection questions to help you apply what you’ve learned. Bonus: Each chapter has a QR code that takes you to related videos and additional tools. With this highly-practical guide, you’ll be able to help students enjoy the fulfillment, confidence, and growth that comes with working through a challenging learning process.

In today’s world of being able to find answers at the click of a button, students need to learn how to grapple with complex concepts. But when is that struggle actually productive, and when is it just frustrating or discouraging? In this important book, bestselling author Barbara R. Blackburn shows how to help secondary students tackle hard topics in ways that will truly aid their learning. You’ll learn how productive struggle is connected to intrinsic motivation, and how to scaffold instruction so you’re not just throwing students into the deep end. You’ll also find out how to pick the appropriate level of struggle, and how to scaffold learning for students. Throughout, there are tons of practical charts, rubrics, and examples across subject areas, along with reflection questions to help you apply what you’ve learned. Bonus: Each chapter has a QR code that takes you to related videos and additional tools. With this highly-practical guide, you’ll be able to help students enjoy the fulfillment, confidence, and growth that comes with working through a challenging learning process.

In today’s world of being able to find answers at the click of a button, students need to learn how to grapple with complex concepts. But when is that struggle actually productive, and when is it just frustrating or discouraging? In this important book, bestselling author Barbara R. Blackburn shows how to help elementary students tackle hard topics in ways that will truly aid their learning. You’ll learn how productive struggle is connected to intrinsic motivation, and how to scaffold instruction so you’re not just throwing students into the deep end. You’ll also find out how to pick the appropriate level of struggle, and how to scaffold learning for students. Throughout, there are tons of practical charts, rubrics, and examples across subject areas, along with reflection questions to help you apply what you’ve learned. Bonus: Each chapter has a QR code that takes you to related videos and additional tools. With this highly-practical guide, you’ll be able to help students enjoy the fulfillment, confidence, and growth that comes with working through a challenging learning process.

In today’s world of being able to find answers at the click of a button, students need to learn how to grapple with complex concepts. But when is that struggle actually productive, and when is it just frustrating or discouraging? In this important book, bestselling author Barbara R. Blackburn shows how to help elementary students tackle hard topics in ways that will truly aid their learning. You’ll learn how productive struggle is connected to intrinsic motivation, and how to scaffold instruction so you’re not just throwing students into the deep end. You’ll also find out how to pick the appropriate level of struggle, and how to scaffold learning for students. Throughout, there are tons of practical charts, rubrics, and examples across subject areas, along with reflection questions to help you apply what you’ve learned. Bonus: Each chapter has a QR code that takes you to related videos and additional tools. With this highly-practical guide, you’ll be able to help students enjoy the fulfillment, confidence, and growth that comes with working through a challenging learning process.

Learn how to assess students in a way that truly impacts learning. In Rigor and Assessment in the Classroom, bestselling author Barbara R. Blackburn provides a broad range of practical strategies for increasing the rigor and usefulness of your formative and summative assessments.You’ll discover how to create an environment where students are expected to learn at high levels; evaluate student learning in a way that ensures growth; strengthen the validity and reliability of your assessments; plan assessments in conjunction with planning the instruction; differentiate assessments to increase the rigor for all students; enhance the effectiveness of your grading system and feedback; and design clear, reader-friendly rubrics and scoring guides.Each chapter includes ready-to-use tools, examples across the subject areas, and "Think About It" questions to help you reflect on what you’ve read. This updated second edition features new sections on questioning and grading, updated assessment samples, and technology resources. There is also a new chapter of Common Concerns, which addresses working with students with special needs, AI, managing assessment in the classroom, and working with parents and families.

Learn how to assess students in a way that truly impacts learning. In Rigor and Assessment in the Classroom, bestselling author Barbara R. Blackburn provides a broad range of practical strategies for increasing the rigor and usefulness of your formative and summative assessments.You’ll discover how to create an environment where students are expected to learn at high levels; evaluate student learning in a way that ensures growth; strengthen the validity and reliability of your assessments; plan assessments in conjunction with planning the instruction; differentiate assessments to increase the rigor for all students; enhance the effectiveness of your grading system and feedback; and design clear, reader-friendly rubrics and scoring guides.Each chapter includes ready-to-use tools, examples across the subject areas, and "Think About It" questions to help you reflect on what you’ve read. This updated second edition features new sections on questioning and grading, updated assessment samples, and technology resources. There is also a new chapter of Common Concerns, which addresses working with students with special needs, AI, managing assessment in the classroom, and working with parents and families.

Learn how to apply a cognitive mindset that supports student-centered classrooms (PK– 2). For more than 2 decades, Karin Hess has worked with the concept of depth of knowledge (DOK) and expanded applications of cognitive rigor across content areas and grade levels, proving that every student can experience deeper learning. This interactive book offers a self-guided journey beginning with the basics: what DOK is, what it is not, and debunking common misconceptions about rigor. Karin shares how she synthesized ideas from various thinking models with DOK as the foundation to create the Hess Cognitive Rigor Matrices, now used in more than countries. Each module is framed by frequently asked questions and provides practical tools and strategies for applying a cognitive mindset that supports student-centered classrooms, planning instruction that shifts student roles from taking in information to constructing meaning, and monitoring progress with assessments that uncover thinking. This unique, action-oriented workbook is a perfect companion to Karin's earlier books and a great DOK refresher for PK– 2 staff! Learn how to: Build a shared understanding of DOK and rigor among your teaching colleagues.Shift DOK levels in order to shift teacher-student roles in support of learning transfer.Create actionable standards-based and competency-based assessments.Analyze and adapt current curricular and assessment materials.Explore applications of DOK in progress monitoring and grading.

Learn how to apply a cognitive mindset that supports student-centered classrooms (PK– 2). For more than 2 decades, Karin Hess has worked with the concept of depth of knowledge (DOK) and expanded applications of cognitive rigor across content areas and grade levels, proving that every student can experience deeper learning. This interactive book offers a self-guided journey beginning with the basics: what DOK is, what it is not, and debunking common misconceptions about rigor. Karin shares how she synthesized ideas from various thinking models with DOK as the foundation to create the Hess Cognitive Rigor Matrices, now used in more than countries. Each module is framed by frequently asked questions and provides practical tools and strategies for applying a cognitive mindset that supports student-centered classrooms, planning instruction that shifts student roles from taking in information to constructing meaning, and monitoring progress with assessments that uncover thinking. This unique, action-oriented workbook is a perfect companion to Karin's earlier books and a great DOK refresher for PK– 2 staff! Learn how to: Build a shared understanding of DOK and rigor among your teaching colleagues.Shift DOK levels in order to shift teacher-student roles in support of learning transfer.Create actionable standards-based and competency-based assessments.Analyze and adapt current curricular and assessment materials.Explore applications of DOK in progress monitoring and grading.

Learn how to increase instructional rigor so that all students can reach higher levels of learning. In this new edition of a bestseller, authors Barbara R. Blackburn and Melissa Miles offer practical ideas for raising expectations, increasing complexity, giving appropriate support and guidance, creating open-ended choices and projects, and much more. This timely new edition features new strategies for teaching questioning and inquiry, helping students use evidence and see open-ended perspectives, and increasing student agency, as well as ideas for implementing more effective assessments and incorporating rigor with technology.Appropriate for teachers of all grade levels and subject areas, the book is filled with helpful tips and tools that you can implement immediately. In addition, full-sized templates are available as Support Material on our website so you can download and print them for classroom use.With its practical advice and helpful tools, Rigor Is NOT a Four-Letter Word will set you and your students on the fast track to higher learning and sustained success.

Learn how to increase instructional rigor so that all students can reach higher levels of learning. In this new edition of a bestseller, authors Barbara R. Blackburn and Melissa Miles offer practical ideas for raising expectations, increasing complexity, giving appropriate support and guidance, creating open-ended choices and projects, and much more. This timely new edition features new strategies for teaching questioning and inquiry, helping students use evidence and see open-ended perspectives, and increasing student agency, as well as ideas for implementing more effective assessments and incorporating rigor with technology.Appropriate for teachers of all grade levels and subject areas, the book is filled with helpful tips and tools that you can implement immediately. In addition, full-sized templates are available as Support Material on our website so you can download and print them for classroom use.With its practical advice and helpful tools, Rigor Is NOT a Four-Letter Word will set you and your students on the fast track to higher learning and sustained success.

Support and scaffolding are critical for moving students to higher levels of learning. But how do we ensure we’re giving the “right” work and not just extra work? Barbara R. Blackburn has the answers in this important new book. She provides a plethora of strategies for helping students create meaning and become more independent so they can truly learn at rigorous levels.First, she examines the basics of rigor and scaffolding and uncovers the role of planning in scaffolding, including the difference between acceleration and remediation and examples of differentiating instruction with scaffolding. Then she demonstrates a variety of ways to add scaffolding into classroom discourse, vocabulary, comprehension, and writing across the curriculum. Ideas and strategies are provided for different subject areas and levels, so you can easily apply them to your own setting. And finally, she shows the roles of formative assessment and social emotional learning in scaffolding.With this practical book, you’ll have a toolkit of great ideas at your disposal as you foster a learning environment of high expectations and success.

Support and scaffolding are critical for moving students to higher levels of learning. But how do we ensure we’re giving the “right” work and not just extra work? Barbara R. Blackburn has the answers in this important new book. She provides a plethora of strategies for helping students create meaning and become more independent so they can truly learn at rigorous levels.First, she examines the basics of rigor and scaffolding and uncovers the role of planning in scaffolding, including the difference between acceleration and remediation and examples of differentiating instruction with scaffolding. Then she demonstrates a variety of ways to add scaffolding into classroom discourse, vocabulary, comprehension, and writing across the curriculum. Ideas and strategies are provided for different subject areas and levels, so you can easily apply them to your own setting. And finally, she shows the roles of formative assessment and social emotional learning in scaffolding.With this practical book, you’ll have a toolkit of great ideas at your disposal as you foster a learning environment of high expectations and success.

Improving Teacher Morale and Motivation discusses a key issue for school leaders: motivating teachers to improve learning for students. Immense and unprecedented changes in education—primarily with the pandemic and "great resignation"—have affected all areas of teaching and learning, including teacher morale and motivation. This engaging book takes an in-depth focus on student learning as it relates to teacher motivation, providing specific examples of how to motivate teachers during challenging times. Specific tools, templates, and strategies are incorporated throughout the book to help leaders understand and act on issues of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, collaboration and trust, growth mindset, effective feedback, and more. Further, this text incorporates a broader look at how school leaders can shape their school and make it a place where teachers want to work, where they are committed to the success of students, and where they see themselves remaining well into the future. This timely book is appropriate for all school leaders, including teacher-leaders and district leaders.

Improving Teacher Morale and Motivation discusses a key issue for school leaders: motivating teachers to improve learning for students. Immense and unprecedented changes in education—primarily with the pandemic and "great resignation"—have affected all areas of teaching and learning, including teacher morale and motivation. This engaging book takes an in-depth focus on student learning as it relates to teacher motivation, providing specific examples of how to motivate teachers during challenging times. Specific tools, templates, and strategies are incorporated throughout the book to help leaders understand and act on issues of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, collaboration and trust, growth mindset, effective feedback, and more. Further, this text incorporates a broader look at how school leaders can shape their school and make it a place where teachers want to work, where they are committed to the success of students, and where they see themselves remaining well into the future. This timely book is appropriate for all school leaders, including teacher-leaders and district leaders.

How can you ensure students are engaged and learning at deeper levels? This book from bestselling author Barbara R. Blackburn is a treasure chest of more than 250 practical and effective tools that can be used across grade levels and subject areas to increase rigor, leading to higher levels of learning and success.Topics include scaffolding, differentiation, higher-level questions, high expectations, gradual release of responsibility, and more. This essential second edition offers more than 50 additional tools, updated research, and new topics such as teaching academic discourse, creating an environment of respect, and building students’ social and emotional learning. Rigor in Your Classroom will be your go-to resource throughout the school year, as you continually use new tools with your students. Bonus: The tools are accompanied by graphic organizers, charts, templates, and reproducibles for easy implementation.

How can you ensure students are engaged and learning at deeper levels? This book from bestselling author Barbara R. Blackburn is a treasure chest of more than 250 practical and effective tools that can be used across grade levels and subject areas to increase rigor, leading to higher levels of learning and success.Topics include scaffolding, differentiation, higher-level questions, high expectations, gradual release of responsibility, and more. This essential second edition offers more than 50 additional tools, updated research, and new topics such as teaching academic discourse, creating an environment of respect, and building students’ social and emotional learning. Rigor in Your Classroom will be your go-to resource throughout the school year, as you continually use new tools with your students. Bonus: The tools are accompanied by graphic organizers, charts, templates, and reproducibles for easy implementation.

This practical guide explains how to raise the rigor for students with special needs so they can achieve higher levels of learning. Bestselling author Barbara R. Blackburn and intervention expert Bradley S. Witzel provide helpful information on assessment, planning, co-teaching models, high expectations, common obstacles, and emphasizing positive outcomes. This second edition offers new, expanded instructional strategies for literacy and math, as well as strategies that work across subject areas. In addition, each chapter is filled with tools and examples to help you implement the ideas.Perfect for general and special educators and supervisors, the book also comes with a study guide so you can collaborate on the book with building or district colleagues. With the practical information in this book, you’ll understand how to teach with higher expectations and rigor so that all students can feel successful.

This practical guide explains how to raise the rigor for students with special needs so they can achieve higher levels of learning. Bestselling author Barbara R. Blackburn and intervention expert Bradley S. Witzel provide helpful information on assessment, planning, co-teaching models, high expectations, common obstacles, and emphasizing positive outcomes. This second edition offers new, expanded instructional strategies for literacy and math, as well as strategies that work across subject areas. In addition, each chapter is filled with tools and examples to help you implement the ideas.Perfect for general and special educators and supervisors, the book also comes with a study guide so you can collaborate on the book with building or district colleagues. With the practical information in this book, you’ll understand how to teach with higher expectations and rigor so that all students can feel successful.

Learn how to adapt leadership and keep motivation alive in a remote learning setting or hybrid school. In this essential book, bestselling authors Ronald Williamson and Barbara R. Blackburn share frameworks and tools you can use to immediately make a difference in your school. You’ll learn how to do the following: Navigate the change process in remote learning Maintain a collaborative remote learning school Address equity issues in remote instruction Communicate effectively across online platforms Provide essential professional development remotelyThe chapter coverage ranges from school culture, to collaboration, to instructional leadership, to focusing on your own effective leadership. You will gain practical strategies and tips you can implement immediately to help your school and community flourish in a remote learning environment.

Learn how to adapt leadership and keep motivation alive in a remote learning setting or hybrid school. In this essential book, bestselling authors Ronald Williamson and Barbara R. Blackburn share frameworks and tools you can use to immediately make a difference in your school. You’ll learn how to do the following: Navigate the change process in remote learning Maintain a collaborative remote learning school Address equity issues in remote instruction Communicate effectively across online platforms Provide essential professional development remotelyThe chapter coverage ranges from school culture, to collaboration, to instructional leadership, to focusing on your own effective leadership. You will gain practical strategies and tips you can implement immediately to help your school and community flourish in a remote learning environment.