Key Concepts: Rigor for the 21st Century
Rigor in the 21st Century
Maintain high expectations for all students and staff.
Engage students in higher order tasks requiring critical thinking.
Captivate students with challenging academic content.
Demonstrate student proficiency and reach for mastery of all
academic content and 21st century skills.
Academic Rigor in 21st Century Thinking Curricula
Knowledge and thinking are intimately joined. This implies a curriculum organized around major academic
concepts that students are expected to know deeply. Teaching engages students in active reasoning about
these concepts. In every subject, at every grade level, instruction and learning includes commitment to a
knowledge core, high thinking demand, and active use of knowledge.
COMMITMENT TO A KNOWLEDGE CORE
• An articulated curriculum that avoids needless repetition and progressively deepens concepts
• Curriculum and instruction organized around major concepts
• Teaching and assessment focus on mastery of core concepts
HIGH THINKING DEMAND
• Students expected to raise questions, to solve problems, to reason
• Challenging assignments in every subject
• Extended projects
• Explanations and justification expected
• Reflection on learning strategies
ACTIVE USE OF KNOWLEDGE
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Synthesize several sources of information
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Test understanding by applying and discussing concepts
Apply prior knowledge
• Interpret texts and construct solutions
Research base: Principles of Learning LRDC