Rigor in the Classroom with Special Learners
Marco C. Ray, M.A.Roncalli High School
Indianapolis, [email protected]
My Story as Teacher: Hearing the Call
• Mary Kochman’s Humanities Class• Taylor University: English/Education• Getting into the Classroom: Shipshewana and
Fort Wayne• Summers: Camp Counselor
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My Story as Teacher: Answering the Call
• Working in Fort Wayne with At-Risk Students• Working in Massachusetts with Students with
Special Needs at Landmark School• Gloucester High School: Lower-Level Classes• Roncalli High School: Teaching Both Upper-
Level and Lower-Level Courses
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What I Have Learned about Rigor
• Setting the Bar: Seeing Students Meet it• Challenging Myself: Staying a Learner• Learning from other Teachers• Engagement, Critical Thinking, Meeting Goals
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Values
• Balance: Taking Seriously IEPs and other Modifications
• Working with STARS program• Listening to Students and Parents• Class Size and Individualized Help• Treating each Student as an Individual
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Establishing Rigor
• Classroom Rules and Expectations• Classroom Environment• Day 1• Day 180
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Implementing Rigor
• Vocabulary: Level of Words and Tests• Reading: Textbook and Novels• Essays: The 5 paragraph composition and
research paper• Homework• Class Discussions• Special Projects
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Results
• Test Results• As Writers• As Thinkers• Testimonies
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Reflection
• What is a subject in school with which you struggled? How did a teacher or other mentor help you to succeed?
• Regardless of the type of learner, why is rigor in the classroom important?
• Regardless of the class, why is rigor in the classroom important?
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