WHAT IS RIGOR?
Academic rigor is determined not just by what is taught, but how it is taught and how it is assessed. To prepare students for the future, schools need to not only be able to teach complex concepts in a way that students with various learning styles can understand, but they need to ensure testing adequately gauges an understanding of the curriculum. This is what teachers at AVA strive to do every day.
A rigorous curriculum is "focused, coherent, and appropriately challenging." The Core Knowledge Curriculum, not to be confused with Common Core, is a challenging curriculum; one that will prepare students to be successful in high school, college, and throughout their life.
But curriculum design is only part of what defines rigor. What actually happens in classrooms is hugely important, too. Students are introduced to new concepts and skills in the classroom and given plenty of opportunities to practice and master those skills. At AVA, classroom learning is supplemented with hands-on learning to reinforce concepts. In addition, AVA teachers are available in the classroom to help students.
It is worth noting that many educators equate rigor with pain, rigid thinking, and harshness - they think it means HARD. Too often, rigor becomes 'Let's give more homework.' Rigor does not mean more homework. Rather, it means giving students relevant and appropriately challenging work to further their reasoning and critical thinking skills. A rigorous and relevant curriculum requires students to use knowledge to create and apply solutions to complex, real-world problems.
WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN FOR MY SOON-TO-BE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT?
Middle School is not easy, nor is it hard. It's not an easy time socially and emotionally for kids. It's not easy academically. Now that we have been in school for a month, I am hearing students say, "Eighth grade is hard," "Seventh grade is harder than I thought it would be," or "Wow! Sixth grade is a lot of work." Yes, our students are asked to work hard. We are an academically rigorous school, and our curriculum can be challenging. We balance these daily challenges with brain breaks, recess, and advisory time. Furthermore, students can choose from a wide variety of electives based on their interests to round out their day. The skills they are learning, along with their academics, such as organization and time management, will help them to be successful in high school.
How do we know that what we are doing is working? Our former students tell us it's working. They say that they were very prepared for high school and concepts new to other kids were a review for them. We hear this again and again from parents and former students. In fact, many mention they feel high school is easy. The reason they feel that way is due to the amazing foundation that was built while attending Aspen View Academy. The middle school teachers are the best in the business and will challenge the students, but will give them the support, encouragement, and tools to meet all challenges.
The hard part is that most of the students (and parents) do not realize how well prepared they are for high school until they are actually in high school. That is when they realize the benefits of an AVA education. Hindsight is 20-20 vision. Foresight is having the trust and confidence to know that having your child complete kindergarten through eighth grade at Aspen View Academy is one of the best things you can do for your child.
Sincerely,
Bob Barber
