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.

Barbara R. Blackburn, a Top 30 Global Guru in Education, is the bestselling author of over 30 books and is a sought-after national and international consultant. She was an award-winning professor at Winthrop University and has taught early childhood, elementary, middle, and high school students.

Melissa Miles is a middle school language arts teacher and member of her school’s Instructional Leadership team. Previously, she was Director of Educational Resources at a school in North Carolina. She has 25 years of classroom teaching experience. She is also twice credentialed as a national board-certifed teacher, works as a SpringBoard Curriculum consultant to College Board, and is a certified member of the site visitation team for the Schools to Watch award.