Corwin, a Sage company, today launched RIGOR Unveiled: A Video-Enhanced Flipbook to Promote Teacher Expertise In Relationship Building, Instruction, Goals, Organization, and Relevance. Written by Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey, and James Marshall, this new hands-on observation tool for K-12 administrators and educators reclaims and re-frames the idea of rigor—which Fisher says had become “a hated word in the profession”—as a framework for elevating learning and instruction in the classroom.
Formatted like a calendar with a spiral binding for easy handling, the flipbook redefines RIGOR as an acronym to help administrators set goals and identify teachers’ strengths and areas for growth:
- Relationships
- Instruction
- Goals
- Organization
- Relevance
“Nancy and I have dedicated years to developing this framework,” said Fisher. “By identifying five key categories and pairing each with five actionable steps, we’ve created a roadmap of 25 strategies to help educators introduce rigor. Our goal is to redefine rigor as a supportive tool, empowering students to take academic risks with confidence.”
Douglas Fisher and Nancy Frey are New York Times best-selling authors and co-authors of more than 100 education professional development books on topics including literacy and Visible Learning. RIGOR Unveiled was developed for teachers, teams, instructional coaches, and school leaders, and provides a wealth of support and knowledge for classroom observation and reflection, including:
- Tabbed sections that describe each of the five categories to help focus discussion and evaluations;
- Rubrics for evaluation including ratings, evidence, and “My Next Steps”;
- 100+ video spotlights defining key concepts;
- 25 classroom videos showing each of the indicators in action;
- 25 videos of coaches discussing what they observed in each of the classroom videos; and
- A “Spot It Happening” feature to assess observations as they happen.
“Many educators dislike the vague term ‘rigor,’” said Frey. “With our 25 indicators, we give teachers and administrators observable goals to help create collective teacher efficacy—the knowledge that a particular team has the wherewithal and skills to accomplish great things.”
To learn more and order RIGOR Unveiled, visit Corwin.com/books/RIGOR-Unveiled.
About Corwin
Corwin, a SAGE Publishing company, is the premier provider of professional learning products and services designed to equip educators with the resources they need to improve teaching and learning. Corwin offers a range of resources, including print books, eBooks, events, online courses, and custom consulting services, catering to educators at all stages of their careers. The resources are authored by experts on the most relevant topics for educators, providing hands-on, practical guidance. Corwin’s products are research-based, peer-reviewed for quality, and specifically designed for professional learning. For more information, visit corwin.com.
About Fisher and Frey
Doug Fisher and Nancy Frey, collectively known as Fisher & Frey, are professors in the Educational Leadership program at San Diego State University, where they focus on policies, classroom practices, and school leadership. They co-author numerous articles and books on literacy and leadership, including Teaching Reading Playbook, How Leadership Works, and The Restorative Practices Playbook. For over two decades, Fisher & Frey have been dedicated to supporting the development of skilled and caring teachers and school leaders, helping students achieve their academic goals and aspirations. Their shared interests include instructional design, curriculum development, and professional learning. To learn more, visit FisherandFrey.com.