RIGOR

Reading Instructional Goals for Older Readers

Print + Digital • English & Spanish • Grades 4-12
Intervention for English Learners and At-Risk Students
* Meets ESSA “PROMISING” Evidence Criteria *

Build early literacy skills with engaging, proven-effective texts and digital resources.

Developed by Dr. Margarita Calderón, RIGOR provides:

Support for older newcomers and other ELs at preliterate or primary reading levels
Content that meets RTI guidelines for Tier II and Tier III intervention
Leveled texts covering science and social studies topics
Weekly, easy-to-use, grab-and-go skill bags with explicit 5-day Teacher’s Guides and Assessment & Practice Books
Flexible scheduling for language arts blocks or extended day
Interactive digital learning

Supplement RIGOR with the Differentiated Instruction Book Set

A library of multi-leveled nonfiction titles that support content-area themes in RIGOR 1, 2, and 3 with:

Additional support or challenge for specific students
Nonfiction texts to use with individual or small groups
Explicit Teacher’s Guides for each title

Watch this video to see the full scope of what RIGOR offers.

Watch the Video

For Preliterate Through First-Grade Reading Levels

Phonics Concentration on Consonants and Short Vowels

Supports a 5-step process:

Develop phonemic awareness and phonics skills.
Build vocabulary through a 7-step instruction and practice sequence.
Increase reading comprehension, fluency, and content knowledge.
Use writing to expand and reinforce literacy.
Compile assessment data to inform instruction.

Hands-on tools include picture card sheets, frieze cards, and letter card sheets.

Online assessment delivers specialized instruction, sets learning goals, identifies student needs, and monitors student progress.

Also available in Spanish

ESL Level 1

ESL Level 2

For Second- Through Third-Grade Reading Levels

Phonics Concentration on Blends, Long Vowels, Digraphs, and Syllables

Supports a 5-step process:

Develop phonemic awareness and phonics skills.
Build vocabulary through a 7-step instruction and practice sequence.
Increase reading comprehension, fluency, and content knowledge.
Use writing to expand and reinforce literacy.
Compile assessment data to inform instruction.

Hands-on tools include picture card sheets, frieze cards, and letter card sheets.

Online assessment delivers specialized instruction, sets learning goals, identifies student needs, and monitors student progress.

Also available in Spanish

ESL Level 3

ESL Level 4

For Older English Learners and At-Risk Students Needing Intensive Foundational Literacy and Language Development Support

Accelerates progress through the intermediate reading levels

Covers reading levels M-R across the units

Comprises all three tiers of vocabulary and word study skills

Builds process-writing skills and academic oral language

Hands-on tools that include picture card sheets, frieze cards, and letter card sheets

Online subscriptions that include interactive eBooks and digital Teacher’s Guides and Cards

Proven Success for Older Students Reading at Primary Levels

In a research study presented at the TESOL conference, Grades 6-10 newcomers progressed an average of 6.2 reading levels after using RIGOR for less than one school year in their classes.

MARGARITA CALDERÓN, Ph.D.
RIGOR was developed by Margarita Calderón, Ph.D., based on her studies of English-language acquisition and her work with middle and high school teachers of English learners in New York City’s public schools. Dr. Calderón is Professor Emerita at Johns Hopkins University School of Education and is the author of Teaching Reading to English Language Learners, Grades 6-12.