As teachers are increasingly feeling as though students are underprepared and find themselves needing to "simplify" the learning targets and academic standards, my staff is utilizing a strategy to make the academic expectations accessible to all students while still maintaining a rigorous approach to each standard. This breakout session, which is applicable to K-12, explores a proven strategy Administrators can introduce to their staff in less than an hour that will increase academic vocabulary and rigor in the standard. Administrators will get to experience the process their instructional staff use where key academic words are prioritized and then defined in student-friendly terms BY students. The process is both teacher and student friendly, and takes a fraction of class time, but the reward is great as students are actively engaged with the standards and also creates a culture of reflection for staff as they put fresh eyes on the rigorous words in the standards daily. This strategy is also Administrator-friendly because it's a quick look-for in a classroom walk through or PLC discussion. I will share examples that teachers have created with their students as well as the multiple approaches my staff took. Come break the standards with us! Presenters: Emily Furr, Lauren Raper