Common Core Stamina

As I set out for an early jog this morning, I was thinking about stamina.  Not specifically my own running stamina (though that could use some work) but what stamina means in regards to the Common Core State Standards, and how we can help ensure we are building the academic stamina of all our students.

As a runner, I build stamina by alternating amongst mid-length easier runs, short, high-intensity interval training, and long runs that are often completed at a (very) slow pace.  I can see the progress I make as long runs get easier and short runs get faster.  What’s the equivalent for our students? 

How do we ensure that all students are getting the opportunities to practice different types of academics?  To build their academic stamina, students need a balance of work that they can easily accomplish on their own, short, high-intensity drills and problems that push their skill set and complex problems, texts and tasks that take significant time, but tie together all the skills students are learning.   But how do we do this?  Just as I can’t run a marathon without lots of training, students need strategies and scaffolding to get to a point where they can approach challenging texts and tasks with confidence and stamina.  We need to help students build an infrastructure of skills, habits, knowledge and experiences that enable them to feel confident approaching any text or task knowing they have the training to be successful. 

How do you build the stamina of your students?