Hitting the RIM

In the early 1800s, people started talking about the three Rs: Reading, ‘Riting, and ‘Rithmetic. These were considered the essential major fundamentals for everyone to master. Despite the early beginnings of this phrase, it still is well known by most people today. It has been used as a comparative in multiple circumstance. In Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal, they used the familiarity of the three to draw attention to Relief, Recovery, and Reform. Similarly, most elementary students have learned the three R's of the environment: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

One of the ones that has influenced me over the years has been Relationships, Rigor, and Relevance. It seemed to be one of the catch phrases early in my career. When these three components are present in classrooms, the learning environment is optimal.  A while back I was reflecting on these three and came up with a modified application that can be used in assessing curriculum and instruction. It’s called hitting the RIM.

It evolved from playing basketball in the neighborhood over the years. Since we didn’t have a full court, we had a rule that you only had to take it back behind a designated spot if it hit the rim. So, unless it hits the rim, it didn’t really count as a shot. It dawned on me that unless a lesson or activity is relational, intentional, and meaningful, it is missing the mark as well.

Relational – The most powerful thing in any classroom is the relationships between the teacher and students and the connections between the students themselves. If those are missing, learning is greatly hampered.

Intentional – Why are we teaching what we are teaching and the way we are teaching? Neuroscience and psychology have provided a substantial blueprint to how people learn. Unless we are intentional in utilizing the best practices that have been proven to be effective through research and experience, we are choosing to minimize educational growth for students.

Meaningful – Nothing has meaning except in context. Making content relevant to student’s lives is essential for true learning. Brain research reveals that we integrate knowledge and skills most effectively when we have an emotional connection to the content, that it enhances our capacity to survive and thrive, and it can be integrated into the set of experiences we have encountered up to that point.

Hitting the RIM resonates in an educational environment. However, we need to see that education happens outside the school walls every day. Wherever we work, we can apply this concept as well. Relationships are critical in every business. Being intentional in how and why we are doing what we do empowers our work. Seeing our work as meaningful and purposeful provides the foundation for inspiration and fulfillment. Knowing what we know about human nature and interaction now, we must strive to hit the RIM.