June, 201
Summer CoT Thinking
1. Read Ron Ritchhart's New Book:
Creating Cultures of Thinking: The 8 Cultural Fores We Must Master to Truly Transform Our Schools
This book devotes a chapter to each of the Cultural Forces. As you read, you will quickly understand that there continue to be many aspects of the cultural forces that we can address and master in our classrooms. At the end of each chapter, there is a list of actions that can be taken to strengthen and continue to build your classroom culture of thinking.
2. Find Opportunities Within the Curriculum Where Low-Level Tasks Might Be Replaced With Engaging Thinking and Learning
3. What Questions Do You Have?
Develop a question/issue you might want to explore about grow inquiry and your classroom cultue of thinking. On your own or with colleagues, turn the question into action research that might become your personal TEAM Goal in the new school year.
4. Download and Explore the iPad App: Seesaw: The Learning Journal
Many teachers have already discovered this app that allows students to independently keep a digital learning portfolio. Reports are that it is easy to use, helps students be reflective in their work and creates an ongoing platform for parent communication.
5. Follow the Conversation on Twitter: #8culchat
6. Log Into Pinterest to Get or Add New CoT Ideas: Search Cultures of Thinking Routines
7. Read About The Flipped Classroom
Creating Cultures of Thinking: The 8 Cultural Fores We Must Master to Truly Transform Our Schools
This book devotes a chapter to each of the Cultural Forces. As you read, you will quickly understand that there continue to be many aspects of the cultural forces that we can address and master in our classrooms. At the end of each chapter, there is a list of actions that can be taken to strengthen and continue to build your classroom culture of thinking.
2. Find Opportunities Within the Curriculum Where Low-Level Tasks Might Be Replaced With Engaging Thinking and Learning
3. What Questions Do You Have?
Develop a question/issue you might want to explore about grow inquiry and your classroom cultue of thinking. On your own or with colleagues, turn the question into action research that might become your personal TEAM Goal in the new school year.
4. Download and Explore the iPad App: Seesaw: The Learning Journal
Many teachers have already discovered this app that allows students to independently keep a digital learning portfolio. Reports are that it is easy to use, helps students be reflective in their work and creates an ongoing platform for parent communication.
5. Follow the Conversation on Twitter: #8culchat
6. Log Into Pinterest to Get or Add New CoT Ideas: Search Cultures of Thinking Routines
7. Read About The Flipped Classroom
http://www.edutopia.org/blogs/tag/flipped-classroom
Think about how this strategy might facilitate differentiated learning.
8. Download and Explore the iPad App: Voice Thread
How could this app facilitate Flipped Classroom lessons?
9. Visit ronritchhart.com and Explore the Resources Page
Each time I visit, I find new resources that I may have passed over previously because I wasn't rady to use them at that time. There is a planning form that might help you get a running start on elevating student thinking expectations throughout the curriculum.
10. Scroll Down This Page to June, 2014 for Ideas to Jump Start Your CoT Practice in September
8. Download and Explore the iPad App: Voice Thread
How could this app facilitate Flipped Classroom lessons?
9. Visit ronritchhart.com and Explore the Resources Page
Each time I visit, I find new resources that I may have passed over previously because I wasn't rady to use them at that time. There is a planning form that might help you get a running start on elevating student thinking expectations throughout the curriculum.
10. Scroll Down This Page to June, 2014 for Ideas to Jump Start Your CoT Practice in September
May, 2015
Kindergarten Thinking - 2015
The slideshow on the Kindergarten page shows the possibilities of how making collaborative thinking visible grows ideas, concepts and understanding.
The Cultural Force of Opportunity
In his new book, Creating Cultures of Thinking, Dr. Ron Ritchhart dedicates one chapter to an in depth exploration of each of the eight cultural forces. All of these chapters will open your eyes to new possibilities, but the chapter that really made me stop and think about creating new and powerful learning was the "Opportunities" chapter. Visit the Cultural Forces page for thoughts about leveraging this cultural force.
Learning Opportunities in Seating Arrangements
Have you ever considered the learning opportunities that might be created by a new seating arrangement? See how students in a 4th grade classroom determined the seating arrangement that would best help their thinking and learning.
March, 2014
On This Last Day of March...
Here is a link to the website [email protected]. It is filled with ideas to promote deeper thinking in the classroom. This particular link has 26 sentence stems for higher level classroom conversation:
Pictures From Rochester
I recently had the opportunity to visit Delta Kelly School in Rochester. The walls were filled with student thinking that in many ways looked very similar to the walls in Troy but there were also some new twists and ideas. Check out the slideshow on the New Ideas page.
New Ideas For Using Routines
Visit the Using Routines page for some thoughts on selecting routines with intention. Then take a look at the List of Routines to find some new pictures and ideas about Headlines, using technology with Generate-Sort-Connect-Elaborate, Step Inside that goes with first grade character study, and 4 C's for responding to Puzzled Penguin.
Art Isn't Just for the Art Room...
Artistic Reflections: Lifting the Metaphorical Thinking of Color, Symol, Image to a New Level
Listen to these 5th grade students from Washtenaw County describe their artwork interpretations of a text they had shared. This video clip gives insight into how the artistic process deepens thinking. It also demonstrates how orally rehearsing ideas before writing pushes thinking even deeper.
Front Row for Math
The Differentiation Resource Teacher in me will diverge for a moment from Cultures of Thinking with information about an iPad app that provides adaptive, independent math activities for students. The name of the app is Front Row. Across the board, teachers and students in the district, who are using Front Row, are giving very positive feedback:
1. We like that there is a pretest.
2. Pushes you to the limit
3. There is a speaker so it can read the problem for you.
4. It gives you clues to figure it out, not the correct answer.
5. Longer questions give you coins.
6. If you fill the bar you go to the piggy store.
7. You can draw out your answers to show your work.
8. They show you your rank after the pretest.
9. It gives you friends names from the class that can help you figure out the answer.
Front Row adapts to the needs of learners at all levels of achievement and development. With the number of iPads available to students in the district, this would be a robust addition to Math Workshop choices.
Teachers who have iPads in their classrooms may download the app for their students. Teachers in classrooms who are sharing iPads can submit a request to the Help Desk. Front Row may also be used as a web based program.
1. We like that there is a pretest.
2. Pushes you to the limit
3. There is a speaker so it can read the problem for you.
4. It gives you clues to figure it out, not the correct answer.
5. Longer questions give you coins.
6. If you fill the bar you go to the piggy store.
7. You can draw out your answers to show your work.
8. They show you your rank after the pretest.
9. It gives you friends names from the class that can help you figure out the answer.
Front Row adapts to the needs of learners at all levels of achievement and development. With the number of iPads available to students in the district, this would be a robust addition to Math Workshop choices.
Teachers who have iPads in their classrooms may download the app for their students. Teachers in classrooms who are sharing iPads can submit a request to the Help Desk. Front Row may also be used as a web based program.
February, 2015
50 Questions to Help Students Think About What They Think
Here is a link to an article about how questioning and reflective tosses help students collectively build understanding and wonder about their learning:
On the Questioning page, there is a list of the questions suggested in the article that you might use as a classroom reference.
Teacher Thinking
On the Making Thinking Visible Facebook page, Ron Ritchhart recently posted a teacher's thoughts on creating a classroom culture of thinking. Take a moment to read it. The author has captured many of our own thoughts about the excitement of creating a culture of thinking as well as some of the dilemmas.
https://news.tes.co.uk/b/opinion/2015/02/05/39-every-class-i-teach-is-a-research-expedition-into-student-thinking-39.aspx
On the Making Thinking Visible Facebook page, Ron Ritchhart recently posted a teacher's thoughts on creating a classroom culture of thinking. Take a moment to read it. The author has captured many of our own thoughts about the excitement of creating a culture of thinking as well as some of the dilemmas.
https://news.tes.co.uk/b/opinion/2015/02/05/39-every-class-i-teach-is-a-research-expedition-into-student-thinking-39.aspx
New Routine of the Month: Circle of Viewpoints
Video About Creating Cultures of Thinking at Schroeder Elementary
Keeping our parents in the loop about building classroom cultures of thinking is a topic that seems to be on everyone's mind. Check out this video filmed by Karen Rockwell for Schroeder parents:
http://vimeo.com/115205428
Keeping our parents in the loop about building classroom cultures of thinking is a topic that seems to be on everyone's mind. Check out this video filmed by Karen Rockwell for Schroeder parents:
http://vimeo.com/115205428
January, 2015
Language In the Classroom
When building a classroom culture of thinking, the cultural force of language conveys expectations about all of the other cultural forces. Ron Ritchhart has identified 6 important language moves that act to promote and deepen thinking and learning in the classroom. His new book that will be available in February, Creating Cultures of Thinking, dedicates an entire chapter to examining the cultural force of language in the classroom.
On the Cultural Forces page, I have put a summary of the six classroom language moves as well as posters that you might use in your classroom as reminders and prompts for you and your students.
On the Cultural Forces page, I have put a summary of the six classroom language moves as well as posters that you might use in your classroom as reminders and prompts for you and your students.
Also, visit the Resource Page where there are three new power points:
The Language of the Classroom
Sentence-Phrase-Word
Generate-Sort-Connect-Elaborate.
The Language of the Classroom
Sentence-Phrase-Word
Generate-Sort-Connect-Elaborate.
2014-15 School Year:
Take a chance,
Dare to fail...
Be creative
Dr. Richard Machesky
Where has this marking period gone? It seems like just yesterday we were all together, raptly listening to Dr. Machesky "stepping inside" a personal photo and asking us to be bold in making instructional decisions so that all students may succeed. I am certain that just like me, you all walked out the door that day and hit the ground running and are only come up for breath now that first marking period report cards are history and we are counting the days to Winter Break.
In October, I was very fortunate to present with two colleagues at the Project Zero Conference in San Francisco. How exciting it was to be among the lead Project Zero researchers for three days! The conference theme was "Making, Thinking, Understanding." I attended two plenary sessions plus several break-out sessions in addition to presenting two special interest sessions on the topic of making thinking visible through dialogue in the classroom. My take away from the conference was the idea that networks of thinking and understanding lead to more relevant educational outcomes than structures that are information driven. This was both affirming from the making thinking visible point of view, as well as mind opening from the Maker Education point of view and how these two ideas work together to create new networks for thinking and learning.
I have undertaken two new projects this year aimed at growing cultures of thinking throughout our elementary schools. I have been meeting with the Cultures of Thinking building leaders and co-leaders in an effort to analyze growth of CoT in their schools and possible strategies for nurturing continued growth. I am also visiting one
lower elementary classroom in each building, working alongside the teacher, getting to know the students and then collaborating and reflecting with the teacher to find the best pathways to grow student thinking.
In this blog edition, I will begin a new page titled "Routine of the Month." In this section, you will find in depth ideas from each grade level for using the selected routine. This month's routines are be The 4C's and Sentence-Phrase-Word.
On the "List of Routines" page, I have updated ideas for many of the routines based on information we are gathering as we are watching students who have been in Visible Thinking classrooms for several years engage with these thinking moves. The updates have been added in blue.
In October, I was very fortunate to present with two colleagues at the Project Zero Conference in San Francisco. How exciting it was to be among the lead Project Zero researchers for three days! The conference theme was "Making, Thinking, Understanding." I attended two plenary sessions plus several break-out sessions in addition to presenting two special interest sessions on the topic of making thinking visible through dialogue in the classroom. My take away from the conference was the idea that networks of thinking and understanding lead to more relevant educational outcomes than structures that are information driven. This was both affirming from the making thinking visible point of view, as well as mind opening from the Maker Education point of view and how these two ideas work together to create new networks for thinking and learning.
I have undertaken two new projects this year aimed at growing cultures of thinking throughout our elementary schools. I have been meeting with the Cultures of Thinking building leaders and co-leaders in an effort to analyze growth of CoT in their schools and possible strategies for nurturing continued growth. I am also visiting one
lower elementary classroom in each building, working alongside the teacher, getting to know the students and then collaborating and reflecting with the teacher to find the best pathways to grow student thinking.
In this blog edition, I will begin a new page titled "Routine of the Month." In this section, you will find in depth ideas from each grade level for using the selected routine. This month's routines are be The 4C's and Sentence-Phrase-Word.
On the "List of Routines" page, I have updated ideas for many of the routines based on information we are gathering as we are watching students who have been in Visible Thinking classrooms for several years engage with these thinking moves. The updates have been added in blue.
Closing out the 2013-14 School Year and Looking Ahead to 2014-15
Thoughts for Starting the New School Year
This last entry for this school year will also be the one that you will look at first in September. Here are some thoughts for getting your classroom culture of thinking started next year:
Choose 1 or 2 routines and do them routinely.
Analyze the type of thinking you want your students to be doing in the first weeks of school then choose one or two routines that promote that type of thinking and use them routinely. When you notice that the language of the routines become embedded in the culture of your classroom, it will be time to move on to new routines and thinking.
Use the language of thinking.
Name and notice thinking as it occurs in the first weeks of school. Not only will it let students know that thinking is valued and encouraged in your classroom, but it will help students understand the meta-cognitive component of their learning.
Provide many opportunities for collaboration and sharing.
Consider ways to release discussion control to students. Every response does not have to be filtered by the teacher. Use protocols and norms that let the conversation happen.
Document thinking to make it visible and create a plan for growth from the thinking you are seeing and hearing.
Start the school year with empty classroom walls. It will feel strange but they will soon be filled with the artifacts of thinking that document your learning journey and growth in thinking.
Use routines, such as Chalk Talk to set classroom climate and learning norms.
Don't forget to cover norms for productive group discussions. Make these norms a living document that changes as student needs and the classroom culture change.
Go beyond delivering information, have students do something with it mentally.
Thinking routines move you and your students in this direction.
Never stop saying, "What makes you say that?"
Also never stop making your own thinking visible.
Check out the resource page on Ron Ritchhart's website.
The ideas you find there may take you in new directions.
Choose 1 or 2 routines and do them routinely.
Analyze the type of thinking you want your students to be doing in the first weeks of school then choose one or two routines that promote that type of thinking and use them routinely. When you notice that the language of the routines become embedded in the culture of your classroom, it will be time to move on to new routines and thinking.
Use the language of thinking.
Name and notice thinking as it occurs in the first weeks of school. Not only will it let students know that thinking is valued and encouraged in your classroom, but it will help students understand the meta-cognitive component of their learning.
Provide many opportunities for collaboration and sharing.
Consider ways to release discussion control to students. Every response does not have to be filtered by the teacher. Use protocols and norms that let the conversation happen.
Document thinking to make it visible and create a plan for growth from the thinking you are seeing and hearing.
Start the school year with empty classroom walls. It will feel strange but they will soon be filled with the artifacts of thinking that document your learning journey and growth in thinking.
Use routines, such as Chalk Talk to set classroom climate and learning norms.
Don't forget to cover norms for productive group discussions. Make these norms a living document that changes as student needs and the classroom culture change.
Go beyond delivering information, have students do something with it mentally.
Thinking routines move you and your students in this direction.
Never stop saying, "What makes you say that?"
Also never stop making your own thinking visible.
Check out the resource page on Ron Ritchhart's website.
The ideas you find there may take you in new directions.
Wishing you a fun and fabulous end of the school year and a glorious summer vacation.
May 2014
As the school year winds down, I am feeling surrounded with student thinking everywhere I go in the district. Yesterday, I was walking down a kindergarten hallway and into a classroom of our youngest learners, I was surrounded by evidence of the thinking going on in this classroom:
In many classrooms, students and teachers are no longer "doing" visible thinking routines because cultures of thinking are being created and the language of thinking has become a natural part of teacher and student vocabulary. Classroom are places where making the thinking visible defines the learning environment...it is encouraged, expected and valued.
This month, I will highlight some new pictures of practice for you to think about as you reflect on this year of teaching and contemplate creating a culture of thinking in your classroom for next year. I will be publishing one more Weebly before this school year ends with some ideas for establishing a culture of thinking with new students in September.
Finally for this month, I have come across a new CoT resource from Rochester Community Schools. Here is the link:
http://www.rcsthinkingfromthemiddle.com
Scroll down to see what is new in this May edition.
Kindergarten Classroom Tour: Kindergarten Walls Tell What Kind of Thinking Is Valued From Our Youngest Learners
- Peeling the Fruit with fiction and non-fiction text
- I Used to Think, Now I Think with a study of plants
- Step Inside a fairy tale character
- Tug of War surrounding plot of a story
- Color-Symbol-Image about being the victim of bullying
In many classrooms, students and teachers are no longer "doing" visible thinking routines because cultures of thinking are being created and the language of thinking has become a natural part of teacher and student vocabulary. Classroom are places where making the thinking visible defines the learning environment...it is encouraged, expected and valued.
This month, I will highlight some new pictures of practice for you to think about as you reflect on this year of teaching and contemplate creating a culture of thinking in your classroom for next year. I will be publishing one more Weebly before this school year ends with some ideas for establishing a culture of thinking with new students in September.
Finally for this month, I have come across a new CoT resource from Rochester Community Schools. Here is the link:
http://www.rcsthinkingfromthemiddle.com
Scroll down to see what is new in this May edition.
Kindergarten Classroom Tour: Kindergarten Walls Tell What Kind of Thinking Is Valued From Our Youngest Learners
Question Starts: Taking Student Questioning to New Levels:
A Picture of How Practice Makes for Meatier Questions
A Picture of How Practice Makes for Meatier Questions
A New Idea for Displaying Student Thinking
Bringing Voice to Step Inside
Routines on the page are in alphabetical order. Scroll down to find Step Inside.
Routines on the page are in alphabetical order. Scroll down to find Step Inside.
Using Generate-Sort-Connect-Elaborate as Formative Assessment
I am often astonished at the power of the Generate-Sort-Connect-Elaborate routine as a formative assessment. At a glance, this routine allows a teacher to see the meaning students are making of content and how they are organizing ideas. It is worth a revisit to the Routines section of this blog to think about how you might use this G-S-C-E to formatively assess your students. As one teacher recently said to me: "It takes a long time, but it is so worth it!"
Routines on the page are in alphabetical order. Scroll down to find Generate-Sort-Connect-Elaborate.
Students Self-Select the Routine That Will Best Capture Their Thinking
When we choose routines to probe the thinking of our students, we identify the type of thinking we would like them to do. When students have had many experiences thinking and learning with routines, we can put the responsibility for thinking in their hands and let them choose the routine that will best capture their thoughts about the content. Take a look at the choices 4th grade students made to sum up their learning at the completion of a Social Studies unit.
April 2014
This month, I would like to share some new ideas that Troy teachers have been trying out to promote and capture student thinking:
Who Says Visible Thinking Is Not for Kindergarten?
Kindergarten Slide Show
Who Says Visible Thinking Is Not for Kindergarten?
Kindergarten Slide Show
The Four C's Routine and Microlab Protocol
Routines on the page are in alphabetical order. Scroll down to find Four C's.
Routines on the page are in alphabetical order. Scroll down to find Four C's.
Using Multiple Routines and Thinking Moves for Deeper Understanding
Scroll to the bottom of the page
Scroll to the bottom of the page
PowerPoint from the Visible Thinking after school PD
Wishing you a sunny and warm spring break!
March 2014
As you are all busy conferencing with parents, I have a moment to update this Weebly. You may have noticed the #tsdthinkers Twitter feed on the home page. If you have a Twitter account, please join the conversation about Visible Thinking around the district. If you do not have a Twitter account, the feed in this Weebly will keep you up to date on the latest Cultures of Thinking happenings.
In February, there has been one more Cultures of Thinking after school PD. The topic was, "Five Ideas to Jump Start Visible Thinking In Your Classroom." I have posted the PowerPoint from this PD on the Curriculum Connections page or you can use the button at the end of this article to jump to that page. The next after school PD will be on April 2nd at Barnard Elementary. The discussion will focus on Social Studies and Science. More information about this event will be out next week.
Earlier this month, it was very exciting to host the first district Visible Thinking Open Practice Teacher Lab. A representative from each of the twelve elementary schools volunteered to participate as either a presenter or an observer. Upper elementary teachers gathered in the morning to see a Literature Circle lesson that combined three routines to engage students in thinking deeply about the selection from the book being studied and then engaging in conversation with peers. In the afternoon, lower elementary teachers viewed a math lesson where the Zoom-In routine was used to encourage students to collaboratively build their understanding of a concept through inquiry and a Microlab Protocol discussion. The goal for this event is for participants to incorporate some of the language and routines observed into their own teaching and also to share their experience with colleagues. Perhaps you might have already had a conversation with a colleague in your building who participated.
Troy principals and teachers are telling their Cultures of Thinking stories to others in the county. In February, a team from Schroeder Elementary shared their journey with other participants at the Oakland Schools Cultures of Thinking Design Studio.
In February, there has been one more Cultures of Thinking after school PD. The topic was, "Five Ideas to Jump Start Visible Thinking In Your Classroom." I have posted the PowerPoint from this PD on the Curriculum Connections page or you can use the button at the end of this article to jump to that page. The next after school PD will be on April 2nd at Barnard Elementary. The discussion will focus on Social Studies and Science. More information about this event will be out next week.
Earlier this month, it was very exciting to host the first district Visible Thinking Open Practice Teacher Lab. A representative from each of the twelve elementary schools volunteered to participate as either a presenter or an observer. Upper elementary teachers gathered in the morning to see a Literature Circle lesson that combined three routines to engage students in thinking deeply about the selection from the book being studied and then engaging in conversation with peers. In the afternoon, lower elementary teachers viewed a math lesson where the Zoom-In routine was used to encourage students to collaboratively build their understanding of a concept through inquiry and a Microlab Protocol discussion. The goal for this event is for participants to incorporate some of the language and routines observed into their own teaching and also to share their experience with colleagues. Perhaps you might have already had a conversation with a colleague in your building who participated.
Troy principals and teachers are telling their Cultures of Thinking stories to others in the county. In February, a team from Schroeder Elementary shared their journey with other participants at the Oakland Schools Cultures of Thinking Design Studio.
At that same event, 4th grade teachers from Bemis held their monthly planning meeting in a "fish bowl" so others attending could listen in and learn how Visible Thinking strategies might be planned into the curriculum.
So far this year, Leonard, Wass and Bemis have welcomed visitors from around the county to see Cultures of Thinking in practice.
Finally, I would like to share with you the reflections of a 4th grade student. In this piece, the student thinks about her thinking and comments on what she has accomplished and sets goals for where she would like to go. It makes me think how reflective students truly can be when there is less focus on right answers and correct format and more on recognizing the thinking structures necessary to scaffold understanding. When students understand that learning is a product of thinking and they comprehend the progression of thinking, they have a target for growth. When learning is simply providing the right answer, it will always be just more of the same.
So far this year, Leonard, Wass and Bemis have welcomed visitors from around the county to see Cultures of Thinking in practice.
Finally, I would like to share with you the reflections of a 4th grade student. In this piece, the student thinks about her thinking and comments on what she has accomplished and sets goals for where she would like to go. It makes me think how reflective students truly can be when there is less focus on right answers and correct format and more on recognizing the thinking structures necessary to scaffold understanding. When students understand that learning is a product of thinking and they comprehend the progression of thinking, they have a target for growth. When learning is simply providing the right answer, it will always be just more of the same.
How My Learning Has Changed Over Time by A 4th Grade Student
When I compared my "Metamorphic Rocks" response to my "Electromagnets" response, I notice a lot of differences between them. A common difference I noticed was that in my Metamorphic Rocks response, I noticed that I had five or six statements with a good amount of evidence and specific detail to go along with all of the statements that I had. I noticed my learning was improving because I was starting to learn how to balance out the amount of statements and evidence in my writings. My thinking has changed from time to time because I learned to control the amount of evidence in my writings. Lots of evidence is good, but too much evidence may be confusing for the reader to understand and you always want your writing to make sense.
One reason I think my thinking is improving is because we are constantly doing Visible Thinking Routines that are helping me think deeper about ideas so I can have a good understanding of things. But one Visible Thinking Routine that gets me to think a lot is Step Inside. For Step Inside, you have to step inside another character's shoes and pretend you are them, meaning you have to do everything the way that character would do it. That is already deep thinking. But the hardest part for me is not to think of the obvious, simple ideas, but the really deep and interesting ideas that are not obvious at all. That can improve my understanding in the world, too.
Another Visible Thinking Routine that helps me is the Color, Symbol, Image. The Color, Symbol, Image helps me not only because of the deep thinking, but in another way because I can't just write down what I think. I still have to add evidence to go along with it. You always have to give evidence to your thinking at all times. This is because adding evidence to your thinking can sometimes be as hard, or even harder, than deep thinking.
The last Visible Thinking Routine that helps me is the I Used to Think...Now I think. This helps me because I reflect back at my thinking. For Example, I was just reflecting back at my work for the Metamorphic Rocks response to the Electromagnets response. Reflecting back at your thinking means to see which parts you improved on and which parts you still need to work on. So it's basically an I Used to Think...Now I Think. All these Visible Thinking Routines can help you and me in the world, too.
What are your reflections on this reflection? You can make your thinking visible on the blog page.
One reason I think my thinking is improving is because we are constantly doing Visible Thinking Routines that are helping me think deeper about ideas so I can have a good understanding of things. But one Visible Thinking Routine that gets me to think a lot is Step Inside. For Step Inside, you have to step inside another character's shoes and pretend you are them, meaning you have to do everything the way that character would do it. That is already deep thinking. But the hardest part for me is not to think of the obvious, simple ideas, but the really deep and interesting ideas that are not obvious at all. That can improve my understanding in the world, too.
Another Visible Thinking Routine that helps me is the Color, Symbol, Image. The Color, Symbol, Image helps me not only because of the deep thinking, but in another way because I can't just write down what I think. I still have to add evidence to go along with it. You always have to give evidence to your thinking at all times. This is because adding evidence to your thinking can sometimes be as hard, or even harder, than deep thinking.
The last Visible Thinking Routine that helps me is the I Used to Think...Now I think. This helps me because I reflect back at my thinking. For Example, I was just reflecting back at my work for the Metamorphic Rocks response to the Electromagnets response. Reflecting back at your thinking means to see which parts you improved on and which parts you still need to work on. So it's basically an I Used to Think...Now I Think. All these Visible Thinking Routines can help you and me in the world, too.
What are your reflections on this reflection? You can make your thinking visible on the blog page.
January 2014
The new calendar year brings a series of after school professional development sessions. It is your opportunity to find out what Troy elementary teachers are doing in their classrooms to develop deeper thinking and understanding among their students and then share ideas with your colleagues in break-out sessions.
In the latest meeting, participants used the Matchbook Protocol to briefly define the Culture of Thinking developing in their classrooms:
We are comfortable sharing our thinking with others.
Listening to each other as our thinking deepens.
Students brainstorming together and learning from each other.
Questioning, thinking, working together, sharing ideas.
Children sharing their thinking with partners and reflecting in their journals.
Students are actively elaborating on their ideas and exploring deeper meaning behind those ideas.
Students use thinking and show their thinking to illustrate the learning going on.
A classroom of students who are eager and willing to listen, share and go deeper with their thinking.
Routines, language, modeling, opportunities
Working this year on embracing different ways of thinking.
You will find the PowerPoint slides from the Visible Thinking and Math and the Visible Thinking and ELA presentations in the Curriculum Connections section. Examples from all elementary grade levels are represented. Contact me if you would like additional information about anything you see. Future sessions will be:
February 19th at Wattles Elementary - Nuts and Bolts of Visible Thinking
March 12th at Hill Elementary - Visible Thinking and Social Studies
April 2nd at Barnard Elementary - Visible Thinking and Science
There will be two sessions: 3:45-4:45 and 4:45-5:45. The sessions are all on Kalpa.
In the latest meeting, participants used the Matchbook Protocol to briefly define the Culture of Thinking developing in their classrooms:
We are comfortable sharing our thinking with others.
Listening to each other as our thinking deepens.
Students brainstorming together and learning from each other.
Questioning, thinking, working together, sharing ideas.
Children sharing their thinking with partners and reflecting in their journals.
Students are actively elaborating on their ideas and exploring deeper meaning behind those ideas.
Students use thinking and show their thinking to illustrate the learning going on.
A classroom of students who are eager and willing to listen, share and go deeper with their thinking.
Routines, language, modeling, opportunities
Working this year on embracing different ways of thinking.
You will find the PowerPoint slides from the Visible Thinking and Math and the Visible Thinking and ELA presentations in the Curriculum Connections section. Examples from all elementary grade levels are represented. Contact me if you would like additional information about anything you see. Future sessions will be:
February 19th at Wattles Elementary - Nuts and Bolts of Visible Thinking
March 12th at Hill Elementary - Visible Thinking and Social Studies
April 2nd at Barnard Elementary - Visible Thinking and Science
There will be two sessions: 3:45-4:45 and 4:45-5:45. The sessions are all on Kalpa.
November 2013
A new page, Cultural Forces, has been added to the Building A Culture of Thinking section. Explore the cultural forces that shape any environment from classroom to family room and how teachers are leveraging them to build a culture of thinking in classrooms. Also, enjoy the pictures of cultural forces clouds designed by the leadership team at one school to introduce the cultural forces to other staff members.
Ron Ritchhart posted this You Tube video to his Facebook page a few weeks ago. I believe it will bring a knowing smile to everyone of us who has started creating a Culture of Thinking in our classrooms. Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=A5yPCJxPNyE |
October, 2013It has been a fast start to the new school year! A brand new math curriculum to learn and 13 of our 20 schools are officially in some phase of implementing Cultures of Thinking in their classrooms and buildings! That is not to mention the many who are studying and exploring on their own.
This month, I will be highlighting how teachers around the district have begun the new year with thinking routines and more importantly, how they are creating opportunities for students to revisit initial thinking to encourage them to contemplate how thinking has changed as learning progresses. Check out the Routines section to see examples of how this has been done in Kindergarten, first grade and third grade. While you are in the Routines section, visit Step Inside in the alphabetical list of routines to see a picture of how a first grade teacher used this routine with a Making Meaning book. In the words of the teacher: We stopped at all the parts where McDuff was upset about the baby…our biggest stopping point in the book was when McDuff was not eating…it worked out great! Much attention is currently being given to bringing deeper questioning strategies into the classroom. On the Questioning page, there is a past article about the Question Starts routine that scaffolds students toward formulating more expansive and probing questions to guide their learning. In this issue, I will begin adding some information about teacher questioning and the new dimensions it brings to instruction.
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Visible Thinking routines in Kindergarten is an ongoing topic of discussion.
In the Curriculum Connections section, there is a page just for Kindergarten. This month you will find examples of how Kindergarten teachers around the district have started using routines to build cultures of thinking in their classrooms this year. I would like to share two links. The first is to a video that documents the visible thinking journey of a fourth grade classroom last school year. It was produced by a fourth grade teacher in the district:
http://animoto.com/play/RBxmDeI8hiGTtfhGXYPLNg
The second link is to a Cultures of Thinking blog that has been created by Oakland School:
http://blog.oakland.k12.mi.us/cot/ Please join the VT conversation @ Twitter #VisibleThinkingTSD. Finally, if you have a specific request of something you would like to learn more about, please contact me using the form on the home page of this website. |
June, 2013
I did not intend to have a June issue. However, I have been updating the website and wanted to share the new look. I also want to show off some amazing student reflections on portfolios of thinking routines done in a of 4th grade classroom this year. Look for samples of these reflections on the Thinking page under Building A Culture of Thinking.
At this point, we are truly at the end of the 2012-2013 school year and we are are ready to dive into summer activities...whatever they may be and wherever they may take you. Enjoy every moment! |
May, 2013
It is the time of year when our thinking turns more toward end of the year picnics (give yourself a star if you did Compass Points to plan the event) and taking thinking displays off the walls. So this blog entry will just tie-up lose ends and give you some thinking to do over the summer.
I will begin by suggesting a visit to the websites below. The first is a compilation of Visible Thinking practices and ideas from a school in Australia. It is concise, comprehensive and a great way to review all that we have learned and tried this year. It also will present you with some new angles for familiar strategies to try next year. http://www.theibsc.org/uploaded/IBSC/Conference_and_workshops/2010_Workshops/EVANS _Thinking_routines_PPT.pdf Another website you might want to visit is a new blog about Cultures of Thinking that is being produced by Oakland Schools. This blog highlights teachers' stories as they build Cultures of Thinking in their classrooms. The link to this is: http://blog.oakland.k12.mi.us/cot/ n the Routines section (found under the heading Building A Culture of Thinking), I will introduce you to Peeling the Fruit (remember, routines are listed in alphabetical order). |
If you don't know about this or haven't used it, it will give you something to think about as you make plans to introduce units of study next year. This routine is a way to organize learning and ensure that thinking and understanding delve beneath the surface. On the Kindergarten page (found under Curriculum Connections) I will wrap up a year of Visible Thinking in Kindergarten in pictures and words. The most important thing we have learned about using routines with our kindergarten and first grade students is that even our youngest learners are amazing us with their thinking...but we need to create opportunities for them to make their thinking visible. Classroom teachers should feel confident that they are the child development specialist when it comes to planning how to model and use the routines in a way that makes sense for their learners! Finally, thank you to each and every one of you for your dedication to your students and caring enough to read, meet, discuss, share, plan, reflect, fine tune and try again as you build a Culture of Thinking in your classroom, your school and your district. Enjoy every last minute of you summer. I'm looking forward to working with many of you for 4 days at the June Cohort Training. And...eat lots of chocolate... |
April, 2013 |
Teachers have noticed that when thinking routines begin to take root, a cultural shift begins to take place in the classroom. These changes happen almost spontaneously. They can be seen and heard in the language of the classroom on the part of both teachers and students, the level of student focus and participation, the way time is used, a more thoughtful approach to assignments and discussion and more effective/reflective listening and responding. On the Building a Culture of Thinking page, take a look at the blog conversation generated by a 5th grade class in response to the novel Wonder. The teacher uses the 3-2-1 Bridge routine to initiate discussion, but the thoughtful and respectful conversation that you will read begins to strongly resemble the thinking and reflection associated with a well orchestrated Chalk Talk or Tug of War. Yet, it is the students who have ownership of this conversation and give it structure.
Some of the ideas from the after -school grade level Professional Development sessions that focused on using Visible Thinking routines with Troy curriculum will be on the Curriculum Connections page. This month I will highlight 1st and 4th grade Making Meaning lessons. March, 2013 |
Template or no template, that is a question often raised by teachers. Check Curriculum Connections for some thoughts on this subject as well as an opportunity to weigh in on the Blog Page.
Be sure to check in on the latest thinking in Kindergarten as well as a new page called Meeting the Challenge. It is on this page that I will attempt to answer some of the challenges of Visible Thinking mentioned by teachers on professional development exit slips. This page was previously called Quick Tips. All of the Quick Tips are now located along with the routine explanations on the Routines page. Finally, visit the new Internet Links page that will provide web addresses that might give you additional VT information and the Photo Gallery page for some photos of thinking on the walls around the district. You may get a new idea or two. |
Teachers have noticed that when thinking routines begin to take root, a cultural shift begins to take place in the classroom. These changes happen almost spontaneously. They can be seen and heard in the language of the classroom on the part of both teachers and students, the level of student focus and participation, the way time is used, a more thoughtful approach to assignments and discussion and more effective/reflective listening and responding. On the Building a Culture of Thinking page, take a look at the blog conversation generated by a 5th grade class in response to the novel Wonder. The teacher uses the 3-2-1 Bridge routine to initiate discussion, but the thoughtful and respectful conversation that you will read begins to strongly resemble the thinking and reflection associated with a well orchestrated Chalk Talk or Tug of War. Yet, it is the students who have ownership of this conversation and give it structure.
Some of the ideas from the after -school grade level Professional Development sessions that focused on using Visible Thinking routines with Troy curriculum will be on the Curriculum Connections page. This month I will highlight 1st and 4th grade Making Meaning lessons. |
Template or no template, that is a question often raised by teachers. Check Curriculum Connections for some thoughts on this subject as well as an opportunity to weigh in on the Blog Page. Be sure to check in on the latest thinking in Kindergarten as well as a new page called Meeting the Challenge. It is on this page that I will attempt to answer some of the challenges of Visible Thinking mentioned by teachers on professional development exit slips. This page was previously called Quick Tips. All of the Quick Tips are now located along with the routine explanations on the Routines page. Finally, visit the new Internet Links page that will provide web addresses that might give you additional VT information and the Photo Gallery page for some photos of thinking on the walls around the district. You may get a new idea or two. |
February, 2013
I turned the Pretend Play area into a school and the kids take turns being the teacher and the students. I just overheard the “teacher” ask her students: “What makes you say that?”
Reported by a Kindergarten Teacher Every elementary classroom in the district is immersed in Valentine's Day festivities so I will spend this time peacefully putting together a long overdue blog edition. I say "peacefully" because it has been an exciting and very active week working on the Oakland County Cultures of Thinking visit to Bemis. What an honor that both Bemis and Leonard are being recognized for efforts in establishing Cultures of Thinking and have been invited to open their doors to others wishing to move forward with these strategies! |
In this edition, I will introduce you to some ideas for combining technology with the Headlines routine. Look for that on the Routines page under Headlines. While you are on that page, take a peek at how Circle of Viewpoints is being used in our curriculum. You will also find some new thoughts about See-Think-Wonder as well as a picture of practice of this routine. In Curriculum Connections, find out how Visible Thinking is being adapted for use in ELL and Cognitively Impaired classrooms.
Finally, be sure to visit the Kindergarten page to see how our youngest learners' thinking is being engaged. |
January, 20013
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Speaking of moving toward a Culture of Thinking, Ron Ritcchart shared with the Leadership Training group a list of classroom cultural forces and the actions within each that would indicate a culture of thinking is developing. This list will be on a new page: Building A Culture of Thinking.
Also in this issue: The Curriculum Connections section has an idea from first grade for using routines to engage student thinking in independent work. The Tug of War Routine is highlighted in the Routines section. Remember, routines are listed in alphabetical order. New ideas from Kindergarten are in the Kindergarten section. At the end of a Visible Thinking presentation at one school, the staff was asked to do a Connect-Extend-Challenge about their learning. Some of the challenges mentioned are listed on the Quick Tips page with references to where within this website information that might be helpful can be found. |
October-November, 2012
The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of Making Thinking Visible. I have been meeting with many individual teachers, small groups and entire building staffs. I also attended Visible Thinking Leadership training in South Lyon. Then on November 2nd and 3rd, I had the very special opportunity to participate in the Project Zero Conference in Clarkston where Jeremey Whan (Bemis Principal) and I led a break-out session that told about the Visible Thinking journey in Troy. For me, the highlight of the conference was the presentation by Howard Gardner. He talked about his latest book 5 Minds for the Future that focuses on the worldwide revolutions of globalization, brain research, technologies and lifelong learning. Given these trends, Mr. Gardner believes the types of thinking that will be required going forward are: the Disciplined Mind (depth), the Synthesizing Mind (breadth), the Creating Mind (stretch), the Respectful Mind and the Ethical Mind. This session provided much food for thought.
In Visible Thinking terminology, a connection I made with this presentation was the work we are doing in Cultures of Thinking. My thinking was extended with the identification of the worldwide trends and the ways our instructional practices are and are not laying the groundwork for the 5 Minds. The challenge continues to be |
combining "lifeworthy" curriculum (a term David Perkins used in his session) with opportunities to continually engage students in deep thinking and understanding.
New in this issue and the website section where the information can be found: Samples of routines used in elementary music classes (Curriculum Connections) An example of combining routines in 5th grade Social Studies (Curriculum Connections) Examples of the Explanation Game routine (Trying Routines) The latest news from kindergarten (Kindergarten) Reflecting on reflecting (Thinking) A new section called Quick Tips where I will share ideas I am learning from teachers around the district |
First Month of School, 2012-13
What better way to set the tone for what is valued in your classroom than to hear all student voices when using thinking routines to establish norms? Visit the Integrating Routines and the Photo Gallery section to find out how See-Think-Wonder, Chalk Talk, Compass Points and I Used To Think...Now I Think are being used to kick off the year. Anchor charts that set classroom expectations become more meaningful for all students when everyone has had an opportunity to actively contribute thoughts and see their ideas become part of the classroom culture.
Kindergarten teachers...I am working with several of you throughout the district to find developmentally appropriate strategies for infusing Visible Thinking routines into your day. I have added a section just for you! You can find it under the More tab at the top of this page. |
P.S. There are no kindergarten cops for this page...other grades may find useful information there as well.
Another new feature for this year will be links to PDF versions of the PowerPoint presentations I give throughout the district. This can also be found under the More tab. Please remember that there is a blog page to this website that you can use to let me know what's on your mind. I will gladly respond, either on the blog or with a follow-up email. |