Making Thinking Visible Routines

The idea of visible thinking helps to make concrete what a thoughtful classroom might look like. At any moment, we can ask, "Is thinking visible here? Are students explaining things to one another? Are students offering creative ideas? Are they, and I as their teacher, using the language of thinking? Is there a brainstorm about alternative interpretations on the wall? Are students debating a plan?"

Even if you haven't taken the Making Thinking Visible PD, you can easily incorporate some of the routines published on their website that make thinking visible, like these:

What Makes You Say That? Interpretation with justification routine

Think Puzzle Explore A routine that sets the stage for deeper inquiry

Think Pair Share A routine for active reasoning and explanation

Circle of Viewpoints A routine for exploring diverse perspectives

I used to Think... Now I think... A routine for reflecting on how and why our thinking has changed

See Think Wonder A routine for exploring works of art and other
interesting things

Compass Points A routine for examining propositions

Connect Extend ChallengeA routine for connecting new ideas to prior knowledge

Explanation Game A routine for exploring causal understanding

Headlines A routine for capturing essence

Question Starts A routine for creating thought-provoking questions

*Think Pair Share A routine for active reasoning and explanation

*Think Puzzle Explore A routine that sets the stage for deeper inquiry

*What makes you say that? Interpretation with justification routine

3-2-1 BridgeA routine for activating prior knowledge and making connections

Colour, Symbol, Image A routine for distilling the essence of ideas non-verbally

Generate, Sort, Connect, Elaborate A routine for organizing one's understanding of a topic through concept mapping

Peel the Fruit A map for tracking and guiding understanding

MCAS Resource

MCAS Resource shared by Ben Francavilla

PARCC Released Items 

with scoring rubrics, released items, and answer keys

Action Research Scholarship Money from the MRA

Sylvia D. Brown Scholarship

Do you have a plan for conducting ACTION RESEARCH in your educational setting?  The Massachusetts Reading Association invites you to submit a proposal for the Sylvia D. Brown Scholarship. Please read all information carefully. Proposals are due by February 10, 2018, and must be submitted electronically to the Sylvia D. Brown Committee Chair, Terrie Marr. Don't miss out on this opportunity to enhance, enrich, and expand your understanding of literacy. Detailed information may be found here: Application and Guidelines

WAIT TIME!

Tips for giving students more time to respond

Some research shows that teachers pause for 0.9 seconds after asking a question. Giving students several seconds to think after asking a question—and up to two minutes for some questions—improves their learning. In this blog post, John McCarthy, an education consultant and advocate for student voice, makes a case -- and offers tips -- for providing more processing time when asking questions.

Words to Use instead of "Very"

Aiding Reading Comprehension With Post-Its

A simple, low-stress strategy that helps students engage with, understand, and remember what they read.

Check out this article from Edutopia.

Teaching Introverted Students: How a 'Quiet Revolution' Is Changing Classroom Practice

Teaching Introverted Students: How a 'Quiet Revolution' Is Changing Classroom Practice Inspired by Susan Cain's 2012 book, Quiet: the Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking, teachers in New York City and elsewhere are developing learning environments that give a voice to silent students. Read more.