"When we make the thinking that happens in our classroom visible, it becomes more concrete and real. It becomes something we can talk about and explore, push around, challenge, and learn from” 
― Ron Ritchhardt, Making Thinking Visible
 
Creativity is the perfect means by which we can explore, challenge and learn about a given topic. This set of visible thinking routines focus on creativity and assist students in dissecting creative perspectives and making creative decisions.  Detailed descriptions of each routine can be found here. These ideas are not my own, but a valuable resource which I believe should be shared and widely embraced. Please feel free to print them and display them in your classroom.

(All images have been sourced from Unsplash.)
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“A culture of thinking produces the feelings, energy, and even joy that can propel learning forward and motivate us to do what at times can be hard and challenging mental work.” 
― Ron Ritchhardt, Creating Cultures of Thinking: The 8 Forces We Must Master to Truly Transform Our Schools
 
It can be difficult mental work to clarify the truth of a given topic or issue particularly in our current climate. This set of visible thinking routines focus on truth and assist students in exploring the many dimensions of this difficult and somewhat complex concept.  Detailed descriptions of each routine can be found here. These ideas are not my own, but a valuable resource which I believe should be shared and widely embraced. Please feel free to print them and display them in your classroom.

(All images have been sourced from Unsplash.)
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“When we recognise that true understanding of a discipline involves learning its processes and ways of thinking as well as its content knowledge, then we naturally create opportunities for developing those abilities.” 
― Ron Ritchhart, Creating Cultures of Thinking: The 8 Forces We Must Master to Truly Transform Our Schools

As teachers we constantly strive to ensure our students understand. Following on from my earlier post on Cultures of Thinking please see the below routines focussed on understanding. These routines assist in connecting, interpreting and organising students knowledge. Detailed descriptions of each routine can be found here. These ideas are not my own, but a valuable resource which I believe should be shared and widely embraced. Please feel free to print them and display them in your classroom.

(All images have been sourced from Unsplash.)

“What if we sought to develop a culture of thinking in our schools, classrooms, museums, meetings, and organisations?” 
― Ron Ritchhart, Creating Cultures of Thinking: The 8 Forces We Must Master to Truly Transform Our Schools
 
My school, inspired by the work of Ron Ritchhart and Harvard’s Project Zero, is currently working incredibly hard to create a Culture of Thinking. Ritchhart notes six key principles of the Culture of Thinking project:

• Skills are not sufficient: we must have the disposition to use them.
• The development of thinking and understanding is fundamentally a social endeavour.
• The culture of the classroom teaches.
• As educators we must strive to make student thinking visible.
• Good thinking utilises a variety of resources.
• For classrooms to be cultures of thinking for students, schools must be cultures of thinking for teachers.

 
Through 'Visible Thinking Routines', amongst other things, we as a community of educators are grabbing hold of powerful learning opportunities to maximise student potential.
 
Over the coming weeks I wish to share with you some examples of how I am using 'Visible Thinking Routines' to create a Culture of Thinking in my classroom. As suggested these routines should become ‘routine’. I have commenced this process through visual prompts for both my students and I to utilise in class.

Below are the prompts that I have printed and laminated for my classroom. They display the Core Routines. Detailed descriptions of each routine can be found here. These ideas are not my own, but a valuable resource which I believe should be shared and widely embraced. Please feel free to print them and display them in your classroom.

(All images have been sourced from Unsplash.)

On my classroom wall, I have a playbuilding ladder. When students are engaging in the playbuilding process they use the playbuilding ladder to scaffold their work. Each group has a game piece (usually theme related) that they move up the ladder as they complete each step. They climb from brainstorm to evaluate. On the way they have to engage with stepping stones such as 'develop character / role'. These stepping stones allow them to find depth in the process. I find the ladder helps them track their progress throughout the project and clearly defines my expectations. 


This is the PDF I have created, printed, cut and laminated to build my playbuilding ladder. Please feel free to use it if you feel it is valuable.