Stepping into the role of a student is quite a humbling experience! There is so much information to absorb, inferences to make, people with whom to interact. It is overwhelming, yet thrilling; intimidating, yet powerful.
This past summer I spent time at Harvard’s Project Zero conference diving deep into the study of a Culture of Thinking. I experienced the week as a student and explored what it meant to be an active and engaged member of a classroom.I developed a new appreciation for the value of being able to communicate my ideas, collaborate with colleagues, and think critically. In essence, it hit home just how important it is that our students here, at North Broward, are able to take ownership of their learning journey.
Evidence of North Broward’s commitment to cultivating a Culture of Thinking can be seen in the classrooms, parent and faculty meetings, and on social media. The best part is that parents can replicate this at home as well. I challenge you to focus on the 4 forces (language, environment, routine, opportunities) that our teachers are studying this year in their Professional Learning Communities as they put into practice elements from “Creating Cultures of Thinking: The 8 Forces We Must Master to Truly Transform Our Schools” by Ron Ritchhart. Give a few of these a try:
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Focus on using conditional ( could, would, should ) vs absolute ( it is, always, none, all ) language.
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Create “perplexity.” Create situations in which your child uses their knowledge to solve or understanding something going on at home.
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Think about orientation and ambiance of their study space. How can you modify features of their space to become more conducive to learning.
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Examine your home routines. How do you create clarity, consistency, and opportunity for thinking in their daily lives?
Looking for more ideas or want to see this in practice? Jump on Twitter and follow @nbpsEagles or #NBPCOT.