1. education
2. school

THINKING TO LEARN
LEARNING TO THINK
Presented by Rosemary Cosentino and Sharron Cramer
V International Visible Thinking Conference
Miami, Florida, March 2015
WELCOME TO KINGSWOOD PRIMARY
OUR THINKING JOURNEY
KINGSWOOD PRIMARY SCHOOL
A mindful approach to success
Kingswood Primary School is “a place
where our collective and individual thinking
is valued, visible and actively promoted.”
The Kingswood brand is “engaging,
innovative, and caring in everything we do
to cultivate a great teaching and learning
environment.”
SESSION OUTLINE
Understanding Goal - A Mindful approach
towards building a culture of thinking
Understanding Goal - Cultural Forces
support the implementation of thinking to learn
and learning to think
Understanding Goal - Classroom practices
are reflective of visible learning
Interactive workshop-Visible Thinking Routine
Question Time
THINKING TO LEARN, LEARNING TO THINK
UNDERSTANDING GOAL
Cultural Forces support the
implementation of thinking to learn
and learning to think at Kingswood
Primary School.
THINKING TO LEARN, LEARNING TO THINK
UNDERSTANDING GOAL
Classroom practices are reflective
of Visible Learning and Thinking
KINGSWOOD PRIMARY SCHOOL THINKING
FRAMEWORK
THROUGH LINE
How does a Culture of Thinking support
the foundation for success?
GENERATIVE TOPIC
LEARNING TO THINK, THINKING TO LEARN
UNDERSTANDING GOAL
An engaging, innovative and
caring environment promotes
a teaching and learning
culture that makes a positive
difference and creates a
foundation for success
UNDERSTANDING GOAL
UNDERSTANDING GOAL
Cultural forces underpin the
development of a Thinking
and Learning Culture within
an Understanding
Framework
Teaching and Learning is
enriched through Visible
Thinking practices, inclusion
of the Habits of Mind and
creativity
HABITS OF MIND: A mindful approach to decision
making in order to achieve success.
How does Kingswood build students’ capacity
to develop these dispositions?
• Introduce the 16 Habits-names, icons, define
basic meanings
• Increasing alertness-Can students recognise the
use of Habits of Mind in themselves/others?
• Extending Understanding-Deeper meanings and
explicit opportunities to practice
• Infusion-Linking Habits of Mind and Thinking in
Teaching and Learning
• Commitment-promoting a culture of thinking that
utilises the Habits of Mind across the school
community
WHAT HABITS DID YOU RECOGNISE IN
OTHERS TODAY?
CULTURAL FORCES:
What forces provide the leverage for creating a
Culture of Thinking in our school?
•ENVIRONMENT
•EXPECTATIONS
•OPPORTUNITIES
•TIME
•INTERACTIONS
•MODELLING
•LANGUAGE
•ROUTINES
ENVIRONMENT:
Facilitating thinking and learning in the spaces.
• Flexible Learning Spaces
• Different furniture
arrangements
• Shared resources
• Stimulating displays
• Student work visible
• Range of digital
technologies
• The “walls talk”
EXPECTATIONS:
Setting expectations and goals for learning, and the type
of thinking required.
• THROUGHLINES
• UNDERSTANDING GOALS
• SUCCESS CRITERIA
• PLANNING DOCUMENTATION
• AGREED PROTOCOLS
VISIBLE FRAMEWORKS
TEACHING FOR UNDERSTANDING INQUIRY LEARNING
PREP INQUIRY THROUGHLINES
How do I belong? What makes life special?
GENERATIVE
TOPIC
TELLING
TALES
HOM intro
MAIN CONTENT
FOCUS
Me and my family
my school, pets
UNDERSTANDING GOALS
We all have similarities and
differences
KEY
QUESTIONS
Where do I come from?
What is special about me?
Fairy tales and
Nursery Rhymes
Indigenous stories
We all have a story to tell
We learn from others through
stories
Our school is a community with
rules and expectations
How am I the same or
different to others?
What can we learn from
others?
VISIBLE EXPECTATIONS - NUMERACY
VISIBLE EXPECTATIONS - LITERACY LEARNING
THROUGHLINES
Why does change matter?
How can we show we understand?
What connections can we make to our environment?
GENERATIVE TOPIC: WHAT’S THE MATTER WITH WORDS?
Level 3 /4 Term 2, 2014
ENGLISH UNDERSTANDING GOALS
COMMUNICATING WITH
CLARITY AND PRECISION
MATTERS
{Language}
LANGUAGE CREATES
REALITY
{Literacy}
WE CONNECT TO OTHERS
THROUGH TEXTS
{Literature}
UNDERSTANDING GOALS
SUCCESS CRITERIA - Weekly Lesson Sequence
THROUGHLINE: WORDS MATTER
GENERATIVE TOPIC-SPELLING
• Communicating through writing, with clarity and precision, matters
• Striving for spelling accuracy matters
LEARNING INTENTIONS/UNDERSTANDING GOALS
• There are spelling rules that can be applied to help us
spell unknown words
• Accurate spelling makes written communication clearer
SUCCESS CRITERIA
• Identify long and short vowel sounds
• Explain rules when using medial and final double consonants
OPPORTUNITIES:
Provide the focus and direction for thinking.
Teaching and Learning
opportunities that promote
deep thinking and
understanding, occur across
a wide range of curriculum
areas.
Here’s what the students have to say
about opportunities to think and learn
OPPORTUNITIES:
CURRICULUM PROVISION
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Literacy and Numeracy
Inquiry Based Learning
Science and Technology
BYOD iPad Program
Performing Arts and Visual Arts
Physical Education and Sport
Perceptual Motor Program
School Concerts
Kitchen Classroom and Garden Program
Japanese-classroom and study tours in Japan
Buddies Program
Camping Program- Surf Camp, Ski Camp, Outdoor Adventure Camps
RACV Challenge
TIME:
Good thinking requires time to make
connections and deepen understanding.
• STAFF
• Attendance at local and International Thinking events
• Scheduled collaborative professional learning
opportunities
• Engaging experts in Thinking and Habits of Mind
• Developing a strategic plan for whole school
implementation and development
• Reflection and feedback
•
•
•
•
STUDENTS
Using ‘wait time’ to allow deeper thinking
Allowing all students to contribute
Promoting student voice and choice to pursue
interests
• Making connections
• Reflection and feedback
FRAMEWORKS FOR LEARNING OVER TIME
VISIBLE AND DEVELOPMENTAL SUCCESS
CRITERIA
LANGUAGE:
What we say shapes, informs and consolidates
thinking and learning.
INTERACTIONS:
Positive interaction by listening, evaluating and sharing.
MODELLING:
The teacher engages students by modelling
thinking and learning
HABITS OF MIND HERO
................................................................................
For demonstrating a mindful approach to success by
Remaining open to
continuous learning
...
We model ourselves as learners, and
recognise student achievement through
weekly Habits of Mind Hero awards
.............................................................. .............
............................................................................
Signed:
Date:
VISIBLE THINKING ROUTINES
Scaffolding student learning through agreed protocols
A Picture
of
Practice
SEE, THINK, WONDER - Response to
newspaper image and headline
HEADLINES - Capturing the essence of fairytales
PEELING THE FRUIT- Building on what we
know about people in the community
QUESTION STARTS - What are our
wonderings about weather?
THINK PUZZLE EXPLORE - Responding
to literary characters
COLOR SYMBOL IMAGE - Summarising visual texts
I USED TO THINK, NOW I KNOW - Making
connections to practical experiences
CONNECT, EXTEND, CHALLENGE - Inferential
and evaluative reading comprehension
TUG OF WAR - Persuasive writing stimulus
THINK, PUZZLE, EXPLORE - What
connections can we make from our field trip?
CIRCLE OF VIEWPOINTS - Exploring text
themes from a characters’ perspective
ZOOM IN - Using partial images of
sports to make predictions
STEP INSIDE - Exploring war from both sides
COMPASS POINTS - Generating ideas
for Persuasive writing
I WONDER WHAT IF…? - Generating own
inquiry questions about the seasons
I used to Think, Now I Know - Tuning In
phase of Inquiry Topic
Visible Thinking Routine
COMPASS POINTS
UNDERSTANDING GOAL
To explore the experiences of one school from multiple perspectives and
identify where more information is needed to deepen your understanding
EXCITEMENT-What excites you about Kingswood
Primary School?
STANCE-What are your current opinions? What
suggestions do you have for taking action in your
school?
WORRIES- What challenges you about your
implementation of a Thinking Culture?
NEEDS-What else do you need to know or want to
ask to deepen your understanding?
WORKSHOP: COMPASS POINTS ROUTINE
PARTICIPANT TASK
1. Use the Compass Points Routine to
stimulate your individual thinking.
2. Record your thinking on 4 coloured
sticky notes .
3. Share your thinking by placing your
notes under the headings on the charts.
4. In 4 groups, sort the ideas to find 2 or
3 common responses and share with the
whole group
CONTACT
KINGSWOOD PRIMARY SCHOOL
For further information or enquiry please contact:
THE PRINCIPAL
Mrs Rosemary Cosentino
Kingswood Primary School
Plaza Cres
Dingley Village 3172
Victoria
Australia
email: cosentino.rosemary.r@edumail.vic.gov.au
Come visit us Down Under!