Making Thinking Visible - Chapter 5B

This August, I'm participating in a monthly blog challenge called Blaugust. To see the list of participating blogs, click on the logo below. Please cheer on our participants with either a tweet or a comment on their blog. It can be hard to blog on a daily (or even regular) schedule! :)

If you want to join in the blogging fun, it's not too late!  Go HERE to sign up! :)

Making Thinking Visible - Chapter 5B

As with previous chapters, the title of each routine links to more information and my notes and comments follow each title.

Connect Extend Challenge

• Powerful comment from the author:  "... [S]tudents are often given information but are never asked to do anything mentally with it.  Listening, in and of itself, doesn't lead to learning."  Wow!  That stepped on my toes.  Are we asking students to be passive or active learners?  
• Authors suggest using this to help students process information after info-rich sessions.  It could also be used after professional learning opportunities.
• I don't really see a lot of application in math, but I like this idea in general.  Need to do more research regarding use in math.
• Sentence starters that I really liked: 
• Connect:  "This quote (passage, text, concept) reminds me of...
• Extend:  "This quote is adding to my thinking because..."
• Challenge:  "This quote makes me wonder...
• Powerful quote (actually a paraphrase) that made me pause... It's not that students always want to take the easy way out or give shallow thoughts, they may just not know how to articulate deeper thoughts.  Modeling is key!

The 4Cs

• Again, this routine didn't really appeal to me.  According to the author, this routine is best with non-fiction text, but probably not textbooks - maybe newspaper articles would work for stat?
• The 4Cs stand for Connections, Challenge, Concepts, Changes
• I wonder about using this routine with PD articles or with #EduRead?
• Could maybe use each C as a standalone?  Would it work better with a textbook if used that way?

MicroLab

• Note:  link above has a middle school math example video
• This routine was designed to ensure equal participation during classroom discussions
• Each round is timed and groups of 3 are optimal.  
• In the examples, there was an illustration of using this routine to process an investigative task and problem solving.  In general, the examples made me think a lot about the AVID tutorial process
• Some tips from the authors:  Give students time to write and think before starting the routine.  Also, when first introducing this routine, feel free to start with shorter times.  Finally, don't be afraid of the silence, as that is the time students are really to be processing what they just heard.

I used to think... Now I think...

• This would be a great reflection prompt at the end of a lesson or unit - maybe make this into an exit ticket paper (1/4 sheet) and ask students to respond anonymously?  Could then take up and redistribute (or snowball!) to have people share out the comments.
• This routine would be very flexible and easy to implement.  It also promotes a growth mindset.
• Tip from the author:  The teacher needs to be genuinely curious about how student thinking has grown or changed.  This is not meant to be a "gotcha" or a "I was wrong before, but now I'm right"  This is about student reflection, not teacher-pleasing.

Making Thinking Visible - Chapter 5

This August, I'm participating in a monthly blog challenge called Blaugust. To see the list of participating blogs, click on the logo below. Please cheer on our participants with either a tweet or a comment on their blog. It can be hard to blog on a daily (or even regular) schedule! :)

If you want to join in the blogging fun, it's not too late!  Go HERE to sign up! :)

Making Thinking Visible - Chapter 5A

As with previous chapters, the title of each routine links to more information and my notes and comments follow each title.

Headlines

• I really like this routine and can see myself using it this year.  This routine reminds me a lot of 6-word memoirs, but in a newspaper headline format.  I think this would be a really awesome exit ticket prompt that emphasizes summarization skills.
• From the author:  "the Headline helps students to identify what was important or stood out to them about the experience.  Getting a better sense of what students see as important can be useful in planning future instruction."
• Since I'm not sure how much my students read the news, I wonder about modeling this strategy for them... maybe with actual newspaper headlines?
• Don't forget the "why"!  After students share out their headline, make sure they explain their reasoning.
• Thoughts on how to share... post-it notes?  Index cards?  Laminated sentence strips?
• Variation idea from author:  Song title or theme song instead of newspaper headline
• Warning:  Can easily turn into a catch phrase / superficial summary if not careful!

CSI: Color, Symbol, Image

• When I first read about this routine, I really didn't see myself using this one, but as I got deeper into it, I think it might be worth a try.  I really like that this routine encourages students to think metaphorically and according to the author, it is really useful for our English Language Learners because they can express their learning in a non-verbal manner.
• I think the hardest thing will be finding appropriate content.  One interesting idea might be to use this with back to school - What is math to you?  This prompt might yield some deeper insights into student feelings about math and allow them to express themselves non-verbally.
• As with all of the thinking routines, the key is the why.  Make sure students explain their thinking on why they chose that color, symbol, and image.
• Variation:  Don't do all 3, pick just one.  This might make it easier to use in math because you could ask the symbol/image option for a lesson or unit.

Generate - Sort - Connect - Elaborate

• I have used concept maps many times in my class and I really like them.  According to the author, this routine was created because one thing they noticed was that students don't make very good concept maps.
• In the past, when I've done concept maps, I've left out the "sort" component.  I like the idea of students generating ideas (maybe on post-it notes or scraps of paper?), then pooling those ideas with their groupmates and sorting them into like items.  Then they will glue or tape them down to a paper and connect into their map.  I like the tactile-ness of this idea because nothing is permanent until it's adhered to the paper.  This would give kids less anxiety about making an error.  I also wonder about giving each student in the group a different color of paper to write on so each individual student's thinking is more visible.
• Another idea I had was to have students make individual concept maps as the "generate" step, then as a group, create a compilation.  This would require them to sort out their individual ideas for placement in the group map.

Whew!!  Another day is done.. :)  Happy Blaugust!

Making Thinking Visible - Chapter 4B

Can you believe it's AUGUST?!?!?! Where did summer go??

This August, I'm participating in a monthly blog challenge called Blaugust. My hubby actually started this a few years ago within his blog-o-sphere and I stole it last year to help motivate myself to blog during one of the roughest months of a teacher's year!

To see the list of participating blogs, click on the logo below. Please cheer on our participants with either a tweet or a comment on their blog. It can be hard to blog on a daily (or even regular) schedule! :)

This will be the 4th or 5th time that I've tried to blog on a daily basis for a month and I am hoping that this is the time that I actually follow through!  I have been recording blog ideas using an app on my phone, plus we have the 50 prompts that I posted last week, so here's to a successful blogging challenge for all of us! :)

If you want to join in the blogging fun, it's not too late!  Go HERE to sign up! :)

Making Thinking Visible - Chapter 4B

About a month ago, I blogged about Making Thinking Visible.  Then for multiple reasons, I stopped. :)  We had workers at our house, Pam went to TMC, all the craziness that comes with July!  Anyway, I have finished the book and before I get into another topic, I want to finish up the posts on MTV so I will have the reference later on when I need it! :)  

Note:  As before, I've linked the specific routines discussed in this chapter so that you can learn more about them.  My notes and thoughts are below each heading.

3-2-1 Bridge

• Note:  the link above has some great resources, including templates for this routine!
• We are probably all familiar with the traditional 3-2-1 prompt, but this thinking routine adds a "bridge", which I really like.  This would be a great pre/post assessment tool, having students do a 3-2-1 before and after, then link them together with a bridge (meta cognition, anyone?)  I teach at a 1:1 school, so I wonder about being able to do this online even... thoughts?
• I really like the tweak of the 1 simile or metaphor - what a neat way to have kids think outside of the box!  (Note from the author: "A metaphore takes a bit more time and thought to develop, and therefore these often do reveal a layer of understanding or misunderstanding."
• As a pre-assessment, this routine wouldn't work well unless students have some prior knowledge of the concept.  In stat, we do work with concepts that kids know something about, but need to figure out a way to easily activate that learning.. maybe a visual or a concept map?  Just saying "This unit we will be working with Univariate data" won't help kids, but maybe showing visuals of histograms, boxplots, etc would.
• The bridge is the powerful piece.  From the author: "In the Bridge, students look at their initial responses (sometimes with a partner) and reflect on how those first impressions differ from their current take on things."  
• The instructional period between the 3-2-1 needs to be more than just a review of past knowledge or skills because that won't change student thinking or present new ideas.
• Could this be used as a structure to the entire year?  For example, have kids do a 3-2-1 at the beginning of the year over "Statistics", then revisit after each chapter/unit?  Maybe this would provide more structure to the "brain dump" reflections I use?

Compass Points

• This routine is a decision making routine that forces students to examine a problem from all sides.  You can again see examples and templates from the links above.
• I really saw this routine being used in my classroom in 3 ways:
• Back to School:  Have 4 posters up, one for N/E/S/W and ask them to put post-it notes on each.  The 4 prompts would be:  What are your NEEDS for this to be a good learning environment?  What are you EXCITED about for this school year?  What are SUGGESTIONS you have for me as your teacher?  What are your WORRIES about this class/school year?
• Parent Night:  We only have 10 minutes per class on parent night, so I think this would be kind of fun.  I would use similar prompts with the parents with some tweaks.
• Test Review:  Again, 4 posters with N/E/S/W, but the prompts would change... What are the topics you NEED to study?  What are the ESSENTIAL topics from this unit?  What are your most effective STUDY STRATEGIES?  What are you most WORRIED about for this test?

Explanation Game

• This routine reminded me a lot of See-Think-Wonder, with a focus more on the parts than the whole.  
• To be honest, I didn't see a ton of applications for this one in my classroom.  The best example I could come up with was when students are identifying sampling methods.  I use a card sort to provide some mixed practice and the cards could be dealt out to each group member, they read the card, then name the method, explain it and give the reasons they think it is that method.  Could maybe even add in Talking Points for the group to go around and agree/disagree and why?  (Note:  If you have additional suggestions, PLEASE live them in the comments!  Thanks!)

Day 1 of MTBoSBlaugust is done!  Only 30 more to go! :)

#MTBoSBlaugust Participating Blogs 2016

Can you believe that tomorrow is August 1???  Where, oh where, did summer go?  I swear that the older I get, the faster and faster that July runs away!

So far, 60 people have signed up to join me in the #MTBoSBlaugust challenge!  Here is a list of the participants - please go and cheer them on during this challenge either through a Twitter shout-out or by posting a comment on their blogs!

2016 #MTBoSBlaugust Participants:
@mathequalslove - Math = Love
Katrina Newell (@MrsNewellsMath) - Mrs. Newell's Math
@gwaddellnvhs - Success
@BusyMissBeebe - Busy Miss Beebe
@pamjwilson - Radical rational
@anyaostapczuka - Teaching In Special Education
@misscalcul8 - misscalcul8
Tara Daas (@chatelet0211) - Hazeleyedmathnut
@MathByTheMt - Math by the Mountain
@algebrasfriend - Algebra's Friend
@mlfosh73 - Math-termind
Danielle Reycer (@0mod3) - Math Teacher Nerds
Parkermathed - Countably Infinite
Jacqueline (@jacrichardson) - High Heels and No. 2 Pencils
@RoxyGirlTeacher - Rockstar Math Teacher
@fractionfanatic - Fractionfanatic
@merryfwilliams - Dividing by Zero
CherylLeung (@MathEasyAsPi) - MathEasyAsPi
@caitlyn_gironda - Give Me a Sine
Ali Grace (@AGEiland) - GRAPHS & GLASSES
@zimmerdiamonds - Ms. Z. Teaches in Mathland
Sarah Martin - Mathisajourney
David Griswold - Approximating Normality
@cheesemonkeysf - cheesemonkey wonders
Emily Swenson (@Em_Swenson) - The Fab Explor-A-Lab
Meg Craig (@mathymeg07) - Insert Clever Pun Here
Casey (@cmmteach) - (Mis)Adventures in Mathland
SqRtOfTeaching - The Square Root of Teaching
Anna Vance (@TypeAMathLand) - TypeAMathLand
@solvingforx - Orangamallows
@lisakmcleod - McLeod's Crowd: Algebra for All
@yelena585 - Blended Learning in my math classroom
@Mim_IL - Mim's Reflections
Marissa (@viemath) - La Vie Mathematique
@abel_jennifer - Mathsational
Bonnie Davis (@MrsDavisAlg2) - Teaching on the East Side
@ms_braga - Ms. Braga Teaches
@matheologian - Matheologian
@CGFlim - The Pizza Pi Girl
Denis Sheeran (@MathDenisNJ) - Unanswerable Questions
swedenese - e^m
@anne_mayre - La Vie en Violet
Jessica (@algebrainiac1) - Algebrainiac
@sarahkm3 - T-cubed: Tumbling Through Teaching
@MrKitMath - Those who teach, do more
@BridgetDunbar - Reflections in the Plane
@hschuchhardt - Slightly Skewed
@markchubb3 - Thinking Mathematically
Jennifer Wilson (@jwilson828) - The Slow Math Movement
Sarah (@sedulaney) - Go to Sleep. Study. Mathinate.
@MNmMath - mnmmath
DawneenZabinske - Ms. Z's Mathematical Mess
@MichelleDRD - dr dalrymple
Sarah DiMaria (@MsDiMaria) - Ms. DiMaria Blogs
Tori Roberts (@MathByTori) - Math by Tori
@jkindred13 - jkindred13: Teaching with a Servant's Heart
@lorrisapp - Dr. Sapp's Blog
Jasmine (@jaz_math) - Jaz_math
@ChrissieFicken - Room 206
@showwrk - Show me your work (thinking)
@mrssheilaorr - F(Lessons Taught) = Lessons Learned
@SharonSoule - Math Dame
@sergtpeppa - Big Honkin' WordPress
@vaughn_trapped - vlogakavaughnlog or Vaughnville
Jonathan Newman (@newmanmath) - Hilbert's Hotel
Allison_krasnow - PiCrust
@margambrel - Middle School Math in 138
Kerri S. - Math Differently
Joanne Crooks (@jomrosa) - Learning Math Everyday
Corina Srygley (@ccsrygle) - Sryg's Jigs
lizmathnerd - Fabuliz Math Nerd
@MrHansuvadha - Worst Teacher Ever
Kristin Manna (@kmanna15) - Manna Math
luvbcd - Middle School Math Rules
David Walker - Geometry, Common Core Style
@mathplusmusic - Math Plus Music
@frankmcgowa - Finding the Process

#MTBoSBlaugust is BACK!

Last year, I hosted the #MTBoSBlaugust event, hoping to get myself motivated to blog more and because misery loves company, I asked the MTBoS community to join in!  Today, I realized that August is NEXT WEEK (OMG OMG OMG) and so I tweeted out asking if people would be interested in the return of #MTBoSBlaugust and there was an extremely positive response!

So here we are...

Rules of Blaugust

The rules are pretty simple... all you need to do is blog!  :)

Seriously though, my goal will be to blog daily in August, but I know that's not always possible, so set your own goal!  Maybe it's a goal to blog every other day or to write at least 10 posts this month... whatever it is, you can do it!  This will be my 4th attempt to blog every day for a month and I have YET to achieve that goal, but it's okay - blogging once a week is better than not blogging at all!

Please take a minute to sign-up so I can link to your site as a #MTBoSBlaugust participant and cheer you on!

The Prompts

I know some people really like the prompts and you'll see a list down below.  However, do NOT feel like you have to stick to this list!  This list of prompts is only to help you when you are stuck with the "What in the world do I write about today?!?!?" moment.  For me, this year, I have committed to recording blog ideas using Google Keep on my phone and on paper via my planner.  I'm hoping that those quick little moments of "oh, that went well, I should blog that!" will actually help me remember what I wanted to blog about on a daily basis. :)  

On to the prompts:

1. What do you hope to get out of Blaugust this year?
2. Show us your classroom
3. Top 5 Tips for New  (or Veteran) Teachers
4. What are your Back to School Must-Haves?
5. What Back To School supplies have you purchased this year?
6. What have you made for your classroom this summer?  (#Made4Math)
7. What is your favorite icebreaker or first day of school activity?
8. How do you develop a positive classroom culture?
9. What would you like to Start doing this school year?  What would you like to Stop doing?  What would you like to Continue doing?
10. One time in math class... (as a teacher)
11. One time in math class…(when I was a student…)
12. Something I read/learned this summer that intrigued me…
13. Pinned It, Did It and/or Pinned it, Did it, It flopped.
14. Recipe Swap for Busy Teachers (Quick & easy lunches anyone?? Breakfast on the go?)
15. Something that makes your classroom unique
16. A  mentor/colleague who impacted your classroom/teaching…
17. The best teacher I ever had was …. because ...
18. How do you tame the paper tiger?
19. What are your best organizational tips?
20. Brain breaks for students.
21. Favorite take 5 for yourself?
22. Be the Change.. what will you do this year to impact the culture of your school and/or classroom?
23. Using your school mascot, create an acrostic of character traits you wish to instill in your students
24. What is your focus/theme/mantra for the year and why?  Create and share a notecard for your desk as a reminder.
25. What are your go to quotes?
26. Reblog an old post - reflect how you see/use it now?
27. What are your favorite formative assessment strategies?
28. Professional Growth Goal
29. What are your best organizational tips?
30. Theme song for the year? like your personal fight song?
31. What is something in your classroom that you cannot live without?
32. What’s a positive change you would like to make in your life - could be at school/home/health
33. List of gratitude.
34. Describe a typical day (or hour) in your classroom.
35. What is your biggest classroom pet-peeve?
36. Link to 3 blog posts that impacted you and share why.
37. Read 3 posts from blogs you’ve never visited, give a quick take-away from each.
38. What is your greatest joy in teaching?  What is your greatest fear?
39. Tell us about you!  Post 20 facts about yourself.
40. What are your New School Year Goals or Resolutions?
41. What’s in (and on) your teacher desk?
42. What’s the 10th song on your device playlist?  What memory does it conjure?
43. What’s your “One Good Thing” for today?
44. What do you do on parent night / open house?  
45. What’s the toughest challenge you face as a teacher today?
46. A favorite activity that is fun and leads to learning…
47. An activity or something else in your classroom you wish to modify and improve.
48. What's left on your Summer Bucket List?
49. What are your favorite apps to use in your classroom?
50. What is your fitness routine and how to stick to it during a busy school year?

My 2016-17 Teacher Binder

So today I went to Staples to have my binder printed and totally made a rookie mistake... I had forgotten to save it as a PDF and they didn't have my font installed, so it was a wasted trip and I have to go back tomorrow.  *sigh*

Oh well... At least I did get my binder rings and a new cover so that I'm ready to go once I get it printed! :)

So here it is... My 16-17 Binder :)

The cover hasn't changed for the past few years :)  I like chevron, what can I say? :)

Open the page and you'll find a notes section and the cover page for my Agenda & Lesson Plans.  I never used the notes section last year, which has boxes to fit a 3x3 post-it note, but I still like the idea.  Maybe this year will go better :)

The first 6 pages of the Agenda are for Pacing Calendars, one for each of my 3 preps.  This was also a new addition last year that I did not use at all.  I'm going to try again...

Now let's get into some of the changes...  My monthly spread has undergone a transformation on the right side.  Hedge (@approx_normal) has been tinkering with a Bullet Journal this year, which made me do some research.  One feature that I really liked in the Bullet Journal is a Habit Tracker, so I decided to incorporate that into my monthly spread.  Add in some goals and a spot for a to-do list and hopefully I'll use this page more effectively!

For the weekly spreads, I decided to go with 2 different layouts.  First off, for 'non-school' weeks, such as July, I wanted a place to keep track of my to-do lists and look back to see what I've accomplished each day.  This layout was influenced by a weekly to-do list mousepad that I found at Target Dollar Spot. :)

For weeks that school is in session, I need a spot for lesson plans for 3 preps, my personal calendar for keeping track of meetings, tutoring, etc, and to-do lists.  Last year, I just had a blank column but I knew I wanted to be more intentional with regard to a place to reflect and a place to record blog post ideas, etc.  For me, I need everything to be in one place for my personal and professional agenda, so here's the final design:

There are a few more pages as well, such as a cover page for a Gradebook and Meetings.  I really like for my agenda to be a one stop shop, so it has my lesson plans and gradebook all in one.  This is one of the nice features of the Arc system as well - I can easily add to it!

Thanks to all of my twitter friends that gave me feedback the past few days! :)

Making Thinking Visible - Chapter 4A

Starting with Chapter 4, we start getting into the details of the thinking routines.  For more information on the thinking routines, see the Project Zero website or Think from the Middle.  I've linked the specific routines below.

Here are my notes and random thoughts for the first four thinking routines from Chapter 4

General Thoughts:

• I liked the examples for each routine, but I personally would have liked more detail, especially in how the dialogue progressed through the class.
• I say that I value thinking, but in reflecting on my class, I really do a lot more "telling" than I should.  I don't let the students ponder enough.  In all of these routines, a key element was just to sit back and look and ponder what was happening.  I need to do that more.  

See Think Wonder

• This routine reminds me a lot of "I notice... I wonder..." from The Math Forum.
• Thoughts on using this in my classroom - graphs, diagrams, visual patterns, charts and data displays from the news
• Tip from the author:  Look at the image yourself - can you look at it for several minutes and notice new things?  Does it spark your curiosity?
• If I gave 2 comparative graphs (like boxplots, dotplots, etc), could maybe use this as an intro to comparing and/or inference?
• In a class, how do you keep 1-2 kids from dominating?  Do you have each group generate a list and then go from table to table?
• Kids need practice at just stating their observations without judgement

Zoom In

• Thoughts on using this in my classroom - nonlinear functions like cubic/quartic, scatterplots like the 2016 Q#6, scatterplot and then add regression line
• Tip from the author: Ask yourself "Are there separate areas of the image that tell a different story?"
• I wish the author had shown the artwork segments they used at each stage to fully understand how they introduced this routine.
• On each stage/zoom, spend enough time for students to develop their ideas but not too long for kids to get bored... that seems like a tricky line :(

Think Puzzle Explore

• This routine is like a KWL.  I know what KWL is, but I've never seen it used effectively in math.  Even when I googled it, there are very few examples of math KWL.  
• I do really like the subtle change in verbiage though... instead of "What do you know?", it's "What do you think you know?" That difference opens up for kids to be more tentative and exploratory.  They don't have to know for certain, but everyone can contribute something that they think they know about a topic.
• The "want" or "puzzle" area still concerns me.  What if nothing about the topic does really spark a kid's curiosity?
• This routine is very versatile.  I could see using it as a previous knowledge check, like with boxplots, or even as an end of chapter/unit check to see what misconceptions there are about the topic. 
• Thoughts on how to use it in my classroom:  pre or post assessment for a chapter, exploring an open-ended data set
• The "explore" part could definitely be used in a more open-ended inquiry manner
• Tip from the author:  You don't have to use the entire routine (TPE) together, you can use just one or two parts.  This is huge for me because I see some amazing uses of the Think (and lesser but still useful) for Puzzle.  I don't see as much for my classes for the entire routine.
• Right now, I have a 'Parking Lot' hanging up in my room, but I could see using that for students to write their puzzles and wonderings  

Chalk Talk

• I've used this routine several times and LOVED it. However, when I've used it, it's been mostly for more "verbal" parts of my course.  Not sure how to modify for the more "mathy" parts.
• Thoughts on how to use it in my classroom:  single word/phrase for test/quiz review
• I wonder if using questions (AP prompts?) would generate richer discussion?
• Tip from the author: Use reflection questions like "What have you been most surprised by in this unit?" "What has been most difficult for you in this unit?"
• Debriefing the Chalk Talk is really important - need to develop a better way to do that.
• I would love to hang these around my room to come back to them later, but with 8 tables and 4 math classes, it's impractical to hang up 32 posters.  Need to figure out how to handle this best
• Chart paper is really cheap and I need to order some more from our warehouse :)

The storify of the Ch 4a Chat