Making Thinking Visible - Gaining Momentum

The month of September allowed us to become familiar with the "Making Thinking Visible" walk-through tool and student-looks fors. We are celebrating 142 walk-throughs with feedback and evidence given to each teacher.

As we look at evidence of student thinking through writing, we have yet to observe collaborative writing (discussion boards, responding to or writing blogs) and exit tickets. Maybe the most disturbing piece of data is that in 45% of these snapshot visits, we were not able to observe students doing any writing at all. How can students show you what they know if they are not given opportunities to write about their learning?

Evidence of Student Thinking Through Writing

Worksheet	35	24%
Annotating Text (Interacting with Text)	14	10%
Using a Graphic Organizer (KWL, Venn Diagram, Taking Notes, etc.)	22	15%
Writing Process (Brainstorming, Drafting, Editing, Final Copy, etc.)	6	4%
Collaborative Writing, (Discussion Boards, Responding to Blogs, etc.)	0	0%
Journaling (Thoughtful Logs, Response Journals, etc.)	7	5%
Exit Tickets	0	0%
Student to Student Feedback	1	1%
Not observed at this time	64	45%

Teacher-led discussion still dominates our observations, as we see this 37% of the time. Take a look at the other indicators and ways in which students can make their thinking visible through verbal communication. How are you able to incorporate more student-centered, student-led practices into your classroom? We know, it is those who do the most talking in turn do the most learning. Our students deserve to be prepared and put into situations that foster these critical life skills and allow them to make their thinking visible.

Evidence of Student Thinking Through Verbal Communication

Partner Discussion (Turn & Talk, Think-Pair-Share, etc.)	22	15%
Teacher-Led Discussion	53	37%
Student-Led Discussion (Socratic Seminar, Debating, etc.)	1	1%
Students Asking Questions	13	9%
Student Presenting (Formal or Informal)	12	8%
Conferring (Teacher:Student)	20	14%
Student-to-Student Feedback	15	10%
Not observed at this time	34	24%

Our levels of DOK (Depths of Knowledge) are encouraging and our learners are engaged in activities that elicit working with skills and concepts as well as short-term strategic thinking. Do your students know that you are working hard to increase their levels of cognitive rigor? Maybe it is time we start talking to learners about our purpose so they can help take ownership of how our classroom practices evolve and be cognizant of their role in making this happen for their learning and life success? Engage them in these conversations.

Level of Student Thinking - Writing

Recall and Reproduction	28	20%
Working with Skill and Concepts	46	32%
Short-term Strategic Thinking	19	13%
Extended Strategic Thinking	2	1%
Not observed at this time	61	43%

Level of Student Thinking - Verbal

Recall and Reproduction	42	29%
Working with Skill and Concepts	59	41%
Short-term Strategic Thinking	20	14%
Extended Strategic Thinking	1	1%
Not observed at this time	35	24%