At the core of Visible Thinking are practices that help make thinking visible: Thinking Routines loosely guide learners’ thought processes and encourage active processing.
Through this series of 1-hour sessions we will have one session dedicated to an introduction and then explore the seven Core Routines. One routine per session. Using Visible Thinking Routines are a way to differentiate instruction for students as they must bring their own ideas and opinions to the routine. Over time, this way of thinking and engaging becomes a powerful habit.
We will follow this sequence for our series. This is session #7 Compass Points. You may join one or all of the sessions focusing on a specific routine. If you did not attend the introductory session, you can review it on your own.
- Introduction: What is Visible Thinking and a Thinking Routine?
- Session #1 What Makes You Say That?
- Session # 2 Think Puzzle Explore
- Session #3 Think Pair Share
- Session #4 Circle of Viewpoints
- Session #5 I used to think… Now I think…
- Session #6 See Think Wonder
- Session #7 Compass Points
This routine works well to explore various sides and facets of a proposition or idea prior to taking a stand or expressing an opinion on it. For instance, the school may be considering the idea of a dress code, a teacher might present the class with idea of altering the room arrangement, a character in a book might be confronted with making a choice, a politician might be putting forth a new way of structuring taxes, and so on.
