Teaching "thinking routines" - now that makes sense.

This weekend at class, I heard about using thinking routines.  Click here for a video overview. The instructional procedure of teaching specific thinking routines just make sense.  Project Zero from Harvard School of Education has an awesome website.  Click here.

Resource Summary

• Connect Extend Challenge A routine for connecting new ideas to prior knowledge
• Explanation Game A routine for exploring causal understanding
• Headlines A routine for capturing essence 
• Question Starts A routine for creating thought-provoking questions 
• Think Pair Share A routine for active reasoning and explanation 
• Think Puzzle Explore A routine that sets the stage for deeper inquiry 
• What makes you say that? Interpretation with justification routine 
• 3-2-1 Bridge A routine for activating prior knowledge and making connections
• Colour, Symbol, Image A routine for distilling the essence of ideas non-verbally
• Generate, Sort, Connect, Elaborate A routine for organizing one's understanding of a topic through concept mapping
• Peel the Fruit A map for tracking and guiding understanding

- See more at: http://www.pz.harvard.edu/resources/thinking-routines-understanding-routines#sthash.Agl0hRJG.dpuf

there is NOTHING wrong with failure

“If I persist, if I continue to try, if I continue to charge forward, I will succeed.” — Og Mandino     “And even if you don’t succeed… there is NOTHING wrong with failure (just get back and try again – and again – and again…).” – Frank Korb  Painting and…

Just what would the kids say after watching this - GRIT

Leaving a high-flying job in consulting, Angela Lee Duckworth took a job teaching math to seventh graders in a New York public school. She quickly realized that IQ wasn’t the only thing separating the successful students from those who struggled. Here, she explains her theory of “grit” as a predictor of success.  This makes me wonder how many students out there think that they don't have what it takes -- when they do.

Thinking about the questions teachers are asking about GRAMMAR -

Separating grammar from the writing process seems to be like separating the bread from peanut butter and jelly when making a sandwich.

Let's go to a wonderful set of articles from top ELA educators in the professional magazine for ELA teachers.  Click here to read so much information to help you formulate your instructional plans.

Only time for one quick article - in my opinion this is the one to read -A Path to Better Writing.