Latest posts
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The Quieter the Room, the Louder the Thinking
We are eight posts into this series! What a wild ride it has been! Eight posts, somewhere north of twenty thinking routines. A Costco parking lot, a Tonic deep cut, This Old House, a soup can, and one very passionate argument about the Oxford comma. We have covered routines that teach students to observe carefully,…
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Before and After
I’ve always been fond of a good ‘ol home renovation show. It’s something that actually is deeply rooted in my childhood. Long before the days of brothers who had property or uppers that needed to be fixed, there was one show I would watch on the regular with my dad. This. Old. House. Not only…
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The Flight Safety Card Activity: What Stick Figures and Oxygen Masks Can Teach Your Students About What Actually Matters
Brief Update! Oh man, nothing like getting injured and sick as heck in the last 10 days of school. For the first time in AGES, I had to leave school last week because I fell physically ill (after making it to my second-floor classroom on crutches nonetheless! But, I’m back to about 90%, we’ve got…
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You Got Your Chocolate in My Peanut Butter: The Craigslist Missed Connections Classroom Activity
There is a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup commercial that lives rent-free in my brain. It is one of those commercial gems that then morphs into other shower-thought style derivations. You probably know the one. Two people walking toward each other, completely oblivious. One has chocolate. One has peanut butter. They collide. And the result is…
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Recess Isn’t a Break From Learning. It IS Learning. And We Forgot.
Sorry for no post on Wednesday, I’m dealing with one of those lovely “spring flus” and my body waged war against itself….but I’m back today! Your next Visible Thinking Routines post will be out next Wednesday!! I grew up in the era of giant maps painted on blacktop (the sweetness of the 90’s amirite?). My…
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Knowt: The Study Tool That Said “Hold My Beer” to Quizlet
I haven’t written about specific tools very often. But know that when I do, it’s because something stopped me cold and I couldn’t not share it. I was at TCEA in February, doing what I always do at conferences between sessions: wandering the expo floor with the energy of a golden retriever who has just…
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The Vibes Were Off: Teacher Intuition, the Data Obsession, and the Thing AI Will Never Have
I was vibe-aware before the kids these days started talking about vibes. Though I always feel like Steve Buscemi when I hear them say it. What I can say, and for those of you who have either seen me present, heard me talk, or chatted with me, I definitely am self-aware of the vibe I…
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The Difference Between Having a Thought and Owning One
Almost 30 years ago (in July, 1996)…(god I’m old)…one of the most underrated bands of all time released their debut album Lemon Parade. The third single, released in February of 97, is what created a core musical memory for me. The song opens with its title and perfect follow-up statement: If you could only see…
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Make Your Students Earn Their Investments with Jumpstarter and Teacheon (New Classroom Templates!)
Last Monday, I shared the GoFundMe in the Ditch That Textbook online community. (You should definitely join!!!) When I shared it, I described it as “an off-the-rails idea for a ‘social media’ template,” and a “shower thought meets asking Claude some questions meets Canva during my plan.” I expected some nice engagement. Maybe a few…
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You Are Not a Vending Machine: Emotional Labor, Compassion Fatigue, and What “Remember Your Why” Gets Wrong
Some mornings, I walk into my classroom before my students arrive and I tape a sign to the board. Several years ago, it started on a large Post-it pad, the kind on a wheeled easel — on a morning when I had planning period first, and I knew, before anyone walked through my door, that…