Reflection in the BM classroom

Learning to think and reflect is crucial in IB classrooms. I recently wrote some resources for an examining board, which had developed a skills based programme. While researching for these materials, I came across the Harvard Project Zero site that looks at thinking and reflection skills and provides some very simple, but effective ways of developing learner profile attributes. The Visible Thinking section and tools are particularly useful for teaching and promoting understanding. You will have to scroll through the site to find its hidden gems, such as core routines including:

• I used to Think… Now I think… A routine for reflecting on how and why our thinking has changed
• 3-2-1- Bridge Activating prior knowledge and making connections
• Think Puzzle Explore A routine that sets the stage for deeper inquiry
• Circle of Viewpoints A routine for exploring diverse perspectives
• See Think Wonder A routine for exploring works of art and other
  interesting things
• Compass Points A routine for examining propositions
• Think Pair Share A routine for active reasoning and explanation

There are other thinking routines in the index on the left. The site also has videos and other support materials – it just takes a while to find them all and then to select the ones you like. The ideas are not complex – they sometimes appear very simple, but it is providing time and space for students to reflect on their learning, understanding and perceptions, and also encouraging students to expect to reflect and share ideas as part of the learning process.