Groupwork and collaboration are the need of the hour for the next generation. To be able to work in a team, express yourself clearly, and understand different perspectives- I consider these life skills. Life skills may seem basic, and I’ve heard people scoff at the need to teach life skills! However, I can see that… Continue reading The Placemat Strategy- connecting to the TD theme
Tag: visible thinking routine
Enter my mind- A VTR for well being and trust
What is a wellbeing VTR? VTR stands for visible thinking routine. They help to make a person’s inner thoughts visible and clear to a third person. You may find a lot of visible thinking routines on the internet related to academics that encourage students to organize and structure their thoughts on a particular topic. However,… Continue reading Enter my mind- A VTR for well being and trust
The Affirmation Tree-A SEL VTR
All of us need positive reinforcement from time to time. Affirmations can be understood as true statements, and positive affirmations are the uplifting phrases that assist us in dispelling negativity. As we traverse the challenges life puts before us, we must give ourselves these affirmations frequently and encourage our students to do the same. This… Continue reading The Affirmation Tree-A SEL VTR
WHAT- A VTR to identify relevant questions and guide inquiry
Before we embark on a new unit or concept in our learning spaces, it is imperative to evaluate our student’s knowledge of the subject. Checking in with their current information is a terrific way to recognize where to initiate teaching and learning. You may have to start explaining the basics or may be able to… Continue reading WHAT- A VTR to identify relevant questions and guide inquiry
An ode to VTRs- a poem to say ‘thank you’
VTRs are ‘visible thinking routines’ that make the inquiry process visual and structured. These are widely used in my classroom and have resulted in many successful breakthroughs among my students. VTRs deserve a spotlight in the world of education, and so the following poem was penned by me as a virtual thank you. An ode… Continue reading An ode to VTRs- a poem to say ‘thank you’
Learning and teaching during pandemic times
I have always been enthralled by the principles of an IB education which include progressive ideas of student agency, action and a mission to create global citizens of the future. Unfortunately, before the school year began in 2020, we were thrown into the unchartered waters of a historic pandemic. As educators, the immediate challenge was… Continue reading Learning and teaching during pandemic times
Looking into the Review Mirror 