Increasingly, we are recognizing the importance of the culture of the classroom as foundational for learning.  And yet, we often don't give teachers many tools for or understanding of how to create group culture that can foster deep learning and build understanding.   During the workshop, we will focus on the practical and concrete ways educators can create a culture of thinking in their schools and classrooms, foster the kinds of thinking opportunities that lead to deep understanding of content, and develop our skills of how to look for evidence of student thinking and understanding. This workshop offers a unique opportunity to explore the cultural forces of: interactions, modelling, environment, routines, language, opportunities, time, and expectations. Throughout the workshop, participants will use a variety of thinking routines to facilitate their own learning and explore how each of these can be used to create more thoughtful classrooms.

Participants will explore and build their understanding around:

• What is a culture of thinking? What does it look like and feel like?

• The role messaging plays in both understanding and shaping of group culture

• How can we assess, understand and shape the culture of our classrooms and schools to most effectively build a culture of thinking?

• How can we leverage the cultural forces, which exist in every classroom, to support and further develop a culture of thinking?

• How can educators use thinking routines to structure, scaffold, and support students' thinking?

• How can we better understand the role of  language in building a culture of thinking?