Gorgeous Maps at Park

Visiting a handful of classrooms at Park School gave me a glimpse at some dazzling maps.  I visited the classrooms of Ms. Botros, Ms. Juarez, Ms. Lew, and Ms. Tang.  Ms. Tang's students are using the maps to set Smart Goals for themselves.  I will display more maps.  I just need to see why adding new pictures causes old ones to disappear.

Mrs. Paola Juarez and Literature Circles

When I visited Mrs. Juarez's class, I was pleased to learn that she started using Thinking Maps for literature circles.  She and I must have some kind of psychic energy because I had just presented the idea to Ramona School last Saturday.  She approached me and said, "I've been using Thinking Maps for literature circles."  I nearly flipped.  It was great see innovation with Thinking Maps.

My version involves assigning a different map to each member of the group.  For example, one student can focus on setting with a brace map.  This student will break the setting apart on a brace map.  When it's time to share their work, each student will have engaged in a different thinking skill for the passage.

I hope Mrs. Juarez will send me some scanned samples of what students created.  

Ms. Mariani's Students Using Maps for Math

During a serendipitous excursion to Park School, I happened to intrude upon a third grade classroom where students were using Thinking Maps in the middle of a lesson.  My initial goal was to capture some photographs for this blog.  It was my great fortune to overhear Ms. Mariani say, "Refer to your Circle Maps."  This was my lucky day.  I experienced map-making LIVE.  Wow!  Students made mini Circle Maps for various geometric terms and defined them in context.  EVERY student had a Thinking Map.  I left with a big smile.