Visible Learners

A progressive, research-based approach for making learning visibleBased on the Reggio Emilia approach to learning, Visible Learners highlights learning through interpreting objects and artifacts, group learning, and documentation to make students' learning evident to teachers. Visible classrooms are committed to five key principles: that learning is purposeful, social, emotional, empowering, and representational. The book includes visual essays, key practices, classroom and examples.* Show how to make learning happen in relation to others, spark emotional connections, give students power over their learning, and express ideas in multiple ways* Illustrate Reggio-inspired principles and approaches via quotes, photos, student and teacher reflections, and examples of student work* Offer a new way to enhance learning using progressive, research-based practices for increasing collaboration and critical thinking in and outside the classroomVisible Learners asks that teachers look beyond surface-level to understand who students are, what they come to know, and how they come to know it.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS viiFOREWORD xBy Deborah MeierINTRODUCTION xiiiPART I: SIX LEARNING PORTRAITS 1CHAPTER 1: THE YELLOW DOOR: TURNING PROBLEMS INTO PROJECTS IN KINDERGARTEN 3CHAPTER 2: THE VERNAL POOL: SEVENTH-GRADERS INVESTIGATE AND PROTECT A LOCAL HABITAT 13CHAPTER 3: GRAPPLING WITH GREATNESS: NEGOTIATING DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW IN AP LITERATURE 20CHAPTER 4: THE AMAZING CIRCUS ACT: MAKING VISIBILITY PART OF THE EQUATION IN HIGH SCHOOL MATHEMATICS 26CHAPTER 5: MEET THE DIRECTORS: KINDERGARTNERS STUDY THE BOSTON MARATHON 33CHAPTER 6: EYES ON ENGAGEMENT: SUPPORTING STUDENT INQUIRY IN A FOURTH GRADE CLASSROOM 39PART II: PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES 49CHAPTER 7: MAKING LEARNING AND LEARNERS VISIBLE 51CHAPTER 8: UNPACKING THE PRACTICE OF GROUP LEARNING 61CHAPTER 9: UNPACKING THE PRACTICE OF DOCUMENTATION 74CHAPTER 10: MAKING LEARNING VISIBLE IN AN AGE OF ACCOUNTABILITY 95PART III: TOOLS FOR MAKING LEARNING AND LEARNERS VISIBLE 107CHAPTER 11: SUPPORTING LEARNING IN GROUPS IN THE CLASSROOM 1091 Getting Started with Making Learning Visible 1102 Looking at Learning in Groups: Classroom Discussion Guidelines 1123 Considerations for Forming Small Groups 1154 Entry-Point Charts: Engaging All Members of the Group 1175 Structures for Giving and Receiving Feedback 120CHAPTER 12: SUPPORTING LEARNING IN GROUPS IN THE STAFFROOM 1246 "Throwing Your Money Away": Exploring Group Learning and Documentation 1257 Designing and Facilitating Adult Study Groups 1278 Looking at Documentation: The Collaborative Assessment Conference 1309 Creating Documentation for Public Viewing: Protocol 1 13210 Creating Documentation for Public Viewing: Protocol 2 134CHAPTER 13: DOCUMENTING INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP LEARNING 13611 Documentation: When Does It Make Learning Visible? 13712 Beginning to Document through Intentional Inquiry 13913 Beginning to Document by Stepping Back 14014 Considerations for Selecting a Documentation Tool 14315 Guidelines for Shooting Video and Photographs 14616 Making Learners' Words Visible: Speech Bubbles 149CHAPTER 14: ENGAGING FAMILIES IN SUPPORTING STUDENT LEARNING 15117 Introducing Families to Making Learning Visible 15218 Refrigerator Reminder: Five Ways to Make Learning Visible at Home 15419 Making Learning Visible Family Survey 15620 Involving Families in the Learning Process 15821 Documenting Learning at Home 161CHAPTER 15: MAKING LEARNING VISIBLE BEYOND THE CLASSROOM 16222 Bulletin Boards That Make Learning and Learners Visible 16323 Creating Exhibitions of Teaching and Learning 16524 Anatomy of an Exhibit Panel 16725 Zoom Guidelines and Template 169ABOUT THE AUTHORS 172NOTES 174INDEX 179PHOTO CREDITS 185