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Faculty-Staff Professional Development

Project Zero is an educational research foundation that was founded at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education more than fifty years ago. Each and every year, this project works to foster different learning lenses at all levels of education and within a variety of topics.  
Several of ASV’s School Leaders attended one of the focuses of Project Zero called “Cultures of Thinking in Action” led by Dr. Ron Ritchhart on October 5-6, 2024. At this workshop, they were provided with opportunities to “explore the 10 mindsets that support deeper learning and thinking” not only in the classroom with students, but also with colleagues.

Following this workshop, on October 7-8, five ASV teachers from ES, MS and HS attended an AISiS-organized workshop led by the same facilitator that focused on Visible Thinking and how teachers can implement thinking routines effectively with students in order to cultivate dispositions and support learning.

ASV Testimonials

Ms. Kiraly (High School English teacher)

“At the IB level, we are constantly working with students to have perceptive ideas and observations; the thinking routines that I learned at this PD gave me a plethora of thinking routines to use with students. I have already tried two of them with students, and I have already seen students’ observations become more sophisticated.”

Ms. Rose (Grade 4 Silver teacher)

“Originally I was nervous how students would take to these new routines, but they impressed me with their thoughts, questions and ability to provide evidence for their reasoning. We are digging deeper than I ever thought possible into our reading books and even our own writing.”

Mr. Ballester (PE Teacher)

Making thinking visible in the classroom transforms abstract ideas into concrete understanding, especially for middle school students. It’s about creating a space where their thoughts, questions, and reflections are seen, valued, and built upon. When students can see their own thought processes, they learn to appreciate the power of inquiry and critical thinking”.

Ms. Gassó (Social Studies and Spanish for International Students)

Attending the ‘Making Thinking Visible’ PD session at ASB was one of the best professional development experiences I’ve had. I learned a variety of new thinking routines that I can easily apply in different classroom scenarios to boost engagement and deepen understanding. I’ve already used one with my Grade 9 class, and the students were incredibly engaged and able to apply the insights to their upcoming research. These routines will be invaluable in fostering critical thinking and reflective learning across all my classes.