I am a parent and an educator. How could I embrace the main ideas from these sources? And how could I see evidence of this being successful?

As a parent and educator, you can embrace the main ideas from the sources by integrating thinking routines into both your home and classroom environments to cultivate deeper thinking and curiosity in children.

Here’s how you could implement these ideas and identify evidence of success:

• Introduce Thinking Routines: Start by selecting a simple, versatile thinking routine like "See, Think, Wonder". This routine encourages observation, interpretation, and inquiry. You can introduce it with various objects, images, or topics. For example, you might use it with a piece of art, a natural object, or a current event.
• Implement "See, Think, Wonder": Begin by asking your child or students what they see in the object or situation. Then, prompt them to think about what might be going on (think) based on their observations. Finally, encourage them to express what it makes them wonder. Encourage them to provide reasons for their interpretations.
• Use Routines Consistently: The sources emphasize the importance of using a routine repeatedly across different contexts. This helps to reveal the routine's potential to support thinking and develop a culture of thinking.
• Model and Participate: Engage in the thinking routines yourself to model thoughtful observation and interpretation. Share your own "see, think, wonder" responses to encourage children to participate.
• Create a Culture of Thinking: Encourage open-ended questions and discussions that value exploration and inquiry. Make thinking visible by recording observations, interpretations, and questions on a chart or board. Revisit these records to track changes in thinking and understanding over time.
• Extend Thinking Beyond the Classroom: Encourage children to use thinking routines in everyday situations outside of formal learning environments. This helps them develop habits of mind that sustain curiosity and promote continuous learning.

Evidence of Success:

• Increased Engagement: Notice if children are more engaged and curious during learning activities.
• Deeper Thinking: Look for evidence of deeper analysis and interpretation in their responses. Are they moving beyond surface-level observations to consider underlying meanings and connections?
• Thoughtful Questions: Note if they begin to ask more thoughtful and probing questions.
• Independent Application: Observe if they start using thinking routines independently in new situations. Are they naturally applying the "see, think, wonder" framework when encountering new information or experiences?
• Collaborative Thinking: Assess whether they are building on each other's ideas and engaging in collaborative thinking during group discussions.
• Metacognitive Awareness: Look for evidence that they are reflecting on their own thinking processes. Can they articulate how the thinking routines are helping them to learn and understand?

By consistently integrating thinking routines into your interactions and learning activities, you can foster a deeper, more engaged approach to learning and discovery in the children you work with.