Thinking Maps
- Provide a common language that all students, teachers and school
- Apply across all subjects and grade-levels (can be used K-12 and beyond)
- Lead to meaningful, memorable, and focused learning
- Are tools for life-long learning (can be applied to just about any information)
- When different Thinking Maps are used to go deeper and more complex on a given topic/subject, their effectiveness is increased
Waugh Writing Program
Thinking MapsTM are eight visual patterns designed for students to use in order to learn and retain information, through the process of gathering and packaging that information in a visual, memorable and concise way.
Write from the Beginning ... and Beyond, is a comprehensive writing program for students in TK/kindergarten through sixth grade. It is designed as an advanced program for those teachers, schools, and districts that have implemented Thinking Maps.
It is a developmental writing program focused on those criteria necessary for successful writing achievement beyond the elementary years.
The program includes both narrative and expository writing, each utilizing the Thinking Maps. Teachers build upon and extend the instruction of previous grades by using Modeled Instruction, Improvement Rubrics, and Focused Mini-Lessons. The result is a common, targeted focus and school-wide accountability which creates an expectation of high student writing achievement..
Classroom goals for students:
- Students will become familiar with the terminology and concepts related to effective writing
- Students will be able to self-assess their writing performance and articulate a plan for improvement
- Students will use Thinking Maps cooperatively and independently to organize and plan for writing.
