In this episode of the Equipping ELLs Podcast, host Beth Vaucher is joined by Shelley Love de Feliú, an experienced educator and math instructional coach with over 18 years of experience in the field. Shelley is the founder of Raising Thinkers and Raising Mathematicians, where she focuses on helping parents and educators nurture curiosity and critical thinking, especially in math. Together, they dive into the powerful concept of visible thinking, an educational framework that makes students' thinking processes visible and accessible.

Shelley shares valuable insights into how visible thinking strategies can support multilingual learners, making learning more inclusive and engaging for students of all language levels. Through routines such as “What makes you say that?” and “Think-Pair-Share,” educators can foster deeper thinking, problem-solving, and student collaboration in their classrooms. Whether you're teaching first graders or middle school students, visible thinking strategies are effective tools to enhance communication and comprehension across all subjects and grade levels.

In this episode, Shelley also emphasizes the importance of scaffolding language skills and how visual supports and peer interactions can empower multilingual learners to contribute meaningfully to class discussions. These simple yet impactful routines not only encourage student participation but also allow teachers to better understand students’ thought processes, ensuring that learning is meaningful and impactful.

Tune in to hear about the benefits of using visible thinking routines to create a learning environment where all students, regardless of their language proficiency, can engage, contribute, and thrive. Plus, find out how to integrate these strategies into your own classroom with minimal preparation. Resources and links to Project Zero’s Visible Thinking routines are included in the show notes.

Key Takeaways:

Discover practical visible thinking routines that enhance student engagement.
Learn how to support multilingual learners through scaffolding and peer interaction.
Find out how to use simple strategies to deepen student thinking in any subject.
Get tips for implementing visible thinking routines in your classroom.

Call to Action:

Want to bring visible thinking into your classroom? Check out Project Zero’s Visible Thinking Toolkit and start experimenting with routines like “What makes you say that?” or “Think-Pair-Share” today! Don’t forget to visit Shelley’s podcast Raising Thinkers for more insights and resources on supporting student thinking.

Links and Resources