INTERACTIONS

"You're one of the only teachers that makes me feel smart. You encourage me to speak up and share
 even if my answer might be wrong.          - 8th Grade Student

Students in Erika Lusky's classroom learn how to interact with each other for the purpose of collaborative inquiry. 

Below is a list of four ideas to consider when creating a Culture of Thinking in your classroom 

1. Ensure that all students respect each other's thinking in the classroom. Ideas may be critiqued or challenged but people are not. 
2. Make it clear that mistakes are acceptable and encouraged within the classroom. 
3. Students are pushed to elaborate their responses, to reason, and to think beyond a simple answer or statement. For example, by using the "What makes you say that?" routine. 
4. Listen to students and show a genuine curiosity and interest in students' thinking. It is clear your value their thinking. 

from Ron Ritchhart's The Development of a Culture of Thinking in My Classroom: Self-Assessment