Thinking Maps: A Language for Learning

Thinking Maps provide a common visual language in our learning community for transferring thinking processes, for integrating learning and for continuously assessing progress. We, at D. H. Conley High School use Thinking Maps to transfer, integrate and assess on a daily basis. All grade levels and subject areas use these visual patterns as a common language to teach and reinforce skills required through the Common Core State Standards and North Carolina Essential Standards. Our belief is that Thinking Maps provide consistency and flexibility, which promotes collaborative learning, concept development, reflective thinking, creativity, clarity of communication, and continuous cognitive development. Students share a common visual language for thinking with all teachers in our school and are consistently using a higher level of thinking - application and evaluation.

• Thinking Maps help improve student writing by providing tools to help students organize their thoughts and provide details.
• Thinking Maps are integrated into all subject areas – Math, Science, Language Arts, Social Studies, Art, Music, Health, & PE, World Languages, and Technology.
• Thinking Maps improve both teaching and learning by making it more meaningful, relevant, and organized.
• Thinking Maps help increase the retention of knowledge.