What is Cultures of Thinking? How can it help with Social Emotional Learning?

The 8 Cultural Forces

Dr. Ritchhart’s research discovered 8 cultural forces (Modeling, Opportunities, Routine, Expectations, Language, Interactions, Time & Environment) that define our classrooms (social work offices) and by focusing on these forces he states that we can reshape our learning environment. As social workers, we are already well aware of the impact these forces have on our interactions with students. Through our training, we automatically create a nonthreatening environment in our offices that encourages students to let down their defenses and begin to build a level of trust. Our verbal and nonverbal language is open ended and designed to establish an opportunity for active listening and sharing of thoughts. We know that time is essential and relationships are not built in one 20 minute session.

And finally, our moments with students lend themselves seamlessly to experience the cultural forces of modeling the language of thinking & wondering, setting expectations, providing opportunities for students to share their thoughts with us, and creating an environment for positive interactions with others. That’s seven out of the eight cultural forces that instinctively are part of our school social work practices. We are on our way to creating a Culture of Thinking environment without even knowing it!

The final cultural force is routine. This is where the magic happens. Through Thinking Routines, we can scaffold, support, and direct students’ thinking. These specific routines give us a framework to guide students to a deeper understanding of the subject we are discussing and a greater ability to be able to express oneself. Thinking routines are flexible. They can be used when talking with one student who is struggling with transitioning to middle school, for a small group evaluating how to work as a team, or as a whole group lesson in a classroom discussing feelings, or bullying, or gender bias.