Often teachers find the Bubble Map difficult to use in kindergarten. If you work with English Language Learners this map can be even more challenging. This map is only used for adjectives and children sometimes have a hard time with this when they have such a limited vocabulary. What works best? We like to use food at the beginning since it allows a child to use all of his or her senses and is quite motivating.
I found that using a label for is or has made far more sense to our little ones and as the year progresses they love to help write these words and add their own art. I can't take full credit for adding in this piece. My curriculum specialist is an expert at using these maps and has pushed me to make them kinder friendly in so many ways. Together we have really made them work for our youngest learners.
Tomorrow I am starting an intensive 3 day training to become a trainer of trainers and I will get all the new updates. Woohoo! I use these maps across my curriculum and the kids love them! I love watching them work on these adding their own art and writing. I can't wait to get some new ideas.
If you use our labeling idea gives us a shout-out cause we would love to hear from you.
Do you know the "thinking maps" song and motions?
19 comments:
Thanks for sharing this info. I needed to hear this! I love it and now know how to use them!
Hi Fran,
Thank you for sharing your kindergarten friendly thinking maps! We were trained on these but most of the examples were for upper grades. Your ideas make sense and have really helped my students grow! I would love to learn the thinking maps songs! Thank you for all you do. I have learned so much from you :) Megan
I love this thinking map Fran and I would love to hear more about the songs and ways to use them. This year I have to choose an area of inquiry and I am planning on doing the use of thinking maps. Thank you for getting me started!
Have a great 3 days at your training and let me know when you will have your own workshop. I will do my best to be there!
Love your photos. My district uses Thinking Maps. I didn't even know there were songs. Sounds fun... do you know how to get them?
http://www.firstgradefoundme.blogspot.com
I do a lot of training within our district using the maps and our teachers come up with the cutest ideas you have ever seen. We did all the maps for Pete the Cat and the room was rockin'. We had so much fun and the music was pumping!
Fran,
Thanks for sharing this info on the Thinking Maps. You've referred to the often and I've wondered about them. I can really see me using these in the classroom.
Have a great time at your training! Thanks again!
THINKING MAPS SONG
Ah, Thinking Maps
Ah, Thinking Maps
Let’s all talk about the Thinking Maps
Ah, Thinking Maps
Ah, Thinking Maps
Let’s all talk about the Thinking Maps
You’ve got the Circle Map
And the Bubble Map
And the Tree Map
And the Brace Map
And the Flow Map
And the Double-Bubble Map
And the Multi-Flow Map
And the Bridge Map
And the Bridge Map
And the Bridge Map
And the Bridge Map
Circle map is used to brainstorm
Circle map is used to brainstorm
Circle map is used to brainstorm
Bubble map you use to describe
Bubble map you use to describe
Bubble map you use to describe
Tree map is used for classifying
Tree map is used for classifying
Tree map is used for classifying
Brace map goes from whole to the parts
Brace map goes from whole to the parts
Brace map goes from whole to the parts
Flow map gets it all in sequence
Flow map gets it all in sequence
Flow map gets it all in sequence
Double bubble map compares and contrasts
Double bubble map compares and contrasts
Double bubble map compares and contrasts
Multiflow map shows cause and effect
Multiflow map shows cause and effect
Multiflow map shows cause and effect
Bridge map works with an al o gies
Bridge map works with an al o gies
Bridge map works with an al o gies
(this works well with assigned parts; with each individual or small groups holding up examples of the map they are chanting about)
Mine is much more baby than this. Did you make this up?
If you did I bow down to you cause it's FABULOUS! You are brilliant and this rocks for older kids...right? Thank you for sharing friend. You chant this?
Yeah... Thinking Map friends! I use them too! (My school thinks I am nuts. But they don't think I am nuts when they come in my room and my kids are making them on their own already!) Aren't they great!
Yeah! Last two years I have really only done circle, tree, and flow maps with the kids. I find they fit most into what I teach. Maybe you all will teach me how to incorporate the others! =)
Yeah... so excited!
Empowering Little Learners!
Empowering Little Learners!
No, i wish I found it online. I only use the parts that my students need. Here is how I changed it for my kids. We also do hand movements.
THINKING MAPS SONG
Ah, Thinking Maps
Ah, Thinking Maps
Let’s all talk about the Thinking Maps
Ah, Thinking Maps
Ah, Thinking Maps
Let’s all talk about the Thinking Maps
You’ve got the Circle Map, Cicle Map
Circle map is used to brainstorm
And the Bubble Map,Bubble Map
Bubble map you use to describe
And the Tree Map, Tree Map
Tree map is used for classifying
And the Flow Map, Flow Map
Flow map gets it all in sequence
And the Double-Bubble Map, Double Bubble Map
Double bubble map compares and contrasts
Ah, Thinking Maps
Ah, Thinking Maps
Let’s all talk about the Thinking
Hi Fran!
Thanks so much for sharing this idea about the "Maps". Do you knowof any books that canbe purchased to follow this idea or maybe there is a workshop being held for the "maps"? I am really interested in reading more about this and you have greatly inspired me! Take care of yourself being away for 3 days from your kiddos!
Thanks!
Maryann
brennemm@carlisleschools.org
OK Daniella, I agree with Fran...great song. But I am a " to the tune of" type gal....what's the tune? Thanks!;)
Thanks for sharing. When I taught ELL in 3rd grade, I used thinking maps a lot more. I needed the reminder to use them in Kindergarten. I've been trying but it's great to see them in action. We're doing spider experiments on Friday and now my head is spinning with so many thinking map ideas.
Thinking Maps is a program that has to be brought to your district with their own trainers and materials. I have been trained through the district and my curriculum specialist has a tremendous background in this program. She is my closest friend and has really worked with me on using these. I see a lot of misinformation about these maps on the internet and wish there were books but as far as I know they are only available through this program... sorry. It is so frustrating.
Hi Fran,
I love the apple thinking map..can you post it later today?
Love the thinking maps! I like the idea of adding "is".
Kimberly
Funky First Grade Fun
For those that have been trained in Thinking Maps, there is a great resource book that is spiral bound and targeted towards specific grade levels. Also, once you do Thinking Maps, I highly recommend taking the Write From the Beginning Training. Our whole district is trained and we really saw a jump in kids writing when kids started using the maps. For a while i saw everything I did as a thinking map.
I'm really behind in reading the blogs I follow:)
I absolutely LOVE the way you do thinking maps with your kinders. I find bubble maps to be hard (because of the adjectives), but they LOVE double bubbles - and not just because it's fun to say - and flow maps - we do a lot of beginning, middle, end.
I would love to hear about your song and motions.
Thanks - as always - for sharing.
Lovely post! Such a creative-yet simple way to show the bubble map. So much more "fun". I could just see some my students "reading" a map like this. Our school district just recently started the Write from the Start program and are doing a LOT with Thinking Maps these last 2 years and I agree with Mrs. Mugurussa...there is such an improvement with children's writing right from Kindergarten! Unfortunately, I think that there is so much emphasis on these that some of the most basic teachings are getting left in the dust, which isn't good, but I trust they'll find a happy medium! As a preschool teacher I try to incorporate the tools they are using in Kindergarten so that these tools are familiar to the students when they enter into Kindergarten. Helps a lot! So I'm in the process of adding more thinking maps into our agenda/planning. :-)
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