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Thinking Maps

A Shared Visual Language For Learning


Give students an idea to think about, and they may learn for a day.

Teach students to think critically, and they will learn for a lifetime.

Thinking Maps®

Thinking Maps is a set of 8 visual patterns that correlate to specific cognitive processes. They are used across all grades and content areas to build the critical thinking, problem-solving, comprehension, and communication skills necessary for academic success in every domain.

Learn More About Thinking Maps

Maximize Learning for Every Student

Thinking Maps Work the Way the Brain Works

By tapping into the way the brain actually organizes information, we can:

Improve retention, recall and understanding.

Build fluency with higher-order thinking skills.

Accelerate learning for students of all backgrounds and abilities.

Enable teachers to focus on rich content in the classroom.

Thinking Maps schools are 2.0x more likely to surpass average district growth in reading and 2.7x more likely to surpass average district growth rates in math.

Read The Research

TRANSFORM TEACHING AND LEARNING

Getting Started with Thinking Maps

Thinking Maps is a whole-school learning methodology that is used across all grades and content areas. It all starts with a strategic professional development plan to introduce Thinking Maps to your teachers and help them grow their Thinking Maps practice over time.

  • Aligned with Learning Forward’s best practices in professional development
  • Virtual or in-person training and “train-the-trainer” certification
  • Ongoing coaching and support
  • Online courses and resources in the Thinking Maps Learning Community (TMLC)
  • Advanced training for Leadership, Writing, and English Learners

PLAN YOUR JOURNEY TRAINING OPTIONS LEARN MORE

Teachers working together in a classroom

Smiling teacher in classroom

VIRTUAL LEARNING

Thinking Maps Learning Community

The Thinking Maps Learning Community (TMLC) is a vital part of your Thinking Maps implementation and your online hub for Map creation, professional learning, planning and inspiration. We created TMLC to maximize student learning, improve teacher productivity and support professional learning communities.

Online Map Builder (Teachers & Students)

A web-based program that allows users to create Maps, lessons and assessments while enhancing writing skills.

Exercise & Assignment Management Tools

Monitor progress towards school and district learning goals and develop your Thinking Maps Plan of Action.

Professional Learning Courses & Resources

An expansive collection of 23 video-based Professional Development modules for anytime, anywhere learning.

Online Map Gallery (Exemplar Maps)

An ever-growing collection showcasing professionally vetted Maps across grade levels and subject areas.

Join TMLC

Access our Thinking Maps Learning Community!

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Get the Latest Updates

See The Results

Investing in Teachers for Greater Student Success

Maricopa Unified School District

At Maricopa Unified School District, Thinking Maps are embedded in everything they do, from the classroom to the district offices. A strategic district-wide approach to implementation of Thinking Maps and Write from the Beginning…and Beyond has created sustainable tra...

View Our Webinars

Write from the Beginning... and Beyond: Building the Foundations of Effective Writing

October 23, 2024 • 3:30PM ET

Do you want to improve writing at your school? This webinar introduces our comprehensive and flexible instructional framework that can be used as a core writing program or in combination with other writing resources.

Read Our Blog

Why Teach Writing in an AI World?

September 16, 2024

Why do we write? And why do we teach writing? In a world where Large Language Models (LLMs) are now ubiquitous, these questions have taken on a new urgency for students and teachers—and, indeed, for professional writers. Writing instruction in the AI era must focus on...

CONTINUE YOUR JOURNEY

Advanced Training Options

Your initial Thinking Maps Training is just the beginning of your journey!
We offer advanced courses to build the capacity of your staff and maximize the impact of Thinking Maps.
 

Leadership Training

Build a data-driven strategic plan to meet the needs of your teachers and students.

Write from the Beginning...and Beyond

Improve writing across the curriculum with brain-based strategies for all writing genres.

Path to Proficiency

Meet the needs of English Learners (ELs) and students with language-based learning challenges.