Edition #20: Using Routine to Build Self-Efficacy
Thinking routines can put students in a position to exhibit greater independence in their learning - but only if they have enough time to learn how to use them.
A few weeks ago, I came across this post on LinkedIn and have been turning it over in my head ever since. In it, a teacher explained why he was drastically cutting back the number of thinking routines in his classroom. His words:
“I realised that I do too many tasks too infrequently. My desire for creative pedagogy wasn't letting my students develop mastery of the different tasks. If I'm doing a different thinking routine each week, the learners spend a lot of time just trying to understand the task before they even complete it. The real benefit of a thinking routine is when it becomes *routine*.”
This really struck chord. In my own teaching, I know I often fall into the trap of trying to maintain my students’ attention and engagement through novelty. Too much of the same thing and they’ll get bored, right? But if you keep switching it up, you’re more likely to keep their interest.
The thing about learning though is that it requires sustained practice, which isn’t always the most exciting work. As noted in the post above, the benefits — which I might tag as self-efficacy, or a student’s ability to make independent decisions about their learning and pursue them accordingly — only come once those skills and routines have been automated.
With that in mind, I’ve been working to clarify my own “pedagogy playbook” — and actually stick to it. You likely have your go-to routines in the classroom, though the materials below highlight additional strategies, routines, and practices that can help our students become more independent learners. Just don’t try to do them all at once!
This Edition’s Spotlight: Building Self-Efficacy By Doing Less
Metacognitive thinking routines are one of the best ways to develop self-efficacy. This piece identifies seven concrete strategies to help students re-frame their learning: Rick Stiggins, “Building Students’ Academic Confidence,” Kappan (February 18, 2025).
This is an absolute goldmine of different scaffolding routines (check out Reverse Brainstorming and Question Ladder, especially): Todd Finley, “Scaffolding Like a Pro: Powerful Ways to Support Learning,” Edutopia (February 4, 2025)
If students are going to remember new information, taking notes isn’t enough — they need to make active use of them. Here are some routines that can help: Benjamin Barbour, “Teaching Students What to Do With the Notes They Take,” Edutopia (February 14, 2025
When deployed intentionally, quizzes are a great form of interleaved retrieval practice (i.e. a routine!): Jennifer Gonzalez, “EduTip 26: Give Lots of Quizzes,” Cult of Pedagogy (February 2025).
Other Things in the Ether…
Sharing for the strategies about navigating reassurance addiction, specifically: Caralena Peterson, “3 Helpful Scripts for Teachers with Anxious, Perfectionist Students,” NAIS Independent Ideas Blog (January 27, 2025)
Although this piece is specifically about leadership, I’m struck by how many of these principles also apply to teachers’ work with students: Jessica Cabeen, “Slowing Down to Communicate with Intention,” Edutopia (February 21, 2025).
Helpful reminder that, if we want our students to value mistakes, educators need to model it themselves: Jessica Wasilewski, “Miscalculating the Error Term,” Well-Schooled (February 4, 2025)
I really appreciate the list of questions to help clarify what’s important in a given school community: Will Richardson and Homa Tavangar, “The Big Questions: Designing an Updated Educational Model and Student Experience,” Independent School Magazine (Winter 2025)
Upcoming PD in the DMV(ish)…
Wednesday, March 5, 2025: Application for NEH Summer Institutes due!*
Thursday, March 20: “DC-PZ at The Phillips Collection” from DCPZ*
Wednesday, March 26: “Planning Oral History Projects” from DCHumanities*
June 24-25: “Leadership Lab” from the Masters Schools and Leadership + Design (Dobbs Ferry, NY)
August 4-8: WISSIT 2025
*Free!