Leading a Culture of Thinking Summit
February 1-3 (last day optional) Del Mar, CA
Join renowned researchers and authors Ron Ritchhart and Mark Church, along with school leaders and participants from across the globe, for the first-ever Leading a Culture of Thinking Summit in Del Mar, CA. This two-day event will immerse attendees in the latest Cultures of Thinking (CoT) research, providing valuable insights for educators and leaders alike.
At the Summit, you’ll engage in plenary talks, breakout sessions, panel discussions, and round-table conversations. Experience firsthand the learning and thinking practices through classroom documentation, pedagogical tools, and CoT coaching protocols. A focus on leadership skills for sustaining these practices in your own setting will also be explored.
For those attending the optional Monday session, you’ll visit classrooms and observe CoT in action at a school that has been dedicated to this approach for seven years. Guided by Ron Ritchhart and Mark Church, you’ll sharpen your observational skills, hearing from teachers and administrators to deepen your understanding of building a Culture of Thinking.
Continental breakfast and lunch are included all three days, but participants are responsible for their own transportation to and from the event.
Saturday and Sunday Summit registration: $995
Three Day experience with optional Monday deep dive registration: $1395
Day 1 – Saturday, February 1
8:00-9:00 Check-in, continental breakfast
9:00-10:30 Opening Plenary Session featuring R. Ritchhart and M. Church
10:30-11:00 Break
11:00-12:15 Breakout Session A
- A wide choice of workshops will be led by R. Ritchhart, M. Church, experienced CoT practitioners and leaders, and the host district’s principals and teachers.
12:15-1:15 Lunch
1:15-2:30 Breakout Session B
- A wide choice of workshops will be led by R. Ritchhart, M. Church, experienced CoT practitioners and leaders, and the host district’s principals and teachers.
2:30-2:45 Break
2:45-4:15 Closing Plenary Session featuring R. Ritchhart and M. Church
Day 2 – Sunday, February 2
8:00-9:00 Check-in, continental breakfast
9:00-10:30 Plenary Session featuring R. Ritchhart and M. Church
10:30-11:00 Break
11:00-12:15 Open Space World Café Session
- Participant questions about leading in a Culture of Thinking will drive this Open SpaceTechnology session. Multiple round-table discussions, led by an experienced CoT practitioner, will be on offer. You will choose and move freely across these discussion groups as best fits your needs and interests.
12:15-1:15 Lunch
1:15-2:30 Breakout Session C
- A wide choice of workshops will be led by R. Ritchhart, M. Church, experienced CoT practitioners and leaders, and the host district’s principals and teachers.
2:30-2:45 Break
2:45-3:30 Panel Discussions: CoT Leaders, Coaches, Teachers
- Participants will choose among three panel discussion offerings.
3:45-4:15 Closing Plenary Session featuring R. Ritchhart and M. Church
Day 3 – Monday, February 3 (Optional)
Looking, Learning, and Leading in a Culture of Thinking: A Deep Dive
Site 1
9:00-9:30 Check-in, continental breakfast
9:30-10:15 Welcome and Overview of morning
10:30-11:30 Classroom Observations: Snapshot Observation Protocol
11:30-12:00 Reflect and Share
12:00-12:30 Travel to Site 2
12:30-1:15 Lunch
1:15-2:00 Closing Reflections with R. Ritchhart and M. Church
Site 2
9:30-10:00 Check-in, continental breakfast
10:00-10:45 Welcome and Overview of morning
11:00-12:00 Classroom Observations: Snapshot Observation Protocol
12:00-12:30 Reflect and Share
12:30-1:15 Lunch
1:15-2:00 Closing Reflections with R. Ritchhart and M. Church
Help with Funding
Have you thought about applying for Title II federal funding from the US Department of Education to support sending educators to the Summit?
Traditional public, public charter and private schools are eligible for Title II funding from the federal government for professional learning. Local Education Agencies (LEA’s) handle applications, approval, and disbursement of funds. If you need guidance, please contact our director of Education, Jill Sims.
Are you eager to attend The Cultures of Thinking Summit but need to make a strong case to your board or supervisor?
Share the value of this event: use our justification letter template to help you make your case. Edit the template and request support for your attendance.
Summit Venue:
Pacific Sky School
6631 Solterra Vista Pkwy
San Diego, CA 92130
+1-858-523-4799
Airport:
We recommend flying into San Diego International Airport (SAN).
Ground Transportation:
Del Mar is a tiny, charming beach town north of San Diego. As this is California, you will need to have your own transportation or plan on heavy rideshare use to get anywhere. Our summit site is not in the town of Del Mar proper, for example. We strongly recommend a car rental as your most economical ground transportation option.
CASIE has negotiated a discounted car rental rate with Enterprise Rent-A-Car/National Car Rental. To obtain this discount, click HERE and use group code XZ03314 when making your reservation.
Lodging:
There are multiple resorts and hotels at all price points in the area, from gorgeous spa resorts to budget motels. CASIE has visited and can recommend the following mid-price properties (generally daily rates between $150-$250):
5-6 miles/10-15 minute drive
- DoubleTree by Hilton San Diego/Del Mar (11915 El Camino Real, San Diego 92130)
- Hampton Inn San Diego/Del Mar (11920 El Camino Real, San Diego 92130)
- San Diego Marriott Del Mar (11966 El Camino Real, San Diego 92130)
7+ miles/15-20 minute drive
- Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Del Mar/Solana Beach (717 Hwy 101, Solana Beach 92075)
- Hilton Garden Inn San Diego Del Mar (3939 Ocean Bluff Ave, San Diego 92130)
- Hilton San Diego Del Mar (15575 Jimmy Durante Blvd, Del Mar 92014)
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites Solana Beach/Del Mar (621 S Hwy 101, Solana Beach 92075)
- Hotel Indigo San Diego del Mar (710 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar 92014)
- Residence Inn San Diego/ Del Mar (3525 Valley Centre Dr, San Diego 92130)
- Best Western Premier Hotel Del Mar (720 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar 92014)
Dr. Ron Ritchhart
Ron Ritchhart, Ed.D, is an award-winning teacher and researcher, a sought-after speaker, and a prolific and influential writer. Ron began his career in education as an elementary teacher in New Zealand before returning to the states where he taught art, third, and fourth grades, and middle school mathematics before commencing his career as an educational researcher.
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Ron spent over 25 years at Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Project Zero, where his work focused on the development of school and classroom culture as prime vehicles for developing students’ as powerful thinkers and learners. His research has always been classroom-based, learning from the best practice of teachers to better understand how they create conditions for powerful learning.
Ron’s work has informed the efforts of schools, school systems, and museums throughout the world as they seek to foster more creative, engaged, and thoughtful learners.
Though recently retired from Harvard, Ron continues his research, writing, and teaching. His best-selling books include Intellectual Character, Making Thinking Visible, Creating Cultures of Thinking, and The Power of Making Thinking Visible. His most recent book, Cultures of Thinking in Action, was published in 2022.
Mark Church
Mark Church works with educators throughout the world striving to create cultures of thinking in their classrooms and schools. Mark challenges teachers to foster thinking dispositions in students in service of deep understanding. He invites teachers to promote a discourse of thinking in their classrooms that communicates value for student sense-making.
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Mark encourages teachers to make their classroom environments rich with the documents of student thinking processes. Mark is currently a consultant with Harvard Project Zero’s Making Thinking Visible and Cultures of Thinking initiatives worldwide, drawing upon his own classroom teaching experience and from the perspectives he has gained working with educators throughout North America, Australia, Asia, and Europe. Mark enjoys helping teachers examine opportunities for student thoughtfulness, use thinking routines as supports and scaffolds, interact with students in ways that demonstrate interest in and respect for students’ thinking, and send clear expectations about the importance and value of thinking in learning.
We are grateful to our local host, The Del Mar Union School District, for their hospitality and partnership.
Limited Spots!
Register today to secure your seat.