Metacognitive Visual Tools (MVT / Thinking Frames) are simple graphic organisers based on distinctive visual patterns, developed to support the eight thinking processes most commonly used in schools. The concept of visual ‘tools’ is founded on Vygostky’s theoretical concept of ‘cultural tools’. He argued convincingly that our thoughts are influenced by the kind of tools we use; Thinking Frames provide a common metacognitive ‘visual tool’ to scaffold thinking and learning.