This week we’ve focused on critical thinking using the model developed by the Foundation for Critical Thinking. By now you’re probably excited about the incredible potential that these tools hold…and a little overwhelmed. Where to start...
Via Beth Dichter, Yashy Tohsaku
Teaching student to think...we know this is not as easy as it sounds. This post suggests looking at this through the lens of the visual displayed above (which comes from The Foundation for Critical Thinking) and recommends that you use three simple steps (quoted from post):
1) TELL students that you want them to work on their thinking.
2) Choose ONE element of thought, intellectual standard, or intellectual trait and teach students what it means.
3) Give students something to think about and ask them to practice improving their thinking.
Each of these ideas are discussed in the post and suggestions are provided to help you implement this in the classroom.
On Feb. 4, 2015 I posted an article "The Question Game: A Playful Way to Teach Students to Think" and a number of people have responded to it. This post provides some additional ways to teach students to think and many of them are playful also. If one of your goals in teaching is to help students gain this skill take the time to read this post.
A few great ideas for critical thinking. I particularly liked the activity called "telephone" (not the listening game). Teachers can use all the strategies they can to help their students think better!