4 Strategies for Sparking Critical Thinking in Young Students (5.12.23)
Fostering investigative conversation in grades K–2 isn’t easy, but it can be a great vehicle to promote critical thinking.
When instruction is purposeful, a goal is identified and the complete instructional process is focused squarely on that goal. Educators who are purposeful continuously keep the goal in mind. They understand that the entire instructional process—data collection that informs instruction, teaching, and assessment—must all be driven by the defined goal. Even when instruction is not successful, educators know the purpose for each strategy employed.
Fostering investigative conversation in grades K–2 isn’t easy, but it can be a great vehicle to promote critical thinking.
Assessment retakes can improve student learning if educators clear up a few misconceptions and avoid common missteps. Allowing students to retake assessments after targeted re-teaching is a sound practice for
How educators can use visual analysis to amplify students’ critical thinking skills.
Student-led discussions can boost critical thinking and empathy, but they don’t just happen on their own. Students are capable of deep critical thinking and empathy in discussions they lead themselves,
It can feel difficult to engage students in independent work and reading tasks. Station-based book study can help build students’ background knowledge for a unit as they survey content before
Whether students are ahead of their peers or behind, differentiation should ensure that all learners engage in critical thinking.
Encouraging students to generate many solutions to a particular problem leads to more creative thinking and better problem-solving. In a constantly evolving world, the ability to think creatively and divergently
Education consultant and ASCD author Carol Ann Tomlinson advocates for educators to “teach up”—to plan differentiated instruction that provides equitable access to “high ceilings” of learning and scaffolding that enables
Writing improves learning by consolidating information in long-term memory, researchers explain. Plus, five engaging writing activities to use in all subjects.
Giving students chances to make classroom decisions and manage discussions guides them to take agency in their learning.