"You can tell whether a man is clever by his answers.
You can tell whether a man is wise by his questions."
-Naguib Mahfouz, winner of the 1988 Nobel Prize for Literature
Critical Thinking
The development of critical thinking skills is essential in order to be successful in today's world. As educators, it may be a challenge to develop these skills ourselves as many of us are products of an educational system that was more focused on mastering content than developing independent thinkers. Just as we expect our students to persevere in dissonance, we too can stretch our thinking and press into the difficult, growing our own critical thinking savvy-ness.
Making Thinking VisibleMaking Thinking Visible: How to Promote Engagement, Understanding, and Independence for All Learners 1st Edition
by Ron Ritchhart (2011) |
Select Passages for Further Study on Making Thinking Visible:
p. 5 "Why" make thinking visible pp. 15-21 Overview Metacognition pp. 30-39 "How" to make thinking visible |
Making Thinking Visible is a great resource for engaging students into deeper thinking. Ritchhart offers routines for Introducing and Exploring Ideas, Synthesizing and Organizing Ideas, and Routines for Digging Deeper into Ideas. See pp. 51-52 of an overview of the routines.
The See-Think-Wonder routine can be used when introducing new information. (pp. 55-63, Ritchhart)
This Compass Points template complements the Compass Points Routine (pp. 93-100) from Making Thinking Visible. This routine can be used to alleviate anxiety as students address their worries alongside their excitements. I also like that English learners at all levels can participate. Students respond in the mode of their choice, through writing or drawing pictures to represent their feelings.
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The 4 C’s is a thinking routine for organizing information. Participants look for connections, challenges, key concepts, and mindset changes as they process information. The change component of this activity has the participant consider what the author is asking of them. It prepares them to listen with a purpose, with their heart open to new ideas, and their mind ready for change. (Ritchhart, 2008, pp. 140-146)
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Making Thinking Visible Digital Resources
Connect-Extend-Challenge: Using Digital Tools, Tinkering to Learn
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Reflection
There are three facets to reflecting:
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Resources
Learning Through Reflection by Arthur L. Costa and Bena Kallick: Student Stages of Reflection
A New Way of Thinking by Jennifer Abrams: 5 States of Mind Defined
Thinking Palette: Artful Thinking; Harvard Project Zero
Visible Thinking by Shari Tishman and Patricia Palmer
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"We do not learn from experience...We learn from reflecting on experiences."
-John Dewey
Learning Theory Stances
Teachers who are in tune with their own Learning Theory Stances are better able to understand other perspectives, while standing firm in their own. They are not a flag waving in the wind, but are agents of change, helping others to discover their own values and beliefs that lie beneath the surface. If left undiscovered, our learning theory stances can cloud our judgement and limit our ability to adopt new initiatives. Instead of feeling empowered and challenged, we feel threatened and walk away. Becoming familiar with the values and beliefs of those on your team may help you to navigate conflict, should it arise.
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Resources
Teacher Beliefs by Heather Davis and Carey Andrzejewski
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Cycle of Planning Grid
This is an excellent tool for implementing a cycle of planning, applying, and reflecting.
Based on the work from “The Lessons Are in the Leading” by Gordon A Donaldson Jr.; Educational Leadership, February 2009 |
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Questioning ResourcesFive Strategies for Questioning with Intention: Arthur L. Costa and Bena Kallick
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Quotes
"Do not confine your children to your own learning |
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