"Be an agent of change by teaching critical thinking" in your classrooms; a direct quote from our math teacher last week. That is a powerful statement. How do we teach critical thinking? By checking for what students might already know that might help them in this problem; for application of the previous knowledge; for what predictions can they make; challenging them to engage, to connect; to become problem solvers, detectives?
How do we wake up their minds? It has to be safe. It has to be relevant, interesting, or funny. Once we get them to connect with the work, we have to help them develop analytical thinking habits - some basic questions they can ask themselves (and each other) to check what they already know and see how what they learned fits or shifts the prior knowledge.
I think maybe I don't like the term "critical" thinking because of negative associations I have with the word critical. For me it connotes judgement and more of a closed mindset. I want to cultivate open, distinguishing thinking in my students. Distinguished thinking. I like the sound of it!
Nice!
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