Critical-thinking-skills

Essential to improving testing scores and assisting with learning math, reading, science, social studies, and writing. 

Writing and science to improve critical-thinking-skills

A national call to improve critical-thinking-skills

“In the past several years, an increasing number of national reports indicate a growing concern over the effectiveness of higher education teaching practices and the decreased science (and math) performance of U.S. students relative to other industrialized countries. A variety of national stakeholders, including business and educational leaders, politicians, parents, and public agencies, have called for long-term transformation of the K–20 educational system to produce graduates who are well trained in science, can engage intelligently in global issues that require local action, and in general are better able to solve problems and think critically. Specifically, business leaders are calling for graduates who possess advanced analysis and communication skills, for instructional methods that improve lifelong learning, and ultimately for an educational system that builds a nation of innovative and effective thinkers . ” Click for full article by NCBI

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Empower children to be critical thinkers

Discuss current topics with them and ask probing questions that require a lenghty answer

Citical-thinking skills

Any sound educational program should apply critical-thinking-skills and incorporate them into every lesson for all subject areas. Allow students to ask open-ended questions and integrate different points of view into your lesson. Students need to be familiar with the topic in order to have meaningful discussions, so understanding the connections between different ideas is vital.

Allow students to question faulty assumptions made by scientists, reporters, or politicians. Topics such as human cloning, animal testing, greenhouse gases, and depletion of the ozone layer are some of the topics covered in the news.  Ask students probing questions in response to these and other popular claims. This process improves listening skill, grammar, vocabulary, and writing.

Select topics in the news that are not too weighty and then have discussions on issues related to your state, the nation, and the world. Since the news can be biased, students should learn to discern fact from opinion.  Listen to a variety of news channels and read different newspapers to acquire a glimpse of the truth.   

Empower children to be critical thinkers and ask them probing questions that require more than a yes or no answer. Allow them to have their own opinion and come up with a conclusion after being exposed to multiple sources.

Once they are able to present a convincing reason to support their point of view, they will be ready to tackle high school and college compositions. Critical-thinking-skills at a young age help improve students’ writing skills when they have to take a position and defend their thesis statement on a composition. Critical-thinking-skills develop over time.  So, be patient. Deductive and inferential reasoning along with in-depth analytical skills help in solving math problems,

What do the experts say?

“Research shows that elements of critical thinking need to be taught explicitly, rather than assumed to come along for the ride when thoughtful teachers run through complex material with students.”
Jonathan Haber
Author of Critical Thinking Essentials
“Although they are not always transparent to many college students, the academic and personal benefits of critical thinking are well established; students who can think critically tend to get better grades, are often better able to use reasoning in daily decisions”
U.S. Department of Education
“Education leaders are similarly calling for institutions of higher education to produce graduates who think critically, communicate effectively, and who employ lifelong learning skills to address important scientific and civic issues”
Association of American Colleges and Universities
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