November 7, 2018
Resources to Foster
Critical Thinking Skills
The Learning Scientists blog featured a guest writer, Dr. Lauren Bellaera, who examines critical thinking in the blog HOT or NOT – How to Develop Critical Thinking. Here are some effective teaching strategies from the post teachers can (and should) be using in classrooms:
1. Use higher-order thinking questions and give wait time for students to struggle through problems.
2. Authentic instruction that allows students to engage with problems that make sense to them, and that enables further inquiry is important. Some ways to facilitate authentic instruction include simulations and applied problem solving.
3. Use dialogue in the classroom. Encourage students to discuss content and ideas with peers. Discussions are needed to develop critical thinking.
4. Engaging pupils in explicit self-reflection techniques promotes critical thinking.
Check out these resources to help promote critical thinking in your classroom:
Instructables makes projects easy! Visit the Instructables site and type in what you want to create. Viola! Easy to follow directions are provided. Students can create their own 'How To' directions and publish them at this site providing a real world audience for student work.
Compare anything with Diffen. This site provides comparisons for any topic students want to compare.
A great FREE site that provides engaging content through text passages with embedded questions leveled by DOK. Text are related to ELA, Science, and Social Studies topics ranging from 3rd -12th grade.
Connect your Google Classroom to provide quick and easy access to your students.