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There are many ways teachers can develop critical thinking. See examples of how I incorporate this in my classroom.
Let Students Lead the Inquiry
Open-ended Questions
Cognitive Struggle
Willing to Take Risks
Let Students Lead the Learning
In my experience learning takes place best in environments where students feel empowered to learn.
Inquiry: Our Study of Plants
We spent several weeks, reading, watching videos, and taking notes. Then students had an opportunity to decide what they wanted to learn more about it. It was my job to provide them with resources to help them explore.
Agency in Learning
Hypothesis, Data & Proof
The students were interested in learning what helps plants grow best. Each student decided on their own hypothesis and created data sheets to prove their finding.
Some fed their plants orange juice or milk; others gave their plants water but either spoke kindly or ignored them or spoke negatively to them.
Ask Open-ended Questions
In the final step students were asked, what would you do differently in the future? Why do you think your experiment worked or didn't work? What else do you wonder about?
Cognitive Struggle
Example:
Students are working with tiles to build an area of 2 x 2. I ask them to work in pairs and then call on one to share her solution. The student's answer doesn't solve the problem but it helps the class gain a deeper understanding of the material.
I guide the student through open-ended questions giving her time to respond; when I see she needs a break I give her an opportunity to be okay with not knowing and let her pick another student to help. Her share encourages another student of a similar skill level to share.
In the end both students demonstrate taking risks and working hard to further their understanding.
Math video with kayla.mp4.mp4Page updated
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