Soon after I received my Master of Arts degree in education and curriculum and instruction, I taught summer classes to other teachers. One of the most popular classes was “Teaching Critical Thinking Skills.” I even wrote my very first book with that title. I was 24 years old.
I always did creative things in my classrooms, no matter the grade. It drove some of my principals crazy when I didn’t have my students sitting in straight rows filling out worksheets with little circles.
The year I taught fourth grade, I would give my students a weekly topic for creative writing. I wrote the topic on the board and then pulled the window shades down about 3/4 so that there was partial darkness in the classroom.
I told my students to silently think about the topic for a few minutes before they started writing.
One day the principal walked by my room as the students were preparing to write. She was not pleased. She asked me why my students weren’t “working.” I answered, “They ARE working! They’re THINKING!”
I only stayed at that school for one year.
The article continues below.
No intrusive ads or annoying popups ever! Instead, please see the important information below and at the bottom of this post. That’s how we grow and sustain this publication. AND, please keep those “Likes” and comments coming! Thanks!
There is new lower pricing for the paid levels at as little as $5.00/month or $50/year!
Paid subscribers with the Substack app are invited to participate in the W.A.S. Chat Room to discuss today’s post.
All posts are free for seven days after their publication. To read all older posts, including the complete archive, and to support us financially, please consider upgrading your subscription to a paid level. Save 17% with an annual subscription. Thank you for your support!
On the other hand, one of the most fun years I had was when I taught 8th grade at a performing arts magnet school. I was allowed to have my students all morning, integrating the Language Arts and Social Sciences, instead of the students moving to another class every 40 minutes.
One of the required lessons was the Preamble to the Constitution, which is actually eleven sentences, albeit written in 18th-century English.
All of my students learned the history and meaning of the Preamble, but they demonstrated their knowledge in different ways.
Some of them debated each statement.
Some of them held a trial with the colonists being tried by the British King George III.
Some of them turned the Preamble into a rap song.
One of my excellent artistic students drew his own version of the famous painting.
Some students decided to do traditional written reports to be read aloud to the class.
It was so much fun and all the students learned what they were supposed to learn. I also had a much better principal ( a musician himself) that year who approved of my more non-traditional teaching methods.
What is critical thinking and why is it important?
Society is much different today, and schools that only teach students to accept one point of view and learn in only one way are actually hurting the students in the long run as well as depriving our society of skilled critical thinkers.
Content that once had to be drilled into students’ heads so they could regurgitate back on a standardized test is now just a phone swipe away, but the ability to make sense of that information requires thinking critically about it.
Similarly, our democracy is today imperiled not by lack of access to data and opinions about the most important issues of the day, but rather by our inability to sort the true facts from the fake (or hopelessly biased) misinformation.
Despite many on the right-wing thinking that teaching critical thinking and empathy equates to “woke” indoctrination, most teachers feel that children should be learning more than how to fill in little circles and pass standardized tests.
Critical thinking goes beyond memorization; it is about encouraging students to connect the dots between concepts, solve problems, think creatively, and apply knowledge in new ways. Students at all levels should feel positive about learning to think critically and creatively.
Since most of the communication we need to think critically involves everyday human language, skilled critical thinkers must also be able to translate spoken and written language into precise statements that can then be built into a logical structure.
The elements of critical thinking need to be taught explicitly, and as part of every academic subject.
How to incorporate critical thinking into the classroom
One of the most significant factors that impact students’ engagement and achievement in learning is their self-esteem. Teachers can do this by demonstrating that effort, not just ability, can lead to success.
The teacher’s job is to be a facilitator as well as being aspirational for the students:
Asking questions, especially open-ended questions, gives students a chance to apply what they’ve learned and build on prior knowledge. It also allows them to problem-solve and think on their feet and boosts self-esteem by providing an opportunity for students to express themselves in front of their peers.
Encourage decision-making by enabling students to apply what they’ve learned to different situations, weigh the pros and cons of a variety of solutions, then decide which ideas work best.
Working in groups expands the thinking and worldview of students by demonstrating that there’s no one right way to approach a problem.
Inspire creativity and imagination by using information to create something new. Students can do art projects, construct inventions, write a story or poem, create a game, sing a song, and other ways to show their mastery of the lessons.
Brainstorming is an excellent critical-thinking exercise, especially when paired with visual elements that bring original thinking and classroom discussions to life.
Children learn in different ways and can come from vastly different backgrounds. It is so important that teachers be allowed to use their education and experience to effectively reach various types of students so they can learn to think critically and meet the challenges of living in a diverse, complex world.
Exactly what the right wing does not want.
What do you think about the importance of teaching critical skills today? Let us know in the comments or start a dialogue in the W.A.S. Chat Forum for paid subscribers on the W.A.S. app.
“We Are Speaking” is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and podcast episodes and to support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Paid Members: $5.00/month or $50.00/year. $100/year Premier Member
Don’t Forget! If you have the W.A.S. app for iOS and Android, you can listen to each article by clicking the little headset icon. You can also participate in the W.A.S. Chat (for paid subscribers only).
Read We Are Speaking in the Substack app
Available for iOS and Android
There are many benefits to using the W.A.S. app, including the ability to listen to our posts and podcast episodes straight from the iOS or Android app.
Check out the Global Creative Community Branding and Marketing Academy (GCC BMA) offering online courses networking opportunities, and one-on-one and group coaching for independent writers and creative and solo professionals.
As a former high school English teacher of 20 years, I couldn't agree more! I also agree that as the world changes, we need these skills even more. In fact, it's an opportunity to replace time once needed for memorization and STUFF to be used for the ability to THINK. Some teachers I've spoken with or even trained have voiced the feeling of overwhelm -- there's so much to teach now (ie English teachers are expected to teach media, film, etc.). But I see it as an opportunity to engage in how we want to students to ingest and discern information for themselves, so that they can encounter any text and carefully consider its implications. I hope the students in Florida whose teachers are focusing on these skills will speak up for what they want in their curriculum.
As a former high school English teacher of 20 years, I couldn't agree more! I also agree that as the world changes, we need these skills even more. In fact, it's an opportunity to replace time once needed for memorization and STUFF to be used for the ability to THINK. Some teachers I've spoken with or even trained have voiced the feeling of overwhelm -- there's so much to teach now (ie English teachers are expected to teach media, film, etc.). But I see it as an opportunity to engage in how we want to students to ingest and discern information for themselves, so that they can encounter any text and carefully consider its implications. I hope the students in Florida whose teachers are focusing on these skills will speak up for what they want in their curriculum.