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by Stacey Lange on June 12, 2014

SKILLS FOR TODAY WEEK

June 12, 2014, Volume 1, Issue 5, No. 8

Driving Question:  What Does Critical Thinking Look and Sound Like in an Elementary
April 24- 28, 2017
Classroom?

The other day, I walked into one of our primary multi-aged classroom communities. I
noticed many wonderful things. It was clear the students were engaged in what they were
doing.

These young students were working on an inquiry unit related to force and motion.
Students were engaged in reading paperback books, articles and e-books individually
and/or with partners. Other students were using their iPads to view videos related to force
and motion. Many of the students were recording notes on their iPads or on paper while
watching the videos or reading. A few students were experimenting with different Demonstrate how the 4Cs shape 21st
century learning in the classroom.
materials such as ramps, matchbox cars, marbles, etc. to experiment and learn about force
and motion. Get Involved!

Later, students met in small groups and engaged in discussions related to what they learned
or discovered through these activities. Their conversations led the students to synthesize
their new learning, re�ect on the learning experiences they had, and make connections to
how this new information relates to the essential question of their current inquiry unit. P21 BLOGAZINE RSS FEED

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It is clear that these students were working on thinking critically.

For us, critical thinking happens when students analyze and evaluate evidence, arguments,
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claims and beliefs. They can then learn how to make judgments and decisions based on
others' points of view, interpret information and draw conclusions. For communication you can trust.

Fostering Critical Thinking

Four main approaches have made the biggest impact on our children's critical thinking:
4CS MADE EASY!
Inquiry
"One way we try to foster critical thinking skills in our classroom is by allowing our students
to be creative and to inquire about topics that are of interest to them." Katie Hart,
Professional Educator

We incorporate cross-curricular inquiry to foster deep learning. The students work through
the phases of immersion, investigation, coalescence and demonstration of learning.
Throughout these phases the students are able to wonder, build background knowledge,
Become an expert on the 4Cs with P21's
develop questions, search for new information, synthesize information, demonstrate an
Professional Development courses. Learn
understanding and share their new learning with others. Throughout inquiry, the students more here
tie everything together through an essential question which helps them probe for deeper
meaning. These questions are open-ended, encourage collaboration and foster the
development of critical thinking skills.
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Questioning
"We push students to dig deeper in their learning by asking guiding questions and providing Blog Categories
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 Accountability
a variety of resources for students to independently �nd answers. Throughout their
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 Assessment
learning, we encourage students to ask and answer their own questions through small 
 Beyond School
group discussions, conferring, working on their Personalized Learning Plans and using 
 Blended Learning

 Brain Research
graphic organizers." Elizabeth Hatab and Sarah Suesskind, Professional Educators

 Business

 Citizenship
Questioning plays a critical role in cultivating critical thinking skills and deep learning. 
 Classroom Practice

 Collaboration
Questioning models for students how they should think. Our professional educators use

 Communication
open-ended questions to encourage discussion and active learning. We also incorporate 
 Community Partnerships
questioning into our everyday discussions with students. 
 Creativity and Innovation

 Critical Thinking

 Curriculum/Standards
Problem Solving 
 Digital Learning
"In the 4K/5K classrooms, we don't just give students answers to issues or problems they 
 Early Childhood

 Educational Leadership
are having. Instead, we turn the problem onto them and ask how could they solve this
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 English Language Learners
problem. This allows the child opportunities to solve their problems independently." Teresa 
 Equity
Lutzen, Professional Educator 
 Exemplar Post
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 Featured Post
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 Global
Problem solving extends our inquiry work. It is important that our students think for

 Inquiry
themselves. In problem solving they apply the critical thinking strategies they have learned. 
 Member Post
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 Parent Engagement
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 Practice
Collaboration
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 Project Based Learning
"Integrating meaningful learning experiences that promote critical thinking skills is 
 Policy
essential in cultivating a classroom of 21st Century learners. One way we do this is by 
 Power of Play

 Problem Solving
actively involving the students in their learning through collaborative work. This helps the

 Professional Development
students take ownership of the learning and think critically about issues." Patti Kaisler and 
 School Change
Rebecca O-Grosky, Professional Educators. 
 Self Directed Learning
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 Skills for Today Week
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 Special Needs
Our student-centered learning environments are varied and �exible to accommodate the 
 STEAM
needs of learners and provide ongoing opportunities to build a collaborative community of 
 Teacher Preparation
students and staff. Our environments promote collaborative, individual, small and large 
 Teaching Standards

 Technology
group learning.
Students learn in collaborative �exible groups based on need. When students collaborate
together they learn how to communicate with others effectively, work as a team, practice
self-discipline, and improve social and interpersonal skills. Through collaboration, students
FEATURED BLOG POSTS
are able to have a better understanding of what they are learning and improve critical
thinking skills. SKILLS FOR TODAY CAMPAIGN
LIVES ON AROUND THE
And Beyond WORLD
There are many other ways that we foster critical thinking among our learners, but these  READ MORE »


are the four that have made the biggest impact for us. Critical thinking is a key skill that our
students need to have in order to become life-long learners and self-advocates for P21 on the Road and
themselves. Conversations on the Skills for
Today
Stacey Lange is an Academic Dean at Walker Elementary School and is part of the  READ MORE »


instructional services team for the West Allis–West Milwaukee School District. Her district,
West Allis-West Milwaukee, is part of the Next Generation Learning Initiative, an effort P21 EXEMPLARS MAKE A
that involves all teachers working to transform learning for all students. Her school is a P21 SPLASH IN WASHINGTON
Exemplar.  @LangeStacey  READ MORE »


Up Next: Project Zero Thinks on the Critical Side

Make it Happen
A Transfer Protocol

At the end of each week, facilitate your transfer of the key ideas into practice. Take a few
minutes to share your ideas from want you to takeaway about this week's posts.
Share your favorite blog posts to your friends and colleagues. Search

Click here to download writable pdf Blended Learning Professional Learning

Assessment Dropout Student Engagement
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Tags: Classroom Practice, Critical Thinking, Featured Post, Inquiry, Lange, Stacey , School Change

Comments (6) Follow

Sonny Yang makes this comment

Thursday, February 23, 2017 @ 14:28

Great strategies that are applicable to ALL classrooms. Comments coming from
individuals beyond the elementary setting emphasize the wide-reaching importance of
these strategies.

KarenHeinz makes this comment

Saturday, December 24, 2016 @ 02:05

Thank you for your great information.

John Walker makes this comment

Friday, May 27, 2016 @ 02:19

I am a medical professor in the New York Medical and research university. I always ready
to help my students and offered them support if they want to work freely on the projects.
 Charmaine Soupen makes this comment
Wednesday, May 25, 2016 @ 06:44

Good Afternoon

I am from South Africa and we have a dire need to train our learners as critical/analytical
thinkers. Our curriculum does not cater for this, however in the last year of the schooling
(Matric: Grade 12) learners are expected to produce work with this type of analysis. This
has led to a very high rate of failure or dropout in the �nal year of school and the �rst year
of university.

I am an educator and I am very interested in working with our Education Department to

provide this training at a very early stage of the learners' schooling. If anyone could assist
me in accomplishing this, I would appreciate it.

Peter Hill makes this comment

Thursday, December 24, 2015 @ 04:39

Do not readily �nd solution for students. Instead, identify even the simplest tasks as a
problems for them to solve.Always seek opportunities for brainstorming. Before reading
a book , take time to look at the cover and discuss it. Look at the pictured setting and
characters. If the cover has a barn on it ,ask students whether they think the story may be
about space aliens or farm animals.Have them brainstorm a list of things they might see in
the book.Compare and contrast anything and everything.Do not always give students
teacher-prepared projects.Try to provide a wide variety of materials and tools and give
very broad instructions.
It is important that teachers recognize and respect the value of thinking skills and
introduce them early on in the educational process.

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