Luanne Posted December 27, 2013 Share Posted December 27, 2013 I just finished reading The Smartest Kids in the World and How They Got That Way. It stresses the need for critical thinking skills. I was wondering how one would acquire critical thinking skills. Can anyone help me out? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idnib Posted December 28, 2013 Share Posted December 28, 2013 I also finished that book recently. What did you think of it? I think much of teaching critical thinking has to do with talking about books, math problems, etc. and expanding beyond what's given. Asking questions beyond the problem by changing it, asking "what if" or "why". Basically hanging out at the higher levels of Bloom's taxonomy: http://www.teachthought.com/learning/249-blooms-taxonomy-verbs-for-critical-thinking/ On a more utilitarian level, you can get books like these: http://www.criticalthinking.com/building-thinking-skills-level-1.html It's also useful to solve puzzles like Sudoku, logic puzzles, etc. I've had this open in a tab but I haven't had time to read it myself: http://mres.gmu.edu/pmwiki/uploads/Main/CritThink.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted December 28, 2013 Share Posted December 28, 2013 We are trying to cultivate critical thinking in our family by encouraging questions and discussions from a young age on. We desire no blind acceptance of authority, no "because I said so"; we went to great lengths to answer the many questions our kids had. It was important to us to foster a climate where asking questions was not perceived as a nuisance or as challenging authority, but as a wonderful conversation starter and tool to learn. Exhausting, but an important mindset for us. Our kids grew up witnessing adults engaged in intellectual sparring, debating controversial issue over meals, seeing people play devil's advocate. On a practical level, we encourage independence in daily activities. Critical thinking goes hand in hand with problem solving. And of course, there is always math! We use a curriculum that teaches critical thinking and problem solving in math like no other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DragonFaerie Posted December 28, 2013 Share Posted December 28, 2013 We are trying to cultivate critical thinking in our family by encouraging questions and discussions from a young age on. We desire no blind acceptance of authority, no "because I said so"; we went to great lengths to answer the many questions our kids had. It was important to us to foster a climate where asking questions was not perceived as a nuisance or as challenging authority, but as a wonderful conversation starter and tool to learn. Exhausting, but an important mindset for us. Our kids grew up witnessing adults engaged in intellectual sparring, debating controversial issue over meals, seeing people play devil's advocate. On a practical level, we encourage independence in daily activities. Critical thinking goes hand in hand with problem solving. And of course, there is always math! We use a curriculum that teaches critical thinking and problem solving in math like no other. AOPS? Or something else for math? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted December 28, 2013 Share Posted December 28, 2013 AOPS? Or something else for math? Yes, AoPS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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