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It's Elementary: How Do I Help My Child Develop the Ability to Think Critically?
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Our future depends on the abilities of young citizens to make informed decisions about science issues that affect us all. Think about all the controversy around such issues as stem cell research, developing new energy sources, and global warming. For our children to be informed citizens, we all have to help them now to become critical thinkers.
Our elementary science program uses an inquiry approach that starts a science lesson with a question or problem about an issue related to the science curriculum. Then students have opportunities to work in pairs or small groups with materials to make observations and collect data about the question. The teacher's role is to question and probe the students to explore their understanding.
You can help your child at home by posing questions that are open-ended. At times, ask your child to restate his or her understanding, elaborate further, or articulate a particular position on a topic. Ask questions such as, "What do you mean by that?", or "Can you be more specific about that?"
You can probe more when your child's answers are flimsy or partially explained. Probing questions encourage children to clarify answers by providing more evidence or giving supporting details. They also cause children to think and respond at higher cognitive levels. For example, ask, "What are you thinking about when you say that?", or "What do you think you should do next?"
When we ask open-ended questions, children reap great benefits as they think through their responses to express what they want to say. And with their answers, we find out more about what they think and feel.
Posted by Nancy Mangum at 4:43 PM on February 2, 2009 | Leave Feedback
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