Cultivating and Nurturing Children's Critical Thinking Ability

When we talk about child's thinking skill, we need to understand that it is different with their critical thinking skill. Being a thinker does not mean you are necessarily a critical thinker. When you think, you are trying to give a meaning to an object you are facing or you're comparing in deciding which option to take.

Critical thinking lets you improve the quality of decision making skill you have in choosing the right new structure that can grow new ideas on your thoughts. It is a process, a strategy, and representation of ability to solve problem, to make decision and to learn new concept.

As one of the most important 21st century skills, it has to be introduced to our children as early as possible. Remember that, citical thinking is a process not inheritance. It is also believed that this skill can help us take a smart decision that is systematic, logical, and considering many relevant aspects.

Remember to always check whether your students:

1. have open mindedness

2. have Analytic Nature

3. are systematic by method

4. are inquisitive

5. are judicious

6. have truth seeking ethos

7. are confident in reasoning

As teacher, I have responsibility to:

1. Empower characters that are related with critical thinking skill

2. Give the right instruction in teaching-learning process

3. Keep developing the conducive learning atmosphere

4. Supervise the process in critical thinking demonstration

Let us all start growing critical thinking skills in our student's lives. It won't be easy and fast but remember, it is all worth it. 

Science Process Skill

 

To think that we can always involve Science Process when educating our children, always gives a new kind of motivation and push to create a more dynamic kind of lesson plan.

In the last webinar, all teachers were asked to answer and solve several problems that require critical and analytical thinking process. And that kind of remind me on how the assimilation process works or how the ugly caterpillar turns to a beautiful butterfly.

The current culture has been blocking children to think critically nor ask critical question. Many of us, parents, think to protect our children first rather than allowing them to be curious and inquire about the world around them.

As a computer teacher, I am inspired by the session about science process skill, because Information Technology can never be separated from Scientific Thinking skill. Rumah Stream has once again gave me some ideas to infuse technology with some other subjects taught at school. I guess this remains a homework for me. I need to design a project for my Elementary students to incorporate ICT skills and let them use it while working on the Interdisciplinary Project.