"PETSTM (Primary Education Thinking Skills) is a systematized enrichment and diagnostic thinking skills program. Lessons are presented in convergent analysis, divergent synthesis, visual/spatial thinking, and evaluation, suitable for grades K-3. The program aligns to the higher levels of Bloom's Taxonomy. PETSTM 1, the red book, introduces the six thinking specialists of Crystal Pond Woods: Dudley the Detective, the convergent/deductive thinker, Isabel the Inventor, the divergent/inventive thinker, Sybil the Scientist, the convergent/analytical thinker, Yolanda the Yarnspinner, the divergent/creative thinker, Max the Magician, the visual/spatial thinker, Jordan the Judge, the evaluative thinker. Included in the 24 lessons are encounters with the animal characters who are engaged in problem-solving scenarios calling for their types of thinking -- four lessons involving each character (two whole class lessons to help identify talented learners with accompanying reproducible activities, and two small group lessons for identified students and accompanying reproducible activities). PETSTM helps build behavioral portfolios for talented learners that support a differentiated approach to their education, integrates flexibly into any existing primary curriculum, and offers opportunities for learners with different strengths to shine"--Amazon.com.

This book presents a practical and universal framework for the teaching of thinking skills and problem-solving across the primary curriculum, using examples of topics from the National Curriculum, classroom techniques, and tried-and-tested activities which systematically develop pupils' thinking and problem-solving skills. While accommodating the need of all learners to develop effective thinking skills, the book also caters to the need to differentiate learning activities to extend the more able learners. Written by a team of teachers who recognize the day-to-day problems that face their colleagues in the classroom, this accessible, jargon-free book will be welcomed by teachers, SENCOs and ABCOs alike.

Revised and extended to cover critical reflection and evaluation of information resources, this new edition of Critical Thinking Skills for Education Students is a practical and user-friendly text to help education students develop their understanding of critical analysis. It outlines the skills needed to examine and challenge data and encourages students to adopt this way of thinking to enrich their personal and professional development. The text helps students to develop their self-evaluation skills in order to recognise personal values and perceptions. Critical analysis, modeling, case studies, worked examples and reflective tasks are used to engage the reader with the text - building both skills and confidence. This book is part of the Study Skills in Education Series. This series addresses key study skills in the context of education courses, helping students identify their weaknesses, increase their confidence and realise their academic potential. Titles in this series are suitable for students on: any course of Initial Teacher Training leading to QTS; a degree in Education or Education Studies; a degree in Early Years or Early Childhood Education; a foundation degree in any education related subject discipline. Lesley-Jane Eales-Reynolds is Pro Vice Chancellor (Education) at Kingston University. Brenda Judge is a Senior Lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University. Elaine McCreery is Head of Primary, Early Years and Education Studies programmes at Manchester Metropolitan University. Patrick Jones, now retired, was Senior Lecturer in Primary Education at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Includes Online Resources ′The author puts into perspective the importance of teaching thinking and learning skills providing clear explanations and easy to follow activities that can be used as a series of lessons, or simply as a one off. As a resource for the primary practitioner it is both practical and informative′ - ESCalate ′A treasure-trove of practical resources to stretch young people′s thinking muscles!′ - Professor Guy Claxton, University of Bristol ′It is full of useful ideas for busy teachers and helpful in getting the children rather than the teachers to do the thinking in the classroom′ - Professor Robert Fisher, Brunel University By helping children to form positive thinking and learning habits, and to develop a range of transferable skills, we give them the tools they need to become successful learners. This book is grounded in the best of current practice and theories surrounding thinking and learning skills. It provides a highly effective method for introducing a comprehensive set of thinking and learning skills to children aged 5 to 11, as well as for integrating these skills through the curriculum. By means of carefully developed games, activities and group tasks, these ready-to-use lessons will appeal to a wide range of learners and abilities. Features of the book include: - a clear explanation of what thinking and learning skills are; - lots of photocopiable activities, for use by individual teachers and in INSET; - a plan for introducing thinking and learning skills in your school; - suggestions for further reading and development of the programme. Headteachers, Curriculum Co-ordinators and classroom practitioners wishing to introduce and develop thinking and learning skills in their school can either follow this programme in its entirety, or dip into it when appropriate for specific activities.

Help children of all learning styles and strengths improve their critical thinking skills with these creative, cross-curricular activities. Each engaging activity focuses on skills such as recognizing and recalling, evaluating, and analyzing.

Creativity and critical thinking are key skills for complex, globalised and increasingly digitalised economies and societies. While teachers and education policy makers consider creativity and critical thinking as important learning goals, it is still unclear to many what it means to develop these skills in a school setting. To make it more visible and tangible to practitioners, the OECD worked with networks of schools and teachers in 11 countries to develop and trial a set of pedagogical resources that exemplify what it means to teach, learn and make progress in creativity and critical thinking in primary and secondary education.