"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.

`The good practice points add depth to the practical nature of this book and clearly set out its intention to provide reflection for teachers to extend their own skills and practice' - Jan Baker, Head Teacher of Orchard Vale Community School 'Thoughtfully written and certainly of value to trainee teachers and those already teaching in school' - National Association for Gifted Children Newsletter Most children already display a range of thinking skills when they communicate with each another and when they talk about their interests (whether those are soap operas or car engines), and this book presents an approach for classroom practice that will encourage teachers to build on the often quite sophisticated thinking skills the children in their class already have. The author highlights points for good pratice, suggests some lesson ideas and builds in opportunities for professional reflection. Advice on the following is included: } classroom organization } approaches to collaborative groupwork } developing children's (and teachers') speaking and listening skills } building on the thinking skills that children of all abilities display } using questioning techniques to promote thinking skills in the classroom } whole-school issues. Each chapter ends with a summary of key points and there is some photocopiable material included. All teachers, teaching assistants and those co-ordinating the learning of gifted and talented pupils will find this book thought-provoking, stimulating and inspiring.

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.

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.

How do we encourage children to think deeply about the world in which they live? Research-based and highly practical, this book provides guidance on how to develop creative and critical thinking through your classroom teaching. Key coverage includes: · Classroom-ready ideas to stimulate high-order thinking · How to think critically and creatively across all areas of the curriculum · Case studies from primary, secondary and special schools · Philosophical approaches that give pupils the space to think and enquire This is essential reading for anyone on university-led and schools-based primary and secondary initial teacher education courses including undergraduate (BEd, BA QTS), postgraduate (PGCE, SCITT), School Direct, Teach First and employment-based routes and also anyone training to work in early years settings.