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Connections
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| Posted: Dec 21 2009 at 11:26am | IP Logged
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How do you encourage critical thinking and problem solving in your home?
How important do you consider these skills?
Looking forward to your thoughts.
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Tracey
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hylabrook1
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| Posted: Dec 21 2009 at 12:24pm | IP Logged
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Actually, I think critical thinking and problem solving are second in importance only to reading (as far as academic skills go; not addressing spiritual issues here). In many ways, critical thinking/problem solving help a child to learn to read, as he or she deciphers new words, looks for context clues, etc. Puzzles, tangrams, things like that help with spatial problem solving; conversations in which the adults don't give the bottom line answer to a child who is trying to work something out; asking for input from a child when you are stumped. I am often amazed how well my children, even from the age of 4 or so, can help me figure something out; and, yes, I am far more intelligent than a four year old!  When the children work at practical things in the home (like cooking, changing lightbulbs, figuring out which of the breakers in the box controls the appliance that just quit), they see the value of critical thinking, although they might not recognize it as fitting under that title. Also, when Mom doesn't come running when a child says he needs parental input, but says, "I'll be there in a minute", often the child figures it out and no longer needs the help. I think they need a bit of *space* to encourage their applying their own approach to a problem. This is really an interesting question to ponder; it's not something that I generally think about specifically, but when you ask about it, I realize that's what I do all day long! Hmmm....
Peace,
Nancy
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Paula in MN
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Very timely for me, as I just read a large section of WTM. She really encourages critical thinking as a yearly subject, although that is probably pretty standard for a classical education. I purchased several items from Critical Thinking Press and can't wait to get started.
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 Paula
A Catholic Harvest
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anitamarie
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We've used MindBenders, Red Herrings and are now using Critical Thinking. My kids really like it as a subject. My dh and I share teaching this and we have fun with it. I have seen benefits from it with my oldest who is 11 almost 12.
I like Nancy's points about learning this skill through daily life and puzzle solving. I have noticed with the Critical Thinking Co. products that it does teach specifically *how* to think.
I think it's really important to learn. I have noticed a decided lack of ability to think logically in our society, hence the direction of our culture. I want my children to have that skill.
Anita
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Kathryn
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| Posted: Dec 21 2009 at 11:26pm | IP Logged
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Connections wrote:
How important do you consider these skills?
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VERY, VERY, VERY important!
Connections wrote:
How do you encourage critical thinking and problem solving in your home?
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I haven't figured that out yet!  Really all I do right now is talk about things we read in the newspaper or see on tv... For example, things like commercials and how they "lure" us in to thinking we NEED their product or how there are so many other newsworthy things that are NOT reported vs. what IS reported. I guess I do ask them questions such as if we see someone smoking or not wearing a helmet I'll say something like "Do you think that's a healthy/wise choice?" and that spurs further discussion into forming habits. Tonight we saw a handwritten posterboard sign on the road that said "Invest $600 in real estate and get rich!" I asked if they thought it would wise to invest money off a sign like that to someone they had never met and then we talked about wise use of money. Sometimes my questions evade to the answer I'm seeking so may be there's not a huge amount of critical thinking on their part. ?! It does lead to discussions that hopefully will build that skill tho. I guess I do think it's so important but I've always geared it into real world things.
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Kathryn in TX
(dd 16, ds 15, dd 8, dd 5)
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Erin
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| Posted: Dec 22 2009 at 12:38am | IP Logged
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Connections wrote:
| How important do you consider these skills? |
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Very high, dh in particular feels strongly.
Connections wrote:
| How do you encourage critical thinking and problem solving in your home? |
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Mostly in day to day living, being very conscious of this. For example when dh has the boys working alongside him he encourages their input on how to solve a problem when building or repairing. He is thrilled when they come up with solutions he hasn't thought of (he is very much a lateral thinker)
I also encourage alot of independent work, ie. I'll ask my daughter to cook, give her the recipe and offer to answer any questions but mostly she is now capable of figuring it out by herself.
Praise, encouragement and opportunity.
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Erin
Faith Filled Days
Seven Little Australians
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MNMommy
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| Posted: Dec 22 2009 at 6:11am | IP Logged
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Connections wrote:
| How important do you consider these skills? |
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Extremely important.
Connections wrote:
| How do you encourage critical thinking and problem solving in your home? |
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I try to stay out of the way of the kids' creative play and problem solving. As they run into problems, I let them solve their own issues. I might give them leading ideas (particularly out-of-the-box ideas), but I don't squash their ideas and I don't give them solutions. I encourage them to try and try and try again when they fail. Oh, and I let them fail. I tell them that if they aren't failing, then they aren't trying hard enough. I also tell them that every problem has a solution. They just have to work hard enough and think creatively enough to find the it.
I encourage them to be independent in actions and thoughts because I want them to believe they can solve the world's problems.
Fostering creative thinking and problem solving in my kids was my top reason for homeschooling when we started two years ago. 
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Jennifer
Tired mom to - 10yo dd, 7yo ds, 6yo ds, 4yo dd, 2yo ds
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Critical Thinking/ Problem Solving
