Preparing Today’s Thinkers for Tomorrow

RDB 2005

Creating a culture of open thought and expression may seem like a simple task for students in upper grades, but to create and develop this discourse with younger children (ages 1-12) may be a challenge far too great for one semester. However, through the implementation of a common language, the use thinking routines and the development of classroom routines that allow us to organize and express our ideas, making “thinking” visible is inevitable. In the 21^st century, creating a culture of thinking first begins by allowing students to develop the agency of thinking for themselves. Students must be active participants in the process of learning and must be equally aware of how learning changes. With the wealth of knowledge and a limitless amount of learning opportunities, students must be prepared to differentiate what learning experiences are most meaningful. Teachers are facilitators in the education giving students the tools they need in order to recognize the opportunities they are presented with and create meaningful learning experiences from them.