From Problems to Solutions: Creative and Critical Thinking Activities for Kids
What are 5 items you could use in a dinner menu that begin with the same letter as your name? One of the best ways to sharpen critical thinking skills is to practice them! Whether it’s bell ringers in the classroom or a conversation at the dinner table, make critical thinking activities for kids routine, not random. Constructing solutions to problems will become more natural and less risky to experiment with and discuss as you build real skills with guided support. Here are explanations and examples for creative and critical thinking activities to help you get started, whether you are a parent, tutor, or teacher. Why This Matters We all know kids and adults who freeze when there’s no clear answer to a question. Are they afraid of giving a wrong answer, or are they uncomfortable with critical thinking? Critical thinking is an important life skill. Rote learning is not enough. Students need to be able not only to solve problems but also to understand them and rethink them. The good news is that these are skills that can be taught with creative and critical thinking activities for kids. Critical thinking focuses on analyzing information and making judgements or drawing…
10 Tips on How to use an Agenda
What is the read, write, read, write method for homework agendas or planners? Not every student knows how to use an agenda or planner. Or how to use an agenda well. Time management and organization are life skills that are important to teach students. Before a student can understand how to plan out projects, they must first know how to do the basics. Many of my tutoring clients tell me they do not need an agenda because they can just look at the list of assignments on a website, but this does not teach them time management skills, nor does it help them chunk large projects into manageable pieces. Neither are most students capable of keeping all that info “in my head” as their main strategy for remembering all their homework assignments, but I do hear that option quite a bit! I find that sometimes we expect students to automatically know how to use their agenda, and we mean more than just copying down the word “homework” in today’s calendar box. To help students, I created a printable with 10 tips on how to use an agenda for beginners and the easy-to-remember “read, write, read, write” method. For a simple…
Easy At Home Preschool Plan
What is your weekly plan for at home preschool? The internet is overflowing with amazing ideas for doing simple “school” at home preschool, but it can be overwhelming to sift through it all. If you’re looking for a starting point that’s simple, meaningful, and flexible, here’s a weekly plan you can begin today, plus a free printable planning sheet to help you organize your ideas. Real-Life Learning: My Approach With a degree in education, many people assumed I’d have my kids memorizing flashcards and reading novels before kindergarten. But instead of formal lessons, I leaned into play. I naturally wove in numbers, letters, and Bible verses into our daily routines while building a joyful foundation for lifelong learning and critical thinking. Letting learning unfold through play is a beautiful thing, but a little structure can go a long way. Just like you’d stock a homework corner with sharpened pencils and paper, having a few simple resources on hand helps parents, grandparents, and caregivers build learning moments into everyday life. The goal is to create plans that were simple, flexible, and joyful. Weekly Themes to Guide Your Week A great way to begin is by focusing on a Letter of the…