"This highly informative book provides a comprehensive guide to the teaching of thinking skills in primary and secondary education." Learning and Teaching Update It is now recognised that thinking skills, such as problem-solving, analysis, synthesis, creativity and evaluation, can be nurtured and developed, and education professionals can play a significant role in shaping the way that children learn and think. As a result, schools are being encouraged to make greater use of thinking skills in lessons and the general emphasis on cognition has developed considerably. This book offers a comprehensive introduction to thinking skills in education and provides detailed guidance on how teachers can support cognitive development in their classrooms. Developing Thinking; Developing Learning discusses how thinking programmes, learning activities and teachers’ pedagogy in the classroom can fundamentally affect the nature of pupils’ thinking, and considers the effects of the learning environment created by peers and teachers. It compares the nature, design and outcomes of established thinking programmes used in schools and also offers practical advice for teachers wishing to develop different kinds of thinking capabilities. This is an indispensable guide to thinking skills in schools today, and is key reading for education studies students, teachers and trainee teachers, and educational psychologists.

This book presents an innovative teaching experiment and an analytical study of critical thinking and the sociocultural theory of learning to illustrate the cognitive learning development mechanisms. It addresses the issues in developing critical thinking, including the controversy surrounding the definition, measurement and teaching of critical thinking, particularly in the L2 context. The book explains how infusion-thinking lessons can be structured to help students develop critical thinking along with language learning. Further, it uses a case study as a real-world example to examine the applicability and feasibility of infusion-thinking lessons in the EFL context and their effectiveness in developing students’ critical thinking and language learning. Packed with thinking activities and techniques, this practical, hands-on manual provides original ideas and empirical data, giving teachers everything they need to plan their lessons to improve students’ critical thinking within language courses and evaluate their teaching.

Confidence in Critical Thinking bridges the gap between theory and application for both new and established educators who wish to recognise their own critical-thinking skills, develop them and, in turn, support the development of their learners. By harnessing findings from research on design, engagement, goal setting, coaching, performance and the influence of language, this book: Facilitates educators in moving from thinking about these skills as theoretical concepts to practical application Supports educators in their own personal development Provides practical exercises and ideas for learner skills development Encourages reflection from the educator on their own development. A must-read for those wishing to examine the assumption that critical-thinking development happens to all learners to an equal degree as a natural part of the education process. Confidence in Critical Thinking is for both learners wishing to understand and develop critical-thinking skills and educators wanting to develop their learners’, and their own, critical skills.

A thinking student is an engaged student Teachers often find it difficult to implement lessons that help students go beyond rote memorization and repetitive calculations. In fact, institutional norms and habits that permeate all classrooms can actually be enabling "non-thinking" student behavior. Sparked by observing teachers struggle to implement rich mathematics tasks to engage students in deep thinking, Peter Liljedahl has translated his 15 years of research into this practical guide on how to move toward a thinking classroom. Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics, Grades K–12 helps teachers implement 14 optimal practices for thinking that create an ideal setting for deep mathematics learning to occur. This guide Provides the what, why, and how of each practice and answers teachers’ most frequently asked questions Includes firsthand accounts of how these practices foster thinking through teacher and student interviews and student work samples Offers a plethora of macro moves, micro moves, and rich tasks to get started Organizes the 14 practices into four toolkits that can be implemented in order and built on throughout the year When combined, these unique research-based practices create the optimal conditions for learner-centered, student-owned deep mathematical thinking and learning, and have the power to transform mathematics classrooms like never before.

Unique in that it collects, presents, and synthesizes cutting edge research on different aspects of statistical reasoning and applies this research to the teaching of statistics to students at all educational levels, this volume will prove of great value to mathematics and statistics education researchers, statistics educators, statisticians, cognitive psychologists, mathematics teachers, mathematics and statistics curriculum developers, and quantitative literacy experts in education and government.

Based on over fifteen years of groundbreaking research, Developing Creative Thinking Skills helps learners demonstrably increase their own creative thinking skills. Focusing on divergent thinking, twelve inventive chapters build one’s capacity to generate a wide range of ideas, both as an individual and as a collaborator. This innovative textbook outlines a semester-long structure for the development of creative thinking skills and can easily be utilized as a self-directed format for those learning outside of a classroom. Readers are stimulated to maximize their own creativity through active exercises, challenges to personal limits and assumptions, and ideas that can help create powerful habits of variance.

This practical guide to promoting and developing independent learning is presented in a mixed format using both diagrammatic and textual stimulus. It offers tips and suggestions to achieve effective teaching and learning, and raises standards by enabling the pupil to become independent and responsible for their own learning; autonomous in their thinking and creative and critical in their understanding. Liz Lakin describes a progression away from dependency on the classroom teacher, whose role changes readily from teacher to facilitator. Drawing on practice-based research, she introduces the skills and processes associated with independent learning through established strategies such as ‘Assessment for Learning’, the use of ‘Active learning’ techniques, problem solving activities and peer-assessment. Each chapter presents tried and tested ideas, strategies and activities for the development of higher-order skills such as application, synthesis, evaluation and reflection, to use with pupils across the dependency spectrum. Several relate to the higher levels of attainment and are therefore applicable at Key Stage 3. The effectiveness of teacher/pupil feedback and the role of homework form a significant focus for the latter part of the book. "A truly-thought provoking, interactive book with a difference that takes teachers on a learning journey. It encourages us to reflect on how we learn, how our pupils learn and what the collective implications for effective teaching and helping pupils to construct their learning are.Reading and actively engaging with this book is indeed a learning journey, invaluable to practitioners. The text contains many invaluable references and deals with topics such as the value of homework, how people learn and how people respond to techniques addressee to hem in learning situations. An essential reading for practicing teachers and particularly students in training and their tutors." Dr Sue Dale Tunnicliffe, Senior lecturer in Science Education, Institute of Education, University of London, UK "There has never been a time when independent learning is more important in school science. In Developing Independent Learning in Science, Liz Lakin challenges the reader to examine how they teach science and why pupils respond as they do. The result is a book that should be of great value to those who teach science to 7-12 year-olds and to science educators in general. A particular strength is the way the author interweaves rigorous thinking about learning with activities for the reader to help them engage with the text. In addition, there is a mass of useful thinking in here and plenty of classroom suggestions. The book is worth reading simply for the honesty of the 'How not to climb Helvellyn' case study." Michael J Reiss, Professor of Science Education, Institute of Education, University of London, UK "In this book Liz Lakin involves the readers in the kind of independent learning that she in describing and advocating. It should enable practising teachers to stand back from their work to consider why we want children to learn in a certain way as well as providing useful ideas about how to do it. It is written in a personal and engaging style and is a unique addition to books on science teaching." Wynne Harlen, OBE, PhD. Visiting Professor of Education, University of Bristol, UK

This is a brand new multi-media resource to support new and experienced primary school teachers develop skills of critical reflection in order to improve teaching and learning. An integrated DVD and textbook present a range of innovative case studies comprising video clips of real teachers in the classroom, together with context and narrative, step-by-step guidance through key issues, and commentary and debate from experts and professionals in the field.

Make formative assessment work for you—and your math students! Finally, formative assessment that adds up! Bringing Math Students Into the Formative Assessment Equation is the ultimate resource for helping teachers implement formative assessment in the middle school mathematics classroom. And it’s much more than that. With this research-based, teacher-tested guide, you won’t just learn effective teaching strategies—you’ll turn your students into self-regulated learners. They’ll monitor and assess their own progress—and communicate to you about it! Features include: A clear and manageable six-aspect instructional model Detailed strategies for helping students own their successes Real-life examples from middle school mathematics teachers Useful resources and a companion website to help you implement formative assessment in your classroom Formative assessment isn’t just for teachers anymore. With the help of this essential resource, you’ll work together with your students toward a common goal of math success. "This book is outstanding. I would recommend it to any math educator. The depth of research integrated into practice is extensive and, as a result, it is the most practical book I have come across related to formative assessment and mathematics The self-regulation aspects, as well as the ownership and involvement emphasized in the book, went beyond the traditional cognitive strategies endorsed in most books." Marc Simmons, Principal Ilwaco Middle School, Ocean Beach School District, Long Beach, WA "The ideas in this book are brought to life with examples of teachers and students in the classroom. The teacher voices, comments, and quotes lend credibility and are a big component of the book’s strengths as well as the visuals and graphics." Rita Tellez, Math Coordinator Ysleta Independent School District, El Paso, TX