One of NISD core beliefs is that all students will be learners who are ready to tackle the 21st Century by building on eight different attributes. Here at Lieck we will support, guide, and build on these characteristics through our class meetings and guidance lessons. Every month we will spotlight one of the NISD Learner Profiles. Students will explore each profile and we will post a learner profile with dinner table talk conversation starters for our Lieck families to explore at home. Table Talk is a great way for families to connect and strengthen relationships with each other.
For the month of December we will be focusing on the NISD Learner Profile, Critical Thinker. A critical thinker looks at information carefully, asks good questions, checks the facts, and uses smart thinking to make good choices and solve problems.
How to Raise Critical Thinkers in a World That Desperately Needs Them
Our world faces many challenges, and we need citizens and leaders who respectfully question things that are presented as “fact,” who ask thoughtful questions, and who think carefully about how they make decisions that impact their own and other’s lives. In short, this world is in desperate need of strong critical thinkers.
Critical thinking is a lifelong skill. Even college students don’t always have the complex analytical skills to balance their needs with others’ or evaluate expert perspectives. We can’t expect young children to master this immediately, but we can plant the seeds early.
Research shows critical thinking develops when four conditions are present:
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A trusting environment where contributions are welcomed.
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Learning experiences that are both challenging and supportive.
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Exposure to new or unexpected experiences, with time to reflect.
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Opportunities for both intellectual and emotional growth.
As parents, we can apply these principles by:
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Creating trust: Welcome children’s opinions, listen to their questions, and encourage curiosity.
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Offering challenges and support: Use questions to guide thinking, letting children explore their own ideas while offering help when needed.
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Exposing children to new experiences: Introduce diverse perspectives, model decision-making, and allow them to process new ideas in age-appropriate ways.
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Supporting intellectual and emotional growth: Recognize when topics are complex or emotionally draining, help children name their emotions, and guide them in understanding others’ feelings.
By practicing these strategies, we equip children to think critically, ask questions, and engage respectfully with the world. These skills will serve them in school, in life, and eventually, in leadership roles. If we can raise children this way, the potential for innovation and positive impact across generations is limitless.
- adapted from an article by Carrie Williams Howe
