George Lucas Educational Foundation

Critical Thinking

Whether via classroom discussions, analysis of written text, higher-order questioning, or other strategies, learn and share ways to help students go deeper with their thinking.

Sort by:
Recommended
  • 2 Ways to Encourage Better Note-Taking

    Do your high school students think that taking notes during class means writing down everything you say? You can teach them effective note-taking skills that increase their engagement.
    Marianna Ruggerio
    483
  • How to Turn Your Math Classroom Into a ‘Thinking Classroom’

    The researcher Peter Liljedahl evangelizes for practices that prioritize and stimulate more hard thinking in classrooms.
    437
  • Helping Students Hone Their Critical Thinking Skills

    Used consistently, these strategies can help middle and high school teachers guide students to improve much-needed skills.
    240
  • A Math Word Problem Framework That Fosters Conceptual Thinking

    This strategy for selecting and teaching word problems guides students to develop their understanding of math concepts.
    1.2k
  • 5 Ways to Stop Thinking for Your Students

    Too often math students lean on teachers to think for them, but there are some simple ways to guide them to think for themselves.
    4.3k
  • An illustration of the inside of a mind while writing

    Why Students Should Write in All Subjects

    Writing improves learning by consolidating information in long-term memory, researchers explain. Plus, five engaging writing activities to use in all subjects.
    16.5k
  • 6 Tips for Teaching Math Problem-Solving Skills

    Solving word problems is tougher than computing with numbers, but elementary teachers can guide students to do the deep thinking involved.
    860
  • Teacher writing on whiteboard.

    Using Morning Messages to Start the Day in Distance Learning

    The morning message is a popular way to help elementary students transition into school—and it can be adapted for home learning.
    15.9k
  • 5 Metacognitive Questions For Students Learning New Material

    New materials can leave kids in the fog. Here are five metacognitive questions they can use to find their way and become more independent learners.
    7.2k
  • Building Older Students’ Organizational Skills

    Educators can help empower middle and high school students to independently manage their growing responsibilities.
    984
  • 4 Ways to Promote Executive Functioning Skills

    Middle and high school teachers can build activities that foster students’ executive functioning skills into their daily routines.
    1.2k
  • 5 Indispensable Ways to Deepen Student Comprehension

    Simple, in-class activities—drawn from recent research—that you can use to cement hard-won student insights.
    2.3k
  • A Question Teachers Should Ask as Often as Possible

    Push students past simple recall into deeper thought and engagement by adding this short follow-up question to your repertoire.
    4.8k
  • Facilitating Deeper Learning for Middle and High School Students

    Teachers can foster deeper learning by providing careful feedback, assigning comparison tasks, and encouraging robust class discussions.
    585
  • Teaching Historiography in Middle and High School

    This teacher asked his students what they didn’t like about textbooks and used their responses as a way to have them engage in close reading of primary sources.
    342

Follow Edutopia

  • facebook icon
  • twitter icon
  • instagram icon
  • pinterest icon
  • youtube icon
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

George Lucas Educational Foundation

Edutopia is a free source of information, inspiration, and practical strategies for learning and teaching in preK-12 education. We are published by the George Lucas Educational Foundation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization.
Edutopia® and Lucas Education Research™ are trademarks or registered trademarks of the George Lucas Educational Foundation in the U.S. and other countries.