How to Set Up Lessons to Educate for Critical Thinking

Running Head: HOW TO SET UP LESSONS TO EDUCATE FOR CRITICAL THINKING 1.
How to set up Lessons to Educate for Critical Thinking?
Name
Institution

HOW TO SET UP LESSONS TO EDUCATE FOR CRITICAL THINKING
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Problem
Critical thinking has become a very crucial aspect of learning in education. It contributes
to increased cognitive development in an individual by helping them develop their judgments,
evaluation of different situations as well as assisting them to improve on their problem-solving
abilities. Most teachers use the traditional methods which involved the use of arts to help
children develop critical thinking skills and especially the kindergarten children (O'Flaherty &
Phillips, 2015). However, there is an increasing concern to improve the teaching of critical
thinking skills in education in the modern education system as a result of increased interest on
the importance of critical thinking skills in not only in higher learning but also in making critical
decisions in life. After understanding the role of teachers in developing student’s critical thinking
skills, this essay will focus on the understanding of how we could set up lessons to best educate
for critical thinking among students in schools.
Different teachers use different strategies in their classrooms to enhance their teaching
skill and especially in teaching critical thinking among students. This helps them to organize
their lessons in a particular manner to help them attain a specific objective which in this case is
to develop critical thinking skills (Savery, 2015). It is essential for every student to possess the
vital skills in thinking but is more important also for them to understand the capabilities and how
best and when to apply them. As a result of this need, teachers are required to develop their
lessons in the classroom or develop their teaching skills for critical thinking through adoption
and application of appropriate strategies. How best we step up the lessons contributes to how
best the teachers can educate or teach their students critical thinking skills (Pithers & Soden,

HOW TO SET UP LESSONS TO EDUCATE FOR CRITICAL THINKING
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2014). Preparation should not start therefore in class, but the teachers should have it in their,
mind what they need to achieve and hence prepare for each lesson. This will help in setting the
mood and the classroom atmosphere in a manner that facilitates the teaching of critical thinking.
Literature Review
One of the most critical methods of setting up a lesson to teach or educate for critical
thinking by the teacher understands how he or she is supposed to help the student. It is therefore
essential that the teacher during any lesson, not to jump or immediately rush to answering every
question that arises from the children or the students (Davies, 2015). When a student asks an
issue in the classroom or even outside classroom context, it presents an opportunity to the
teachers to help them develop critical thinking skills. At this instance, the teachers should learn
on how to help students to arrive at the answers to their questions through critical thinking. The
teachers during the lessons should learn on how to tell students “ let us think about how well we
can find a solution to your question?”, Instead of jumping to answer or provide a solution to their
questions. This will help the students or the children to think around the problem, and the teacher
will assist them in getting the best answers to their questions or arriving at a solution (Goetsch &
Davis, 2014). Developing such a strategy helps the students to always think about an issue and
try by themselves to find a solution or answer without necessarily asking for help from their
teachers. Building such a foundation for critical thinking is essential in the development of
critical cognitive skills in thinking and will determine how best the students will perform in their
higher learning where there are limited interactions between the tutors and the students.