Thinking Skills

Thinking

Thinking at Douglas Park School

Our Thinking programme teaches children

Ø    How to make clear choices about their behaviour and learning.

Ø    How to think creatively.

Ø    How to think critically

Ø    How to problem-solving.

Ø    Reflect on their learning and choices.

Ø    Draw on personal knowledge and intuitions.

Ø    Ask questions.

Ø    Challenge the basis of assumptions and perceptions in everyday life.

“Learning to think allows you to take control over your life.  Instead of being pushed around by circumstances, emotions and other people, you can think things out and take decisions.”[1]

How is Thinking structured at Douglas Park School?

Our school-thinking model is a balance between

Ø    Five PRIDE Habits – Teaches children how to behave intelligently when faced with a challenge.

Ø    De Bono Six Thinking Hats – A powerful technique that helps you look at important decisions from a number of different perspectives.

Ø    Hyerle Thinking Maps – These Maps teach children how to present their work.

Ø    Supporting thinking skills. – Different thinking tools to get the best possible result and target their thinking.

Five PRIDE Habits

A Habit of Mind knows how to behave and think intelligently when you are faced with a challenge and you DON'T know the answer. 


As part o four Teacher Designed School research into Art Costa’s Habits of Mind, we adapted and personalised our research in order to design our own Five Pride Habits.

Ø    Peaceful Thinkers - Knows themself and shows empathy towards others.

Ø    Respectful Thinkers - Takes responsibility for themselves and works with others.

Ø    Independent Thinkers - Takes responsibility for their learning.

Ø    Different Thinkers (Dare to Dream) - Thinks outside the box!

Ø    Excellent Thinkers - Focused and determined to succeed.

As a school we have designed a rubric to assess children and to help teachers and children monitor their progress.  There are 4 levels in each rubric Novice, Apprentice, Proficient and Expert.

Six Thinking Hats

A powerful technique that helps you look at important decisions from a number of different perspectives.  There are six different coloured hats, which help to focus our thinking.

HyerleThinking Maps

For further information about David Hyerle’s thinking maps please check out:

http://www.thinkingmaps.com/htthinkmapx.php3

ThinkingTools

Ø    Currently under construction.