Is That Right?: Critical Thinking and the Social World of the Young Learner

"When I discovered critical thinking, my teaching changed. Instead of focusing on questions that had "right" answers, I wanted children to think through situations where the answer was in doubt. I expected them to decide which of two or more conflicting theories, procedures, beliefs, observations, actions, or expert claims made most sense. Instead of teaching as if I - or the textbook author or anyone else - had all the right answers, I encouraged children to think for themselves and to becom…