At Freeville School we have a whole school approach to teaching thinking based on “Teaching Thinking in the Primary Years – A Whole School Approach” by Michael Pohl.
Our school vision is to enable students to be the best that they can be. Central to that vision is the desire to give children tools they can use to structure their thinking so that they will be better equipped for life long learning. That is, to be able to reason, make informed judgements, critically evaluate information and think creatively.
At Freeville School we believe that such skills are best taught in a planned and sequenced manner. The sequencing of thinking skills does not preclude teachers from using tools or strategies outside of their particular level. They are, however, expected to follow the agreed scope and sequence for the school and explicitly teach the designated thinking tool at their level.
Teaching Thinking Skills
Sequence for Freeville Flyers
Thinking Strategy for Explicit Teaching |
Six Hat Thinking |
Extended Brainstorming |
Questioning Techniques |
Thinker’s Keys |
Bloom’s Taxonomy |
Graphic Organisers |
Creative Problem Solving |
Graphic Organisers |
Learning Team |
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
Instruction Focus |
6 Hats – introduced one at a time.
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4 elements of brainstorming, including
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A range of question types
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A range of keys to promote different thinking, including
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A range of higher & lower order question, including
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A range of ways of organising thinking & information, including
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Strategies that integrate many of the strategies previously taught, including
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A range of ways of organising thinking and information, including
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