Thinking Like Breathing

Robert King

Which is more important for today’s students, critical thinking or creative thinking? It’s a trick question. I may as well ask which is more important, breathing out or breathing in? “Whichever one I need to do right now” is one good answer to this last question. Another is “Neither—since I need both to stay alive.” It’s the same with critical and creative thinking.

The Thought Exchange

Creative and critical thinking are two halves of a cycle: inspiration and expiration.

• Creative thinking draws in possibilities. It is an expansive process, filling you with new ideas from the outside. Creativity reaches beyond what is known and into the unknown . . . to discover something new. Creativity is not necessarily discerning. You don’t separate the nitrogen from the oxygen in the air before you breathe it in. Your chest simply expands, and in it comes. Creative thinking can be exhilarating, flooding you with new possibilities.
• Critical thinking, on the other hand, sorts through the possibilities to do something practical. Critical thinking analyzes, applies, and evaluates. It categorizes, compares, contrasts, and traces causes and effects. It’s like separating the oxygen out of the air you breathe in, in order to enrich your cells, or extracting . . .
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In the News

Recent articles on 21st century skills, inquiry, project-based learning, media literacy, and education reform

Teaching the Right Skills for a New Age: In the ASCD Edge, author and educational consultant Elliot Sief indicates that success in the workplace requires the ability to ask probing questions, process information, think deeply, draw strong conclusions, and effectively communicate. He contends that an inquiry-based approach is best for teaching these 21st century skills.

Project Based Learning—Where Are Good Project Ideas? Edutopia shares eighth-grade teacher Azul Terronez’s ideas about what makes a good project. Find out how Terronez applies one principle—keep things simple—especially in the planning stages.

P21 Presents Webinar that Explains the 21st Century Skills Arts Map The Partnership for 21st Century Skills is offering a recording of their Webinar about the art skills map. This map helps those who teach the arts (dance, music, theater, and visual and media arts) to infuse 21st century skills into their classes, focusing on the four C’s: critical thinking, creative thinking, communicating, and collaborating. The P21 Web site provides further information and resources.

Magner: NCLB Waivers Key to 21st Century Learning: Roll Call recently posted this article by Timothy Magner, executive director of Partnership for 21st Century Skills. Commenting on President Obama’s waiver package concerning No Child Left Behind, Magner advocates rigorous “yet attainable” student performance goals.

An Argument for Allowing Cell Phones in Schools: On the SchoolBook Web site, Maria Newman argues that cell phones should be allowed to go to school with students, especially in a world “heavily dependent on technology.” Newman offers some compelling reasons to include this handy communication tool in the classroom.

Academic Gains Vary Widely for Charter Networks: On the Education Week Web site, Nirvi Shah reports on a national study of middle school charter schools that are managed by CMOs. Among other matters, the study examines factors that affect student achievement—behavior policies, teacher coaching, additional instruction time, and more.

Glen Ellyn Students Helping Others Through New Club: Christopher Placek shares this story on the Daily Herald Web site. Learn how an eighth-grade language arts class in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, turned a “Caring Classroom” unit into real-world civic action.

Inquire in the News

Information about recent and upcoming events connected to Inquire

Thoughtful Learning Attends NMSA/AMLE Did you stop by our booth at the 2011 Annual Conference and Exhibit of the National Middle School Association (now renamed the Association for Middle Level Education)? If so, we’re really glad we met you, and we hope you got a review copy of Inquire. If not, make sure to see us at Booth 1213 at the NCTE 2011 National Convention in Chicago! (See “Thoughtful Learning Upcoming Events” below.)

Inquire Author Presents to Packed Crowd At the NMSA/AMLE 2011 Annual Conference and Exhibit, Rob King presented “Using Project-Based Lessons to Teach Language Arts.” The room overflowed with educators, some sitting on the floor and others standing along the walls to find out about eight inquiry projects that Rob and PBL teacher Cindy Smith have used in a class of 30 seventh- and eighth-grade students. Download the Powerpoint and handouts from the presentation.

Thoughtful Learning: Upcoming Events

National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Annual Convention

Thursday, November 17 – Sunday, November 20, 2011, Chicago, Illinois. Visit us at Booth 1213, and be sure to join Inquire author Rob King and middle school teacher Cindy Smith for session K.22—Using Inquiry Projects to Teach Language Arts. (See below.)

Inquire Author Rob King and PBL Teacher Cindy Smith to Present at NCTE Convention

If you missed Rob’s session at NMSA/AMLE, make sure to attend “Using Inquiry Projects to Teach Language Arts” at the 2011 National Convention of the National Council of Teachers of English. You’ll find out about the partnership between Rob and Cindy, take part in four inquiry experiences led by Rob, and learn from Cindy about four projects she uses to teach language arts. Join us on Saturday, November 19, 2011, from 4:15-5:30 at the Palmer House in the Chicago Room on the Fifth Floor for Session K.22.

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