Thinking Notes

Something interesting happened in school today. Teaching Grade 8 students to synthesise information and think logically: students created stories from given words, then evaluated each other's reasoning out loud.

I am an example of the many changes that can come about in society through education and critical thinking.

I take pride in being an instrument of rational thinking, and in watching students carry it beyond the classroom into their daily lives.

Individual change is the foundation for social change. A classroom where one student begins to think differently can shift the whole group over time.

When students genuinely understand a concept rather than memorise it, everything that follows becomes easier. Understanding is the difference between fragile knowledge and transferable skill.

Bringing about change requires thinking differently about change itself. We cannot teach students to question the world without being willing to question our own methods.

When I returned corrected activity sheets, some students compared scores with classmates and resolved to improve. Others became discouraged. Comparing your own scores week on week is far more useful than comparing with others.

I taught a class on correlation versus causation. Students explained the distinction clearly in discussion. Then the activity sheet asked a question on the same topic and most answered incorrectly. Understanding and applying are not the same thing.

In the first few sessions, students were disengaged. Then a new student joined and answered every question enthusiastically. The rest of the class followed. You do not need to reach every student directly to shift the energy in a room.