Thinking Skills Study Guide

What are Thinking Skills?

Thinking skills are the mental processes we use to analyze information, make connections, solve problems, and make decisions. These skills are essential for academic success and are also valuable in everyday life.

Types of Thinking Skills

Critical Thinking: This involves analyzing and evaluating information to make reasoned judgments.
Creative Thinking: This involves generating new ideas, considering different perspectives, and thinking outside the box.
Problem-Solving: This involves identifying challenges and using critical and creative thinking to find solutions.
Decision Making: This involves evaluating options and choosing the best course of action.
Analytical Thinking: This involves breaking down complex information into smaller parts to understand it better.
Strategic Thinking: This involves planning and considering long-term goals and outcomes.

Developing Thinking Skills

There are several strategies to develop and improve thinking skills:

Practice critical reading and analysis of texts.
Engage in discussions and debates to consider different viewpoints.
Participate in activities that encourage creativity, such as writing, drawing, or brainstorming sessions.
Work on puzzles, riddles, and logic games to enhance problem-solving abilities.
Reflect on personal decision-making processes and seek feedback on decisions made.
Set goals and plan steps to achieve them to develop strategic thinking.

Importance of Thinking Skills

Thinking skills are crucial for academic success as they enable students to comprehend complex concepts, analyze information critically, and solve problems effectively. In everyday life, these skills are essential for making informed decisions, adapting to new situations, and fostering innovation.

Assessment of Thinking Skills

Teachers may assess thinking skills through various methods, including critical analysis of written work, problem-solving tasks, class discussions, and presentations. Students can also evaluate their own thinking skills through self-assessment and reflection.

◂English Language Arts Worksheets and Study Guides Sixth Grade. Thinking Skills

The resources above cover the following skills:

Students read a wide range of literature from many periods in many genres to build an understanding of the many dimensions (e.g., philosophical, ethical, aesthetic) of human experience. (NCTE)

Students apply a wide range of strategies to comprehend, interpret, evaluate, and appreciate texts. They draw on their prior experience, their interactions with other readers and writers, their knowledge of word meaning and of other texts, their word identification strategies, and their understanding of textual features (e.g., sound-letter correspondence, sentence structure, context, graphics). (NCTE)

Students apply knowledge of language structure, language conventions (e.g., spelling and punctuation), media techniques, figurative language, and genre to create, critique, and discuss print and nonprint texts. (NCTE)

Students conduct research on issues and interests by generating ideas and questions, and by posing problems. They gather, evaluate, and synthesize data from a variety of sources (e.g., print and nonprint texts, artifacts, people) to communicate their discoveries in ways that suit their purpose and audience. (NCTE)

Students use a variety of technological and information resources (e.g., libraries, databases, computer networks, video) to gather and synthesize information and to create and communicate knowledge. (NCTE)

Thinking Skills Study Guide

What are Thinking Skills?

Types of Thinking Skills

Developing Thinking Skills

Importance of Thinking Skills

Assessment of Thinking Skills

[Thinking Skills] Related Worksheets and Study Guides:

◂English Language Arts Worksheets and Study Guides Sixth Grade. Thinking Skills

The resources above cover the following skills: