Thinking Skills to Thinking Schools: Ways to Develop Children's Thinking and Learning

This article explores the core concepts of thinking skills and learning. It argues that to raise children's achievement in thinking and learning we need to move from the idea of developing the thinking child to the idea of creating powerful learning environments, thinking classrooms, thinking schools and communities. Approaches to developing thinking skills are discussed, including structured programmes and infusion approaches to teaching thinking. The article draws on research and development projects which aim at raising achievement through teaching thinking in London and elsewhere. It shows how teachers can integrate thinking skills into their teaching and interaction with children, and how the findings of research might translate into practice in schools and other learning environments.