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work together in flexible collaborative   complex thought processes. They   Every teacher must create a culture of
          group configurations, analyze and    must be able to hone their reasoning   thinking and wonder, so students can
          improve their questioning techniques,   abilities, innovate new solutions, and   connect, synthesize, re-imagine, create,
          practice brainstorming, and learn mind   explain their conclusions. We know   and apply ideas and concepts. As we
          mapping. Helping kids uncover what   our students are facing informational   all know, curious students are engaged,
          they comprehend, what confuses       and technological advances that de-  passionate about their learning and
          them, and what excites them as learn-  mand higher order thinking skills. As   likely to stick with challenging tasks. This
          ers is key. By learning thinking skills,   students move through school, a con-  is a transformative time for our students.
          students are able to transfer these   sistently and explicitly taught thinking   As elementary students grow older, they
          abilities into academic, social, and   framework can encourage students to   must possess strong thinking compe-
          emotional learning.                  take risks, think boldly, and justify their   tencies so they can routinely ask, “Why
          As educators, we understand how criti-  answers and ideas. Effective learning   not?” “How come?” and “I wonder…”
          cal it is for our 21st century learners to   means not simply gathering informa-  They must be well prepared thinkers,
          be intellectually curious and possess   tion, but understanding the relation-  ready for the astounding learning oppor-
          flexible mindsets capable of grasping    ship between what is known and what   tunities that await them in middle school,
                                               has not yet been imagined.           high school, and beyond.




           About the Author

                         Jeanne Muzi is the proud Principal of Slackwood Elementary School, Lawrence Township Public
                         Schools. She has served in the district for 18 years, initially as a first grade teacher and, before
                         becoming principal, as the Elementary Enrichment Specialist. She is an NJ EXCEL graduate, adjunct
                         professor, National Geographic Grosvenor Fellow and NOAA Teacher at Sea. Jeanne has served
                         on many state education committees and panels, and shares her passion for cultivating curiosity,
                         strengthening questioning and empowering students presenting at state and regional conferences.
           Follow Jeanne on Twitter at @MuziLearningLab

















































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