Archive for the ‘Raising Critical Thinkers’ Category

The Heart of Education

Brave Writer

I believe in a pedagogy (the method and practice of teaching) that puts these three things at the center:

  1. Curiosity
  2. Learning
  3. Questions

I don’t believe in a pedagogy that starts with a viewpoint and then hunts and pecks for support to protect that perspective.

One is critical thinking and the other is apologetics.

We’re all capable of both, every day of our lives. It takes self-awareness to be able to recognize when you are being an apologist rather than a thinker. It’s the temptation of an ideologue. Being beholden to a belief system is dangerous to critical thought.

The hardest thing I’ve ever done is confront my need for the evidence to support what I want to be true. I’ve experienced the internal battle, the anxiety, the fear of losing meaning and friends. I’ve had to rethink so many of my assumptions over the years. There have been costs associated with that rethinking. But I wouldn’t change the journey.

If you are going through a season of rethinking, congratulations. It takes courage. It’s the heart of what education is all about.

Becoming a Critical Thinker

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Don’t Be Fooled

Brave Writer Raising Critical Thinkers

Learning is measured by the learner—not by the teacher.

Learning happens when a person is interested enough
to persist at knowing more.

Learning from home is not the same as freedom from school.

I got interested in critical thinking because I discovered that I’ve had wrong thinking at times when I’ve been highly persuaded of a particular view.

I wanted to know:

  • why I believed what I did,
  • what influences shaped my interpretations of ideas,
  • what impact changing beliefs had on my relationships,
  • and how to determine reliable information versus unreliable.

In this digital age, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to tell the difference between artificial intelligence, digital manipulation of images and facts, and which ideas matter.

Our kids are learning. What’s up for grabs is how they interpret what they are learning.

I want our kids to have the tools that I didn’t have when I was their ages, so I wrote a workbook called Becoming a Critical Thinker. It is perfect for kids 12 to 18. They can write right inside the book. Goes well with a high school education.

You might believe you’re teaching your children all the right information, but it’s up to them how they interpret it. Giving them the tools of interpretation is essential for them to grow skillfully as thinkers and learners.

Learn more about teaching Critical Thinking to kids.

Becoming a Critical Thinker

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Raising Critical Thinkers: Master Post

Raising Critical Thinkers

When children learn to think critically, something amazing happens: they begin to read between the lines, find their own voice on the page, and engage with the world around them with curiosity and confidence. These are the kinds of thinkers—and humans—that homeschooling families have the perfect opportunity to raise.

At Brave Writer, critical thinking isn’t a separate subject or a box to check. It’s woven into everything we do—our products, our online classes, and the other resources we create for families like yours. We believe that when kids learn to question, analyze, and communicate thoughtfully, they become:

  • better readers,
  • more powerful writers,
  • and more compassionate members of their communities.

We’ve gathered eighteen posts on critical thinking into one place so you can explore, return to, and share these ideas at your own pace. Wherever you are in your homeschool journey, we hope something here sparks Big Juicy Conversations around your table.

Critical Thinking Posts

Critical Thinking Podcasts

Raising Critical Thinkers

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Critical Thinking Podcast Episodes

Brave Writer Podcast

We’ve talked a lot about critical thinking on the Brave Writer podcast! Here are some past episodes you don’t want to miss.

Raising Critical Thinkers is circling the globe via podcast and news article! If you’re interested in hearing a wide array of thoughts that I’ve shared about the contents of my book, check out some of these delightful interviews.

Brave Writer Podcast

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Brave Learning: A Critical Thinker’s Bill of Rights

Brave Writer

Recently on Brave Learning…

A Critical Thinker’s Bill of Rights

and responsibilities, for good measure

Have you ever experienced a sudden blast of awareness—what you thought you knew, you now question?

What did that feel like? Disturbing? Anxiety-provoking? Liberating?

Have you ever been in a conversation only to discover that the ideas you hold would injure your relationship if you were to say them out loud?

How did you manage those thoughts and ideas?

Do you ever feel pressured to declare a decided opinion, even when you don’t have the data and education to take a strong position?

Where did that pressure come from? What were the unsaid (or said) consequences of deviating from the group’s approved beliefs?

[Keep reading]

Subscribe to Brave Learning on Substack where we discuss, problem-solve, and create together. Here’s what you can expect: weekly themed content, freewriting prompts, and a podcast for kiddos called Monday Morning Meeting! 

Raising Critical Thinkers

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