21st Century Skills

"One of the 21st Century Skills our students need to be college and career ready is higher-order thinking. But does building these critical thinking skills seem a little daunting? One way to venture into this kind of thinking is using children's literature—Try this and your students will be on their way to the top of the thinking ladder! After reading a story to your students and ensuring they have sound comprehension of the story elements, break students into small groups (or do this together) and ask them to consider how the story would be altered if: the setting changed from the country to the city (for example) or if the story took place in 2013 as opposed to the time period it was originally set in. Perhaps ask them to consider how the story's events could be different if the main character had been a boy rather than a girl. Not only does this require students to understand the story as it stands, but it also asks them to reflect on the impact of story elements and characters, and it's a great listening and speaking opportunity. A big bang for your instructional buck!"

Laureen Reynolds CCSS & 21st Century Skills Expert