Page 16 - Kyalami Estates Issue 3 Aug 2024

Kyalami Estates Corporate Brand Bible Design 26
3.0 Folder (Inner)
EDUCATION

TEACHING AND LEARNING

IN THE 21 CENTURY
ST

At St Peter's Prep Schools, we believe Thinking Skills are fundamental to both
teaching and learning. Our approach encompasses a variety of resources and
techniques that foster collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, reflection,
metacognition and curiosity, making learning more fun.

ome of the Thinking Skills tools The benefits of Thinking Maps are information. Visible Thinking Routines
we use include De Bono’s numerous. Visual aids engage pupils, also foster critical thinking by encouraging
Thinking Hats, The 8 Thinking making learning more interactive. These pupils to ask and answer open-ended
SMaps, Bloom’s Taxonomy, maps help in the systematic organisation questions, and analyse information from
HITS and HOTS, Powerful Questioning of information, leading to improved multiple perspectives.
Techniques, CoRT Tools and Thinking planning and structuring of ideas. The
Routines. visual presentation of thoughts makes it Collaboration is another vital skill
easier for pupils to understand and recall promoted by Visible Thinking Routines.
David Hyerle’s 8 Thinking Maps information. Collaborative learning teaches pupils to
are designed to organise thoughts, value diverse perspectives and ideas,
concepts and information visually. Another powerful tool we use is Visible enhancing creativity through collective
Each map corresponds to a different Thinking Routines, developed by Project brainstorming and problem-solving. Pupils
thought process such as the circle map Zero, a research group at the Harvard learn from each other, becoming flexible
for brainstorming, the tree map for Graduate School of Education. These in their interactions, building trust, and
categorising and the double-bubble map routines make the thinking process practicing effective communication skills,
for comparing. We integrate these maps visible, allowing pupils to externalise their such as listening and providing feedback.
throughout our curriculum, helping pupils thoughts and make them observable
to internalise these thought processes. and transparent to others. This visibility The integration of Thinking Skills through
provides teachers with valuable insights tools like Thinking Maps and Visible
The use of Thinking Maps promotes into pupils' thinking and allows pupils to Thinking Routines at St Peter’s Prep
creativity and innovation by providing a understand their peers' perspectives. underscores our dedication to holistic
visual platform for students to map out education. By equipping our pupils with
their ideas. This visual approach aids in Making thinking visible increases these essential skills, we are nurturing their
the communication of complex ideas and attention, comprehension and retention. intellectual growth and preparing them
enhances analytical thinking. Our pupils When thoughts are externalised, they to navigate an ever-changing world. Our
develop metacognition—thinking about their become tangible and accessible, focus on Thinking Skills is not just about
thinking and becoming aware of the various making it easier for pupils to engage academic achievement but about cultivating
types of thinking they engage in, such as and understand. This enhanced thoughtful and reflective individuals,
describing, comparing and sequencing. understanding leads to better recall of ready to face the challenges of the future.

14 Kyalami Estates • CONNECT • Issue 3 • 2024