Organizational Skills that Work for You

The Fall Semester is ending soon. Take time to get organized and stay organized! https://www.smore.com/6sxbq

Critical Thinking Skills

One of the “buzz” words in today’s education is critical thinking. Teachers are encouraged to have their students use critical thinking skills throughout the day across all disciplines and content areas. Critical thinking skills are vital to the success of your children in the classroom, on standardized tests, and in real-world applications. How can parents, grandparents, and others help their youngsters improve critical thinking skills?

Here are a few examples of easy things you can do with your children to enhance their critical thinking skills:

Ask open-ended questions. Asking questions that don't have one right answer encourages children to respond creatively without being afraid of giving the wrong answer. Try answering a question with a question!

Categorize and classify. Classification plays an important role in critical thinking. This type of thinking requires identification and sorting according to a rule, or set of rules, that kids must discover, understand, and apply. If you play classification games at home, be sure to follow up the activity with questions about the similarities and differences between the groups. You can sort everything from dirty laundry to Legos to produce to doll clothes in order to promote critical thinking.

Make decisions. Help your child consider pros and cons, but don't be afraid to let them make a wrong choice. Ask your child, "How do you feel about your decision? What would you do differently next time?" Evaluating their decisions and discussing these decisions validates your support of their thinking process.

Find patterns. Whatever you're doing, whether it's going to the park or watching television, encourage your child to look for patterns or make connections for critical thinking practice. For example, relate a favorite television show to a real-life situation. Or, while driving in the car, have your child identify different shapes in roads signs and in the windows and roofs of passing houses. 

Whether you are driving in the car, or talking with your child around the kitchen table, we encourage you to discover new ways to think critically with them. Critical thinking is not just a “buzz” word, but a life skill that will serve children well in school and in the future.

Adapted from: 

http://www.scholastic.com/parents/resources/article/thinking-skills-learning-styles/think-about-it-critical-thinking

Check out our November GT Family Activity: Problem Solving Iconic Austin!  It is not too late to participate.  Simply email AISDGTFun@gmail.com.

Problem Solving through Iconic Austin

Family Fun Event!

• Who: AISD GT students and their families
• What: Explore iconic Austin using riddles, logic and problem solving skills
• When: Any time between November 3, 2016 and December 9, 2016
• Where: Online and around Austin
• Why: To enjoy problem solving together as a family
• How: Send an email stating your family would like to participate to: aisdgtfun@gmail.com

An email will be sent to you with a link to the online list of activities and instructions. Complete at least two activities and email photos of your family in action completing the activities by December 9, 2016

Sponsored by: Austin ISD Advanced Academics Team

• Quién: Estudiantes de AISD GT y sus familias
• Qué: Explorar iconic Austin con acertijos, lógica y habilidades para resolver problemas
• Cuando: Cuando entre el 03 de noviembre de 2016 y el 09 de diciembre de 2016
• Dónde: En línea y alrededor de Austin
• Por qué: Para disfrutar juntos como una familia de problemas
• Cómo: Enviar un correo electrónico indicando su familia le gustaría participar en: aisdgtfun@gmail.com

Un e-mail será enviado a usted con un enlace a la lista en línea de las actividades y las instrucciones. Completar al menos dos actividades y fotos de su familia en acción completando las actividades de 09 de diciembre de 2016 por correo electrónico

Patrocinado por: Académicos Avanzados de AISD

Critical and Creative Thinking

Have you ever wondered, “How can I teach my children to think critically and creatively?” These important skills can be learned at a very young age and be enhanced throughout life. There are many methods of teaching critical thinking, and we encourage both parents and teachers alike to employ these strategies. Some helpful strategies are:

• Don’t immediately answer every question from your child. Sometimes it’s fun and builds thinking skills to answer a question with a question! Give your child the opportunities to problem solve their own answers to their questions. Ask your child open-ended questions, and think with them.
• Provide plenty of opportunities for your child to explore and discover new ideas and experiences. Pretend play and discovery often lead to creative and critical thinking.
• Encourage multiple answers to questions or unique and different avenues to find answers to questions.

As your child grows, learn to help them grow their thinking as individuals and include the family in thinking activities. For more information on this topic, check out the following articles and websites:
http://www.brighthorizons.com/family-resources/e-family-news/2014-developing-critical-thinking-skills-in-children
http://latitudes.org/improve-your-childs-critical-thinking-skills
http://www.rootsofaction.com/critical-thinking-ways-to-improve-your-childs-mind-this-summer

Have fun thinking with your child!


Cyd Rogers
Austin ISD Advanced Academics Team
State Director Texas Future Problem Solving Program

Virtual Book Club for Kids 2016-2017

Monthly featured picture book and activities. http://www.virtualbookclubforkids.com/

United States Senate Youth Program - Due 10/15/2016

Texas will select two student leaders as delegates (and two alternates) who will join others from across the nation in Washington, D.C. for an intensive week-long educational program. Delegates will be immersed in leadership activities and interact with high-level officials, hearing major policy addresses by senators, cabinet members, officials of the Departments of State and Defense, as well as other federal agencies. The program is sponsored by the Hearst Foundations, who fund all delegate expenses for Washington Week (transportation, hotel, meals). Each delegate is also awarded a $5,000 undergraduate college scholarship, with encouragement to pursue careers in public service.

Please see the Texas Education Agency (TEA) USSYP webpage for more information: www.tea.texas.gov/USSYP/

Application due date: October 15, 2016

Contact

For more information about this program, please contact Kelly Ocasio by email at kelly.ocasio@tea.texas.gov or by phone at 512-936-6060.

NaNo Prep for NaNoWriMo: Plan for It!

NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) nears! Check out your imagination and write a novel in November. NaNo Prep for it in the months of September and October. On November 1, participants begin working towards the goal of writing a 50,000-word novel by 11:59 PM on November 30. nanowrimo.org

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