Critical Thinking

Studies are starting to come out about the dangers of overdosing on standardized testing.  I'm pretty confident the result is the lack of critical thinking skills.  Case in point: a student in my "Writing About Literature" class wrote a post for help because she couldn't find on which page Oedipus started.

...

Seriously.

Table of Contents ring a bell?

...

Anyone...?

I'm so glad one of her classmates responded.  I don't think I could have responded without being condescending and snarky.  Oh, and I told the class the chapter number of the play.  *smh*

Fortunately, there is hope somewhere out there.  I have met some really imaginative kids lately.  Today during before-school care, C (who I think is in 3rd grade), came in carrying The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes.   He then approached the other teacher and I, wondering if we had any mysteries to solves.  He asked for clues, which he wrote down in his notebook.  Mr. M (the other teacher) made up a mystery for the boy.  C asked really good questions about the "mystery".  It's so refreshing to see a young person thinking and analyzing.  I'm certain he will be able to find the starting page of Oedipus.