Our greatest hope as educators is that our students grow into well-rounded, thoughtful adults who can think critically, make informed decisions, and succeed in whatever career path they choose. Middle and high school students are at a prime time in their brain development to hone these skills, and teachers need to have access to resources to help their students reach their full potential.
In the 21st century, the skills needed for success are rapidly evolving. Automation, artificial intelligence, globalization, and big data are transforming industries. To succeed in our new, information-based economy, students need skills beyond those traditionally tested in the classroom.
They must develop the critical thinking characteristics that are valued by modern companies. Studies from Forbes, Pearson, and the World Bank all point to the same conclusion: employers highly value employees with skills like
- Critical thinking abilities
- Creativity
- Collaboration
- Self-sufficiency
Understanding how to foster deep thinking with critical thinking activities starts by understanding students’ neurological development. To prepare students for the opportunities and challenges that await them, teachers need to understand how higher-order thinking skills are developed.
Neurological development in adolescents: A key period for growth
The brain continues developing until around age 25, but the most critical changes occur during adolescence. This is the period when students’ prefrontal cortex — the center for critical thinking learning and decision-making — undergoes rapid changes, making it the ideal time to engage in critical thinking exercises and activities that stimulate higher-order cognitive functions.
The role of the prefrontal cortex in critical thinking
Put your hand on your forehead (as if you have a headache) – the area behind your hand is where your prefrontal cortex is located. The prefrontal cortex regulates our thoughts, emotions, and actions through extensive connections to other neural structures. Compared to all other animals, the human brain has the greatest volume of prefrontal cortex — which is why humans have the greatest potential to think critically!
The prefrontal cortex is responsible for executive functions such as problem-solving, planning, decision-making, and regulating emotions. It is also crucial for developing the critical thinking skills for students that we aim to promote in classrooms.
As this part of the brain is the last to fully mature, adolescence is a key time to engage students in critical thinking articles and informational texts that challenge their perspectives and promote deep thinking practices.
During adolescence, the prefrontal cortex both grows in a process called myelination and shrinks in a process called pruning.
Myelination
New neural networks form when we repeat activities and link ideas. In a process called myelination, fatty “myelin sheaths” insulate connecting neurons to increase the speed and efficiency of the flow of information from one neural region to another. While myelination begins early in life and continues into adulthood, the production of myelin sheaths escalates during adolescence. Because myelination facilitates faster long-range connections in the brain, adolescents gain an increased ability to think abstractly and bring ideas together from different locations in the brain.
Engaging in critical thinking activities and using informational texts helps students strengthen the pathways needed for higher-order thinking. By encouraging students to engage in activities that stimulate their critical thinking characteristics, we can help them develop stronger cognitive skills that will serve them throughout their lives.
Synaptic Pruning
Also known as the “use it or lose it” principle, synaptic pruning eliminates underutilized neural pathways to make room for more essential ones. During childhood and adolescence, the brain soaks up information like a sponge, but as time passes and information isn’t accessed, those neural pathways disappear, and synaptic pruning occurs.
This is why providing them with engaging, real-world content like ELA news articles that broaden their perspective and deepen their understanding is so important. By reading broad informational texts, students access many neural pathways that would otherwise be pruned from inactivity.
When is the best time to teach critical thinking?
During this period of rapid neural development, learning actually changes how the adolescent brain is structured and how it functions. As teachers and mentors it is our responsibility to provide students with the foundational information and learning opportunities necessary to stimulate their developing neural networks and executive functions.
The more often you stimulate a neural circuit in your brain, the stronger that circuit becomes. This phenomenon explains why it’s easier to speak a foreign language with practice and why learning how to play a second musical instrument is easier than learning how to play an instrument for the first time — practice strengthens the neural circuits.
K-12 education happens when the brain is undergoing its most rapid period of growth. Educators play a critical part in changing adolescents’ neural structures and shaping their brain function. Research shows that “a well-developed prefrontal cortex with strong Executive Functions can improve both academic and life outcomes.”
How to help students take advantage of this period of rapid brain development
Encourage students to try a variety of activities
It’s important to engage students in activities that boost their critical thinking both inside and outside the classroom. Encourage them to participate in volunteer projects, clubs, and extracurricular sports.
Engage students in conversation and encourage curiosity
MIT cognitive scientists have found that conversations between students and parents/teachers actually change the brain’s structure. Conversations that focus on solving problems collaboratively and building connections with others trigger physical and emotional changes in the brain, enabling us to form relationships and think with empathy.
Asking students open-ended questions is a great way to get them to think creatively without fear of giving a wrong answer.
Create safe and secure environments (with reasonable boundaries)
Creating a safe environment is important for more than just having open conversations. While the prefrontal cortex is developing, the amygdala (the brain region in charge of emotion) takes over.
This explains why adolescents interpret most conversations and situations through an emotional, fear-attuned mind rather than a trust-seeking, rational one. By creating safe environments, teachers can calm down the fear center of the brain and enhance learning.
Creating safe spaces, defining boundaries, and creating opportunities for those boundaries to be negotiated, enables teens to take healthy risks and experiment with their sense of self, both of which contribute to healthy development.
Promote healthy eating and sleeping habits
The brain requires energy to form new neural networks. This energy comes from a healthy diet and a regular sleep schedule. Healthy fats like omega-3 fatty acids are used in the formation of myelin sheaths, which enables neural pathways to speed up connections between neurons and prevent connection interference.
The brain is constantly optimizing its memory storage. When we sleep, the brain removes unused networks and builds more streamlined, efficient pathways. So, without regular sleep, the brain doesn’t have time to do this pruning and it has a harder time acquiring new information.
Provide instructional and motivational feedback
Given that the prefrontal cortex takes the longest time to mature, teens tend to process information with the amygdala, the brain’s center for processing emotion and fear. In teenagers, the connection between the prefrontal cortex (the brain’s rational part) and the amygdala is not fully formed. This explains why middle or high school students might perceive a benign “hello” as “I’m watching you” or “I noticed that pimple.”
Additionally, until the prefrontal cortex is fully developed, teens might find it difficult to identify and balance the short-term and long-term consequences of an action. A parenting guide published by Stanford Children’s Hospital says, “Discussing the consequences of their actions can help teens link impulsive thinking with facts.”
Students rely on their parents and teachers to point out these cognitive errors and help guide them through learning skills for the 21st century. By setting good examples for our teens and providing helpful feedback, we can help develop their brains in a healthy way.
How The Juice helps develop critical thinking in students
To fully support students’ critical thinking in the curriculum, educators need tools that engage them with real-world, meaningful content. That’s where The Juice comes in. By providing current events for students at various reading levels, The Juice fosters informational literacy while encouraging students to think critically about the world around them.
Here’s how The Juice’s ELA news articles and informational texts help foster critical thinking in the classroom:
Understanding diverse viewpoints
The Juice’s articles present current events for students with multiple perspectives, helping them develop the critical thinking framework necessary for analyzing different sides of an issue.
- Critical Thinking Benefits: When students read articles that challenge their assumptions, they learn to evaluate evidence, consider alternative viewpoints, and form more reasoned conclusions — essential components of a strong critical thinking curriculum.
Background information for informed discussions
To foster critical thinking, students need background knowledge to help them draw conclusions. The Juice’s leveled news articles provide essential context, enabling students to engage in discussions with confidence.
With access to well-researched informational texts, students can form well-rounded opinions, leading to richer classroom discussions and more thoughtful insights. As students analyze different viewpoints, they develop the ability to think critically about real-world issues.
Promoting informational literacy
The Juice’s information literacy platform gives students current events they can use to develop information literacy skills like
- Evaluating sources
- Analyzing bias
- Verifying facts
Critical thinking exercises are crucial for developing information literacy, especially in a world where misinformation is widespread. By learning how to navigate news and other informational texts, students sharpen their analytical skills and become more discerning consumers of information.
Developing vocabulary for critical thinking
A large part of critical thinking education is being able to express ideas clearly and effectively. The Juice helps build students’ vocabulary by introducing them to key terms and concepts relevant to current events for students. Expanding vocabulary enables students to articulate their thoughts better, making them more effective participants in classroom discussions.
Strategies to foster critical thinking with The Juice
Incorporating The Juice’s ELA news articles into your classroom routine can significantly enhance critical thinking in the classroom. Here are some strategies to help maximize the impact:
Begin with open-ended questions
Start each discussion with an open-ended question based on the article. For example, “How does this event relate to what we’re studying?” or “What are the potential long-term effects of this issue?”
Encourage evidence-based discussions
Remind students to back up their points with evidence from the article. This reinforces the importance of using well-researched information in critical thinking articles.
Use think-pair-share
Give students time to reflect on the article individually, discuss their thoughts with a partner, and then share with the class. This encourages collaborative learning while enhancing critical thinking characteristics.
Building critical thinkers with The Juice
By using The Juice’s current events for students to foster critical thinking in the classroom, educators can help students develop the skills they need to thrive in the modern world. With informational texts, diverse viewpoints, and adaptable content, The Juice is a valuable tool for promoting the benefits of critical thinking in the classroom.
The Juice empowers students to analyze issues from multiple angles, make informed decisions, and engage thoughtfully with the world around them. Incorporate The Juice into your lessons today and watch your students grow into confident, critical thinkers.
