Headteacher's Welcome...
St Mary’s is a thinking school. This means use a set of tools for learning which help the children to become independent and critical thinkers.
Thinking Hats
Edward de Bono developed the "six hats" method as a means of teaching people to view problems from a range of perspectives, and so develop a more rounded way of thinking. In a group of people considering a problem or proposition, one person will consider the situation analytically, another emotionally, another positively, another negatively, and another creatively.
This explains the different thinking hats and the vocabulary we would use to explain it to the children.
De Bono’s Six Thinking Hats
The Red hat is worn when we are looking at problems using our gut reactions and emotions. The red hat is like fire. It is warm and full of feelings!
The Yellow hat helps us think positively. It helps us to keep going when everything looks gloomy and difficult.
The White hat is all about information. It is like computer paper! We are looking at the information we have and seeing what we can learn from it.
The Black hat is worn when we are looking at why a plan or solution might not work. It helps us to see the problems and weaknesses of a specific idea.
The Green hat is worn when we are trying to be creative and think of different ways to solve a problem. It is like nature, about growing new ideas.
The Blue hat is the hat worn by the person in charge of the discussion. It keeps everyone organised and thinking the right way.
Habits of Mind
A habit of mind means having a disposition toward behaving intelligently when confronted with problems, the answers to which are not immediately known.
There are 16 Habits of Mind and the children focus at least one of them per week.
Thinking Maps
Thinking Maps presents eight powerful visual models that boost all learners’ metacognitive and critical thinking skills. This is a novel and effective model which helps students:
• Organise thoughts
• Examine relationships
• Enhance reasoning skills
• Create connections between subjects
• Engage with content
The children use these maps daily across the curriculum.
Philosophy for Children
This is a method of thinking, reasoning and making sense of arguments. It is a chance for the children to think, share ideas and form reasoned arguments. It is also a time to listen to others and have their opinions heard. There are no right or wrong answers just opinions.
The children really enjoy the sessions. This is what a group of Year 6 children shared about their recent session:
‘If you speak and if it is wrong, nobody says it is wrong.’
‘There are no right or wrong answers.’
‘Everybody was free to share their opinion.’
‘We shared time together.’
‘We expressed our feelings freely.’
‘It gave me a chance to speak in a group because I like speaking in groups.’
‘We get to think outside the box.’
