Analytic Teaching in the First Grade

Abstract

Introduction:  Every teacher looks for ways to improve her students' thinking skills.  As a teacher of first grade children, I feel especially obligated to lay a strong foundation for reasoning skills.  I've taught a variety of excellent reading programs, and at the end of each year I feel we've accomplished a great deal.  However, one of the areas I've always felt needed improvement is the area of critical thinking.  I've noticed bright children having difficulty applying known skills to a format not yet introduced to them.  Standardized tests have shown me that sometimes children do not know what to do with the facts I've worked so hard to teach them.  I've wished for a mini-program that would be well coordinated and offer proper sequencing and that could be used with beginning learners.