FEATURES
AMAZE The
Curriculum Helps Build a Foundation for Critical Thinking
Students learn best when they are known, seen, safe, and valued; and their critical-thinking skills increase when they are taught to view history, literature, and current events from multiple perspectives. This curriculum approach gets underway in junior kindergarten.
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ven though our youngest students are just five and six years old, parents and teachers alike ask ourselves, “What skills do we want these children to leave Country Day with upon graduating?” It is certain that we all want our children to come away with strong reading comprehension and writing skills, deep math and science literacy, and a strong knowledge base of past and current events, along with a host of other tangible abilities. A “softer” skill set, but no less important, falls under the umbrella of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). In fact, our Affirmation of Community calls on us to
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PERSPECTIVES
develop curriculum that equips students to think critically, to act respectfully, and to show sensitivity to the needs and feelings of others in preparation for success in local and global communities. That’s because when we create a learning environment in which every child feels known, seen, safe, and valued, they are more willing to take risks. That leads to a greater depth of understanding, builds critical thinking skills, and improves the academic experience. A meta-analysis of research published in the journal Child Development showed an 11 percentile gain in academic achievement for students who participated in a well-implemented social/emotional learning program versus students who didn’t.
