Identify a particular grade level at which you hope to teach some day. If appropriate, also identify the particular subject area in which you plan to specialize (science, social studies, language arts, physical education, etc.). Then describe three different strategies you might use to promote critical thinking in your students. Illustrate each strategy with a specific, concrete example of what you might do.

What will be an ideal response?

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Ans: The student should identify a particular grade level and, at least for the secondary grades, a particular content domain as well. The student should then describe three strategies for promoting critical thinking, possibly including:
• Teach fewer topics, but in greater depth.
• Encourage some intellectual skepticism.
• Overtly model critical thinking.
• Give students many opportunities to practice critical thinking.
• Have students debate controversial issues from several perspectives, and occasionally ask them to defend a perspective quite different from their own.
• Help students understand that critical thinking involves considerable mental effort but that its benefits make the effort worthwhile.
• Embed critical thinking skills within the context of authentic, real-world problems.
Each strategy should be illustrated with a specific example.