Powerful Understanding

In these challenging times, teaching children to think critically and reflectively and be compassionate, responsible and caring citizens is a tall order. Powerful Understanding explores effective ways to build social–emotional skills and help students make connections, question what they read and transform their thinking as they develop into stronger readers and learners.

Transforming students’ concept of self and understanding of others and the world around them is the main focus of this remarkable book. It offers insightful lessons that integrate strategic and critical thinking to deepen student understanding, and introduces a model to use for exploring, interacting with and reflecting on everything you teach – from social responsibility, to immigration, to life cycles. This powerful approach encourages students to:

• become more thoughtful and reflective learners
• develop the thinking skills to move them from a retelling stance to rethinking one
• shift the emphasis from learning content to finding meaning
• explore a more positive self-identity and greater global awareness.
• Children’s literature plays a pivotal role and anchors these lessons around the best children’s books.

Hands-on activities and student samples illustrate this unique and comprehensive approach to inquiry-based learning. Social skills that encourage mindfulness, kindness and self-regulation are integrated into what needs to be taught, rather than as isolated lessons.

Ideal for new and experienced teachers, this remarkable book features the tools teachers need to help students think more deeply, learn more widely and develop a more powerful understanding of what it means to be a responsible and compassionate person.