Dear Thinkers,

It’s really important that you spend a lot of time thinking about your thinking. It’s not enough to simply know something. You’ve got to know how you know it, how you came to know it, and how knowing it can lead you to knowing more. It’s like a story with a beginning, middle, and end.

That seems like a lot for 4th graders, but I know you all can do it. I know this because I’ve seen 4th graders do it, and I know that thinking about your thinking will lead to the ultimate goal of thinking: deep understanding.

So when we’re talking about a story, poem or math problem, don’t just talk about the answer. Tell us the story of your thinking.

Sincerely,

Mr. Heimbuck