Here I am in the midst of homeschool conference season: taking inventory, restocking inventory, packing the van, unpacking the van, setting up my booth only to tear it down again - did I mention packing and unpacking the van?  I love the conferences, and I love meeting my fellow homeschoolers, many of whom I only know as ScrapHappy Mom, or VictoryinJesus, or even Rabbit.  It's so fun to eventually put a face to a name - ever notice that they NEVER look the way you imagined they would?

Anyway, my blog entry today addresses the question of adding critical thinking as yet another subject to our already busy agenda.  "How can I possibly add another subject when most days we don't even get through readin', ritin', and 'rithmatic?" you might ask.  Believe me - many homeschool moms ask me this very question at my BRAIN-athon Emporium booth. Or they reason, "Isn't that best left for highschool or even college?"  I know that you know that it's important for your children to be able to think logically, but adding critical thinking can seem overwhelming.  And yet it can be accomplished in as little as 10-20 minutes a day!

I want to give you PEACE about this - you can do it!  And you'll be SO glad you did.  There are so many benefits to empowering our children with good critical thinking skills.  For one, they will become more independent thinkers resulting in less cries for, "Mom, I need your help!  I don't understand what they want me to do!"  They will also become expert problem solvers.  They will begin to "think" before they act.  And as an added bonus, they will acquire wonderful COMMUNICATION skills as they think before they speak and learn to express their own thoughts and beliefs accurately and effectively.

The most important thing you will all learn is that logical thinking is FUN!  As your children begin to analyze word meanings, solve figural puzzles, or play brain-teasing games, their confidence in their own abilities will soar and your own love for teaching will return.  Nothing can IGNITE THE FIRE in your homeschool more than learning that seems more like play than work!

So turn that sour lemon that your curriculum has become into a HAPPY APPLE with fun critical thinking activities and games that you can do right on your own front PORCH!

Before you know it, both you and your children will begin to pour HEART N SOUL into learning again!

© Copyright 2008 Cindy Powers