Critical Thinking

What is the purpose of education?  Is it to fill our minds with endless texts and facts?  No - but rather to develop the ability to think critically, to analyze and resolve, and to problem solve.  To be able to apply these skills to life and learning is the goal for which we aim.   

Our grade one's were recently asked to complete a graphing exercise about their responsibilities in their home.  A question came up - "Do you clean up the toys in your house?".  When faced with a yes/no T-graph, without being instructed to do so, several students used their critical thinking skills.  They explained to me after that while it is their responsibility to clean up toys in the home, it is not always their job, or it is often overlooked (and thus completed by mom, dad or older sibling).  The students invented a third column - the sometimes column.  Now that's problem solving!