how can you help a child to think critically?
97500
One of the reasons critical thinking occurs so late in students is, because it is one of the last processes to develop and it requires, to distance oneself from previous learning styles. Up to that point in a child's education, imitation and parroting has been the student's sure-fire way to survive in school with good grades. The development of critical thinking actually requires the questioning of the materials presented, which is something your 'rebel' student may pick up much quicker, if interested. \nYou have to get your student(s) to start asking "so what?" whenever presented with information. "When I got home to grade your papers," you may say, "I threw them down my stairs. The ones landing on the first step got A's, second step B's, etc." See if one of the students says something. "So what if your grade depends on chance?" "So what if we change school requirements to graduate and you will not get out of here until your 19 or 20" "So what if the Democrats call for a filibuster?" "So what if the Republicans go nuclear?" "So what if I litter in my community" Once the students get the hang of "So what?" they can learn to think beyond what is laid out in front of them.
524226
hold up/display images of symbols that your kids would be able to easily guess i.e. the mcdonalds arches, the nike swoosh, peace sign, the man/woman you always see on the restroom door, etc.  this will get kids warmed up to the notion that ideas can be symbolized by something other than the words for those ideas, also that they are surrounded by symbolism everyday, everywhere (this always help to counter the "where am i ever gonna use this" complaint).\n\nnext, display for the class an object that would be easy to use in symbolizing many things.  i'll sugggest a rock.  have them describe the characteristics of a rock - strong, hard, dirty, ordinary... on one side of a chart.  then, as a class have them brainstorm other things/people that share some of these characteristics on the other side.\n\nthird, have a bunch of slips of paper in a hat/bucket/whatever, with each slip having something on it like tree, bird, phone, stairs, bench, etc...  have each student pull out a slip of paper from the hat.  have students brainstorm the characteristics of their object, and then characteristics of themselves (may be helpful to have a framework for this - like a worksheet that says "looks like", "smells like", "sounds like" etc. for both object and student).  have students come up with ways their object could symbolize them.\n\nhave students share their symbolisms with the class
871491
With out know which impairment the child has I can only offer a generalization.\n\nThink about the activity and which senses it involves.\nWhat do you want the child to learn?\nCan the activity be accomplished using other senses?\n\nThink of it like solving a puzzle and Try imposing the same impairment on yourself and experiment with different ways to achieve what effect you want.
1011896
If she is hitting you, very gently take her hands and hold them at her sides while telling her that hitting is not appropriate and that she should use her words.  If she refuses to do something you need her to do, pick her up and bring her to where she needs to be.  In the future, when she won't do something, ask her if she can do it on her own or if she needs help.  Most kids like to do things on their own and don't like to be picked up and made to do something in front of other kids.  Keep your voice cheerful and matter of fact (don't yell) and get down to her level when you talk to her.  If she chooses to do something on her own, give her a lot of praise.  I worked in preschools for over 3 years and found this to be very effective.
202378
Interactive play and comforting behaviors help enormously to bring this type of child out.\n\nThe use of ASL is a great idea, but should be kept as informal as possible in order to avoid pushing the child to oppositional behaviors (since he's already defiant of society in his refusal to communicate orally).\n\nDoes the child have cognitive differences? Does the child allow other methods of communication? Does the child show an interest in any social activity?\n\nIt has been my experience that most children exhibiting some form of anti-social behavior are in fact in need of 'empathetic parenting'.\n\nA teacher can do this and maintain her professional stance by shoulder touches, meaningful smiles and by creating a more natural learning environment which gives room for alternative behaviors and encourages basic curiosity and fairness.\n\nGood luck. I hope you are able to reach him.
355940
Number one be consistent.  Demand that they are respectful, kind to others, tell the truth, and non-violent.  Put them in a time out chair when they do not listen or take away something that means a lot to them.  Don't letting something be all right one time and not all right the next.  Too many people confuse children this way. However, do not just focus on the negative.  Let your child know when he/she is doing well.  Children love compliments, and they love to make others proud.   If all else fails, call Super Nanny!
63825
Pause for a moment, try one of the following to give yourself some time to think.\n\n"That's an interesting question"  \n"I've never thought about that, let me think...."\n"Give me a moment to think about that"\n"I don't have much experience with that, what do YOU think?"\n\nThen use basic, simple words.
308313
Send them for professional help, buy them a good book.  Don't get too involved with them until they get their head straight.
1055068
All of the answers that you have been given so far are good!!  I am an elementary teacher and one thing that I would ask is that you teach your child how to follow directions. You would be suprised how many children have a hard time listening and following simple directions.
354340
How old is your child???\n\nI recommend something that will enhance their creativity, I've seen toys like that but I don't know what they're called. Try getting your child to paint or draw, you don't really need expensive toys to enhance his/her intelligence.\n\nYes! reading works! It would be great if your child was around 1 or 2 years old, coz they absorb everything! \n\nI remember as a child being read to, so as I grew up I read more and more, and became faster at it and became good in english.\n\nDon't let your child stay in front of the TV for a long time ^___^
260033
The above respondant has great ideans.\nBe at the child's eye level when giving directions or just talking with child.  Put away things that you would have to say "no " about.  Have great manipulative materials:  cool toys, of course--but also play doh, crayons, markers, finger paints. . . not all at once! but available.  Toys to stack like blocks.  Little kids need to be shown how to do it.  Sit on the floor and show them, play with them.  Not just blocks, anything.\n\nPut a sheet over a table and play tent , and take a flashlight in there!  Give them cups and empty bottles (plastic) and a colander (strainer) in the bathtub.  Put food coloring, just a few drops, in the bathwater.\nLet them help cook, measure; talk about what you're making. . . grow something, in a pot or in the yard. . . \ntake care of pets together; go on walks, and read read read.\nLimit tv and video games, and let whatever they watch be age appropriate. . . have fun. think about what's fun and do it with them.  Dance crazy, sleep in the backyard together, buy a sandbox, or put some sand in a little rubbermaid container and play with in on the front porch. Answer questions when your kids ask, about rainbows or God or where babies come from. . . remember what it felt like to be a child. . .
1061979
By teaching them something fun or something that they want to learn. This is how it is done in Kindergarten.\nFood, play, short poems (remember Seuss), Chinese things like chopsicks, noodles, mother, dad. Sing, color or draw but do not spend so much time that it will loose their attention. Take breaks for exercise.\n  See below for an interesting website.
260963
My father, making this same presentation to my class when I was in the first grade, spent half an hour on this complicated hypo about a stolen bike.  When he was done, the only question from the entire class was one kid who wanted to know if all judges have white hair.\n\nFor kids that young, try to find a rule and a dispute about the rule that they might understand.  Maybe something like:  The best student gets first pick of the toys at playtime.  Then you could talk about all the definitions of "best student" - highest grades, tries hardest, most attentive, etc.  And you could talk about things like whether she gets to pick once at the beginning of playtime or just can keep picking up whichever toy she wants. \n\nThat should lead to a discussion of rules, disputes, the role of lawyers to help people make their arguments, and the role of judges to decide them and why it's all better than just two kids fighting over a toy in the middle of the room.\n\nThat's how I'd do it, anyway.
739254
The best way is to relate all topics (holistic approach), for instance, depending on the age, let them do their own small books, let them do some short anecdotes using the computer, word recognition is possible to sing some songs and recognize words, let them write words in sand boxes.\n\n____________________________________\nNeed help or advise? Elektronic help online is the solution !\nMessenger: fxgonzal@hotmail.com\nCheap rates by the hour.
901388
i would use flash cards, there is less to concentrate on with a single card, so write, for instance, a vocabulary word on one side and the definition on the other, and it should seem to move much faster for the child, since s/he isn't trying to concentrate on a whole chapter, plus it cuts out all the stuff they really don't need and focuses in on the important stuff they will have to remember for their tests
431078
What i would do is have the studentas brainstorm pros and cons on their own. then set them into small groups to make another list together. this will compile their data give them a chance to debate between themselves. then have each group present to the class while you compile a list yourself of what each group presents. then tell your opinion if you wish. either way, everyone has learned many opinions on the subject and are free to have their own opinion.
949370
I would start with the basics, counting to 10, recognizing colors and some shapes, etc.  Also how to use crayons and simple things like that.  They will learn the rest.  Also, you may want to make sure the child is okay with sharing, authority figures besides the parents, etc.