Many students and parents are very concerned about getting good grades. Don’t be mistaken. Nothing wrong in wanting to get good grades. That should be one of the goals…but it shouldn’t be the only goal.

Having taught for more than 20 years in local settings as well as at tertiary level, my observation is some students lack the desire or passion to learn, let alone think critically. Such students are more interested in generating answers that can get them only high scores in exams. They frequently ask me for model answers, instead of thinking through and coming up with authentic work. I assure them that I will journey with them in their thoughts and work but, alas, not many students are interested. These ones prefer shortcuts to learning.

Being an educator, I would like to see students having a love for learning and critical thinking skills.  I believe they will go a long way in their university education and work life, living in an ever-evolving world.  Hence, I often engage students to do something beyond the academic level, especially after the exams. I bring them on field trips and do learning journeys, engage them in debates and presentations, and learn beyond what the MOE curricula demand.

I hope to inspire students to love learning, impart values such as critical thinking, and impact them to become a generation of people who will make a difference in the world we live in.

Teacher Tricia

Ways to Improve Your Critical Thinking Skills

“What we want is to see the child in pursuit of knowledge, and not knowledge in pursuit of the child.”    

– George Bernard Shaw