Thoughts on Reading, Writing, and 'Rithmetic

The type of thinking that requires "reading between the lines" or evaluating information to produce a conclusion is known as Higher Order Thinking - or HOT. It is a more complex cognitive process than memorizing information or simply repeating what one has been told verbatim.

HOT skills are invaluable for success in life. For example, knowing that both Plum St. and Peach St. will get you to work requires memorization of a map. Choosing Peach because the traffic is lighter and you can save some commute time involves HOT.

HOT skills have been divided into the following key areas:

Analysis

Evaluation

Inference

Drawing conclusions

Extracting a main idea or principle

Application to a problem

While these skills may seem simple or automatic for some, moving beyond rote memorization and into more complex thinking can be a struggle. Often the development of the skills is left mostly to the individual rather than being intentionally taught and practiced.

ALP includes HOT questions in the comprehension program, helping students not only understand material, but learn how to manipulate it by identifying the main idea or applying it to a situation not in the text. With practice, these skills become easier and more automatic in learning.

Coming soon: How to be intentional about teaching Higher Order Thinking to your child.