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4 C’s of Education

Critical Thinking

is deeply examining information or a problem in a new way and linking learning across subjects and disciplines. Skills include the ability to analyze, interpret, evaluate, make decisions and solve problems.

What are students at TCS doing to be critical thinkers and problem-solvers:
  • • Making connections across subject areas
  • • Making connections to the world around us
  • • Analyzing and evaluating information
  • • Observing and reflecting on learning
  • • Going beyond the memorization of facts and learning how to use what they are learning to impact the world
Critical Thinking

Communication

is about sharing thoughts, questions, ideas, and solutions. Being a good communicator requires strong listening skills and the ability to express information and thoughts clearly to others (verbal, written and multimedia messages).

What are students at TCS doing to become confident and articulate communicators:
  • • Learning how verbal and written communication skills are linked to each other
  • • Speaking in front of groups on a regular basis
  • • Developing the essential tools used to articulate ideas
  • • Giving and receiving instructions
  • • Collaborating with peers to accomplish a goal
  • • Learning how to advocate for themselves and others
Communication

Collaboration

is about working together to reach a goal. Collaboration is putting ability, talent, and expertise to work. It requires the ability to work with others to accomplish a goal while being flexible and sharing group responsibility.
What are students at TCS doing to become effective collaborators:
  • • Coming together to create, produce, or solve a problem
  • • Gaining experience working with others
  • • Working with partners, in small groups, and around centers
  • • Learning how to promote their ideas in a group and also to validate the ideas of others
  • • Leading a group of diverse opinions to accomplish a common goal
Collaboration

Creative Problem Solving

is trying new approaches. It’s innovation and invention. It includes brainstorming, refining ideas, being responsive to the ideas from others, and making ideas tangible and useful to others. Creative Problem Solving is combining two different pieces of information in a new way to solve a problem.
What are students at TCS doing to become calculated risk-takers who enjoy finding different ways to solve problems:
  • • Engaging in activities that tap into their natural curiosity
  • • Spending less time memorizing answers and more time solving problems
  • • Exploring new ways of doing things
  • • Applying the knowledge they learn to solve new problems
  • • Learning how to evaluate and take risks
  • • Inventing new creative solutions
Creative Problem Solving

It is the integration of these components that ensures upward growth and improvement for all learners. We invite you to explore the key elements of our academic structure for durable learning at The Christ School.