Post on 30-Jun-2015
The aim of a thinking skills programme
such as P4C is not to turn children into
philosophers but to help them become more thoughtful,
more reflective, more considerate and
more reason-able individuals
P4C – Created by Matthew Lipman
• Children gained on average 6 standard points on a measure of cognitive abilities after 16 months of weekly P4C
• Pupils increased their level of participation in classroom discussion by half as much again following 6 months of weekly P4C
• Incidents of children supporting their views with reasons, doubled over a 6 month period
• Teachers doubled their use of open-ended questions over a 6 month period
• Pupils and teachers perceived significant gains in communication, confidence, concentration, participation and social behaviour following 6 months of P4C
Impact of P4C – research findings
1. Sit in a circle 2. Share a story, text or other stimulus 3. Ask (philosophical) questions 4. Choose the best question 5. Identify the key concept 6. Listen to other perspectives 7. Apply critical and creative thinking 8. Consider progress
Typical P4C Format
Philosophy for Children
“No programme I am aware of is more likely to teach durable and transferable thinking skills than Philosophy for Children”
Robert Sternberg President of the American Psychological Association
What are your ground rules for class discussions?
I know it’s wrong to
steal
But then why was Robin
Hood a hero?
Cognitive Conflict is Key to Engagement
Kriticos = able to make judgments
Critical Thinking
Comes from the Greek, Kriticos
Meaning: able to make judgments
Source: www.etymonline.com
An Ethos for Learning
Not all of our questions answered … … but all of our answers questioned
Nursery P4C - Names
Year 5 P4C: Your Granny or Your Goldfish?
Filmed by Channel 4 in 1999. Video at: www.p4c.com/video-clips
If A = B then
Does B = A?
Friend Trust
Trust Friend
For example …
Wobblers (If A = B)
If A = B then
If it’s NOT B = NOT A?
Real See It
Can’t See It Not Real?
For example …
Wobblers (If NOT A ?)
What do these 3 have in common?
EY and Primary Concepts
Me Fairness Real Language Home Telling lies Growth/Change Same Pets Emotions Friends Thinking Belonging Dreaming
Secondary Concepts
Hero Lies History Sport Identity Culture Bullying Real Fair Knowledge Language Test Drama Tourism Poem Music
3 weeks old 2 years old 4 years old Adult
What makes you, you?
Are you the same person you were when you were a baby?
If you had a different name, would you be a different person?
When you play make believe, are you still you?
What Makes Me, Me?
The Learning Challenge
Cla
rity
Con
fusi
on
1. Concept
2. Conflict
2
1
The Learning Challenge
Cla
rity
Con
fusi
on
1. Concept
2. Conflict
3. Construct
2
1
3 Eurek
a!
Eureka!
Values underpinning P4C
Less … Rodin’s Thinker More … Knights of the Round Table
Good
Most learners make good progress
Children display good behaviour and attitudes
Teaching is well informed, confident, engaging and precise
Most children are suitably challenged and can succeed
Assessment is accurate, regular and consistent, & informs students how to improve
Outstanding
Most learners make well above average progress
Children behave very well and are engrossed in their work
Teaching is based on expert knowledge, is stimulating and rigorous
All learners are challenged and stretched
Assessment successfully underpins the teaching and learners know how to improve