Let's Think! Handbook supports thinking in primary schools

8 January 2009 - GL Assessment has today unveiled the Let’s Think! Handbook - a comprehensive guide for headteachers, local authority advisors and professional development providers looking to implement thinking programmes in primary schools. It is designed to offer an introduction to ‘cognitive acceleration’, a method proven to be effective in developing children’s general thinking skills, for those new to thinking skills in the primary sector, as well as providing support and development to existing users of GL Assessment’s popular Let’s Think! series of cognitive acceleration teaching resources.

Edited by Philip Adey, an internationally recognised authority in cognitive acceleration, the Let’s Think! Handbook includes contributions from a wide range of cognitive acceleration specialists, supported by case studies reflecting UK and international practice. It also includes advice and exemplar activities on implementing thinking materials across a wide range of areas, including science, mathematics, and literacy.

Carol McGuinness, Professor of Psychology at the Queen’s University Belfast, said: “Developing children’s thinking in classrooms has surfaced as a national priority in many countries around the world. Thinking – in one form or another – now features in national curriculum frameworks in the UK and elsewhere. This handbook outlines the ‘why’, ‘what’, ‘how’ of teaching thinking for primary school children. Written by a team that, for the past 25 years or so, has been at the forefront of research on developing children’s thinking, teacher professional development and classroom practice, the expertise runs deep.”

Andrew Thraves, Group Head of Publishing at GL Assessment, said: “The philosophy behind the Let’s Think! series is based on research that an individual’s thinking ability can be nurtured and developed with the right tools and environment. Over many years of rigorous evaluation, it has repeatedly been shown that cognitive acceleration has substantial, positive effects on pupils’ cognitive growth and, subsequently, their academic achievement. The Let’s Think! Handbook is designed to support teachers in this important process in an accessible and cost-effective way.”

Philip Adey added: ”We have integrated the underlying psychological theory with practical advice to provide a sound but accessible guide to teachers who wish to improve the quality of their pupils’ thinking.”

Customers can purchase the Let’s Think! Handbook from www.gl-assessment.co.uk or by contacting Customer Services on 0845 6021937. The Let’s Think! Handbook costs £40.

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Notes to the Editor

  • Please email danielle.morgan@gl-assessment.co.uk if you would like photography or a review copy of Let’s Think! Handbook.
  • Contributors to the Let’s Think! Handbook include: Professor Philip Adey, Mundher Adhami, Dr Christine Harrison, Dr Gwen Hewitt, John Hewitt, Dr Shirley Larkin, Jan Philips, Sue Reeve, Anne Robertson, Natasha Serret, Professor Michael Shayer, Professor Grady Venville, Catherine Woodward and Carolyn Yates.
  • The Let’s Think! series of activity-based teaching programmes for 4–11 year olds is designed to help pupils become better communicators and more able learners.
  • The other titles in the Let’s Think! series include: Let’s Think!, Let’s Think! Early Years, Let’s Think through Maths! 5&6, Let’s Think through Maths! 6-9, Let’s Think through Science! 7&8, Let’s Think through Science! 8&9 and Let’s Think through Literacy! 9-11.

 

About GL Assessment

GL Assessment is the UK’s leading independent provider of tests and assessment services for education.  It publishes across the 4 -19 age range, with the majority of its assessments designed for 5-14 year-olds.

GL Assessment has an extensive portfolio of print-based tests for education which assess children’s progress in literacy, ability and numeracy and identify a broad spectrum of special educational needs. It offers tests and programmes that support the development of emotional literacy and thinking skills. GL Assessment also provides assessments for use in the Health and Psychology service by clinical psychologists, speech and language therapists and paediatricians.

To increase the scope and flexibility of its educational list, GL Assessment has developed Testwise, a powerful e-assessment portal. Testwise is designed to take the work out of administering, scoring and analysing tests. Learners complete assessments online, and instant scoring gives teachers comprehensive results and analysis at the touch of a button. Many of GL Assessment’s most popular tests are now available online including the Cognitive Abilities Test, Group Reading Test, Suffolk Reading Scale, Progress in Maths and Progress in English. 

www.gl-assessment.co.uk

For further information, please contact

Danielle Morgan

PR and Events Manager

Granada Learning

Tel: 020 8996 3632

Email: danielle.morgan@gl-assessment.co.uk

 

 

 
 
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