Think left and think right and think low and think high, oh the thinks you can think up if only you try! -Dr. Seuss

Sometimes I think we've forgotten how to think.  Seems like we let everyone else do it for us:  editorial writers, twitterers, talk radio shows, daytime tv shows, preachers, teachers.  And if it's easy for adults to let others do our thinking, where and when do our kids learn how to think?  I mean thinking for themselves - feeling real ownership of their own ideas and opinions.

How often do we as teachers ask our kids, "what do you really think about this or that?"   Instead our emphasis is on filling up every classroom minute with skill building, test prepping, and data collecting.  We've even put "made up" words to their thoughts by scripting literacy group conversations (my own personal outrage).

In my school the only dedicated "stop and think" time is for kids in trouble!

What if, instead of  having a Drop Everything and Read time, we instituted a Drop Everything and Think time - for all of us?

Well, it's just a thought.

Be well today and always,