Episode 17: Teaching Kids to Think - the Power of Critical Inquiry
From Dreams of Education Podcast by Kelly Tenkely & Michelle Baldwin
March 8, 2025 · 1h 31m · Episode 17
About this episode
The episode discusses the importance of critical thinking in education and how traditional school structures often fail to nurture this essential skill.
In this episode of Dreams of Education, Kelly and Michelle dive into the essential skill of critical thinking—why it’s vital for kids and how traditional school structures often fail to cultivate it. They share personal stories of standout teachers who nurtured deep thinking and explore how inquiry-based learning fosters curiosity, cognitive dissonance, and better questioning. From childhood experiences with history class to guiding students through logical fallacies and media literacy, they unpack how critical thinking isn’t just an academic skill but a foundational mindset for life. Tune in to discover how we can create learning environments that empower kids to think, question, and engage meaningfully with the world around them. Check out the Logical Fallacies work we mention here . Follow us: Michelle Baldwin: Avenue 4 Learning , @michellekbaldwin.bsky.social Kelly Tenkely: Dreams of Education Blog , KT's Place , @ktenkely.bsky.social
People in this episode
Hosts: Kelly Tenkely, Michelle Baldwin
Topics covered
- critical thinking
- inquiry-based learning
- education
- media literacy
- cognitive dissonance
Keywords
- critical thinking
- inquiry-based learning
- education
- media literacy
- cognitive dissonance
- logical fallacies
- curiosity
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Avenue 4 Learning, Dreams of Education Blog, KT's Place
More episodes of Dreams of Education Podcast
- Episode 22: Guest Episode with Kyle Gamba · May 13, 2026 · 47 min
- Episode 21: The Through Line: How Ritual Shapes a School Year (and a Community) · December 11, 2025 · 1h 40m
- Episode 20: Expect More, Mean More--Holding Space for Growth and Greatness · May 7, 2025 · 1h 42m
- Episode 19: Beyond the Algorithm- Reclaiming the Human Heart of Education · April 17, 2025 · 1h 45m
- Episode 18: Inquiry, Community, and the Future of Learning · April 4, 2025 · 1h 48m
- Episode 16: Chasing the Magic--Rediscovering Adult Learning Communities · February 20, 2025 · 1h 34m
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Dreams of Education Podcast podcast page.