Philosophy for Children (P4C) James Nottingham www.p4c.com www.jamesnottingham.co.uk
Nov 29, 2014
Philosophy for Children (P4C)
James Nottingham www.p4c.comwww.jamesnottingham.co.uk
By the time children start school …
Some children start school knowing 6,000 words.
Others, just 500 words.
Source: BBC 2009
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8013859.stm
Exam Pass Rates in UK
73%
100%
0%
50%97%
21%
75%
National Tests for 11 year olds
National Tests for 16 year olds
500 words at age 5
6000 words at age 5
There must be a better way?
"...bump, bump, bump...here is Edward Bear, coming down the stairs now on the back of his head. It is, as far as he knows, the only way of coming downstairs, but sometimes he feels that there really is another way, if only he could stop bumping for a moment and think of it."
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
Philosophy for Children
What is Philosophy for Children (P4C)?
How can P4C help develop language and thinking skills?
What resources are suitable for P4C?
What values underpin P4C?
222
P4C Course
ReadyFireAim
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
55 99
Typical P4C Format
22
Nursery P4C - Names
Year 5 P4C: Your Granny or Your Goldfish?
Filmed by Channel 4 in 1999. Video at: www.p4c.com/video-clips
P4C and thinking skills
“No programme I am aware of is more likely to teach durable and transferable thinking skills than Philosophy for Children”
21
Robert Sternberg
President of the American Psychological Association
I know it’s wrong to
steal
But then why was Robin
Hood a hero?
Cognitive Conflict is Key to P4C
Kriticos = able to make judgments
Critical Thinking
Comes from the Greek, Kriticos
Meaning: able to make judgments
Source: www.etymonline.com
If A = B then
Does B = A?
Friend Trust
Trust Friend
For example …
Wobblers (If A = B)
96
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 ?)
98
www.carol-dweck.co.uk
Carol Dweck
The wrong type of praise
Clever girl!
Gifted musician
Brilliant mathematician
Bright boy
Top of the class!
By far the best
Mueller and Dweck, 1998
In six studies, 7th grade students were given a series of nonverbal IQ tests.
The effects of different types of praise
Intelligence praise
“Wow, that’s a really good score. You must be smart at this.”
Process praise
“Wow, that’s a really good score. You must have tried really hard.”
Control-group praise
“Wow, that’s a really good score.”
Mueller and Dweck, 1998
Trial 1 Trial 34.5
5
5.5
6
6.5
Effort Praise
Control Praise
Intelligence Praise
Number of problems solved on a 3rd test
Intelligence Control Effort0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4 Chart Title
Number of children who lied about their score
Boys get 8 times more criticism than girls
The effects of praise
Swimming
“You do your best swimming when you concentrate and try your best to do what Chris is asking you to do”
Ballet
“What a beautiful ballerina!”
Contact Details
jamesnottingham.co.uk
challenginglearning.com
p4c.com