One researcher defines executive functioning as “top-down mental processes needed when you have to concentrate and pay attention, when going on automatic or relying on instinct or intuition would be ill-advised, insufficient, or impossible.”
Research shows that executive functioning predicts children’s math and literacy skills and their learning behaviors and levels of engagement
Critical thinking is vital not only because of the positive benefits it brings, but also because a lack of critical thinking abilities correlates with poor decision-making. Strong critical thinking skills correlate with better academic performance, including higher grade point averages.
And one study found that higher “levels of critical thinking skills were associated with lower levels of negative real world events,” e.g. spending a night in jail. Studies show that critical thinking skills can be taught most effectively through “explicit instruction” rather than indirectly.
Evidence of problem solving has been observed in very young children and even infants. Research shows that problem-solving skills in children can be improved from the earliest ages with training.
Logical-mathematical capacities refer to the capacity to discern logical and numerical
Visual-spatial capacities deal with shapes, patterns, designs and with the placement and relationship of objects in space, including distance and direction, and appear to be connected to critical thinking skills.
Verbal/linguistic/literacy capacities, “sensitivity to the sounds, rhythms, and meanings of words; sensitivity to the different functions of language,” appear to be especially closely connected to critical thinking capacities.
Artistic & musical capacities, if properly nurtured, can improve children’s achievement and performance in other domains. Some research studies have found an association between musical skills and reading development among young children.
Cognitive Process includes problem solving, critical thinking, and executive functioning.
Cognitive Capacities can be broken into four broad categories: artistic and musical; verbal/linguistic/literacy; visual-spatial; and logical-mathematical. These four capacities are interconnected and feed off one another.
Ultimately, a well-rounded, whole-child education lacks meaning and is incomplete unless and until it connects back to the broader world in authentic ways. That’s why what we call a wholly connected education focuses on two broad areas of engagement: engagement experiences and tools for engagement.