The idea is to design an open, stimulating, questioning and free environment. It is important for students to not just read between the lines, but between them and beyond them. .
Helping students with self-esteem is also important in developing critical thinking and inquiry. Students that have fear of asking a stupid question or sounding foolish will prevent students from exploring further. In reflecting back to my 7th grade classroom I remember having a teacher that started each class of with a different derogatory joke which often offended certain students and shied them away from speaking up in class. A positive, open, nurturing and excepting environment is a key factor in a successful classroom. .
Questioning skills are also important to developing critical thinking and inquiry. Asking questions such as, "what do you think will happen next?", "what might happen next?", "why do you think this happened?", " how do you think you would react to this situation?" or "what might you do?" all help students develop an understanding of the broad picture and assess motives as well as sources and information. In elementary school one of my teacher would return papers covered in red ink. None of her comments had to do with the content of ideas, but rather strictly the mechanics. There is place for grammar, which is obviously important though some students need to express themselves and feel that their ideas are being taken seriously based on the ideas themselves and not just what may be grammatically incorrect. .
There are many factors in emulating a classroom where the skills and dispositions of a teacher establish an environment that stimulates critical thinking and inquiry. In creating this environment for positive learning it is important to never forget that a major goal in educating should be to not necessarily take things at face value, but to challenge, explore and question.
