The Power of Knowledge: Why Thinking Well Starts with Learning More
Critical Thinking: The Key to Learning, Writing, and Democracy
Critical thinking is often hailed as one of the most important skills for students to develop. It’s not just a key to academic success, but a cornerstone of an informed, thoughtful society. As Natalie Wexler puts it,
“Critical thinking is vital not only for a student’s individual success but also for the future of democracy.”
But how do we cultivate this skill in our children? Is it enough to teach them how to think critically, or must we also equip them with the right knowledge to think about?
This is where the intersection of the Science of Learning, writing, and knowledge becomes especially important. According to Daniel T. Willingham, “The goal of education is seen not so much as the accumulation of knowledge, but as the honing of cognitive skills such as thinking critically. Knowledge comes into play mainly because if we want our students to learn how to think critically, they must have something to think about.” Simply put, critical thinking requires a foundation of knowledge. Without that foundation, thinking critically becomes an exercise in abstraction rather than a process rooted in real-world context.
The Role of Knowledge in Critical Thinking
Why is knowledge so important? Because the more a student knows, the more tools they have at their disposal to make connections, weigh evidence, and form judgments. Knowledge doesn’t stifle critical thinking; it empowers it. And this is why a rich, varied curriculum that provides deep content knowledge is so vital. If we want our students to engage critically with the world, we must first give them the knowledge they need to understand it.
A common misconception is that knowledge is somehow at odds with critical thinking. After all, we often think of critical thinking as being about creativity, inquiry, and problem-solving. But how can you solve a problem if you don’t know anything about it? How can you question an idea if you haven’t been exposed to enough ideas to evaluate? This is where a solid, knowledge-rich education is foundational to the development of critical thinkers.
Writing as a Tool for Critical Thinking
A field trip to Plimoth Patuxet Museums
Post-field trip writing by a 5-year-old and 3-year-old.
So, how do we get from knowledge to critical thinking? One powerful way is through writing. Dr. Judith Hochman, a prominent educator, argues that
“If you wanted to enable students to understand what they were reading, convert information into long-lasting knowledge, and learn to think critically, teaching them to write was about the best thing you could do.”
Writing isn’t just about putting thoughts on paper—it’s about processing information, making sense of it, and organizing it in a way that fosters deeper understanding.
This is where notebooking, a practice that pairs well with homeschooling and inquiry-based learning, can be particularly effective. By writing regularly, students aren’t simply reinforcing facts; they are engaging with those facts in meaningful ways. They summarize, analyze, and reflect, all of which strengthen their ability to think critically about the material they are learning. This process of writing helps convert what they know into something they truly understand—and in the process, they begin honing the critical thinking skills they will need for all aspects of life.
A 7-year-old’s notebooking entry for social studies.
Teaching Content to Teach Critical Thinking
Natalie Wexler also emphasizes that teaching writing is inseparable from teaching content. She goes further to say, “In short, teaching writing is not only inseparable from teaching content, it can also be tantamount to teaching students how to think critically.” The act of writing forces students to engage with the content in ways that are far more active than simply reading or listening. Writing requires them to analyze, synthesize, and apply knowledge, rather than just memorize or regurgitate it.
For homeschooling families, incorporating writing into your daily or weekly routine is a powerful way to solidify what your child is learning. Whether they’re jotting down reflections after reading a history book, summarizing an article they’ve studied, or analyzing a scientific experiment, notebooking can be the bridge that connects knowledge to critical thinking.
Final Thoughts
In our homeschooling journeys, we mustn’t just focus on the what of education and the how. Critical thinking isn’t an abstract skill—it’s something that must be actively cultivated through rich content knowledge, thoughtful engagement, and regular practice. Through writing and notebooking, we can give our students the tools they need to think not just clearly, but critically as they grow into the informed, thoughtful individuals our world needs..
