Differentiating Instruction with Six Thinking Hats®:  

A Powerful Tool to Develop Independence and Leadership Skills

            Six Thinking Hats® provides teachers with an internationally recognized tool to teach thinking in all content areas.  SIX THINKING HATS® is endorsed by gifted students and teachers because it works.  This powerful tool enables us to SEE OUR THINKING.  It also teaches us to

            (1) think and communicate effectively using six essential strategies,

            (2) expand problem solving and decision making,

            (3) develop self-questioning and independent thinking abilities, and

            (4) enhance leadership and team work skills. 

            This energizing concept used by international corporations, teachers, and students around the world revolutionizes communication, improves reading, writing and speaking skills, and builds             independence, leadership and teamwork capabilities. 

WHITE HAT® --  FACTS,  INFORMATION, DATA, RESEARCH

What do you know about …    What are the facts about …  What do you need or want to know about …  Where might you go to find out about …

Red HAT® --  FEELINGS, HUNCHES, EMOTIONS, INTUITION

What are you feelings now?   Which way do you like best based on your feelings? What prejudices are present?  What is your hunch about...  What is your gut feeling about...  What does your intuition tell you? 

BLACK HAT ® --  CAUTION, DANGER, WISDOM, RISKS, WEAKNESSES

What should you be cautious about … What is bad about... What are the consequences of… What words of wisdom might come from this?   What were the difficulties of...  Why won't / didn't this work?   What did you dislike about...  What are the risks of … Uh-Ohs?

YELLOW HAT® –   BENEFITS, GOOD, POSITIVES, VALUE, STRENGTHS

What is good about … What are the benefits of …What is a positive outcome? What is the value of... Can this be made to work?  What did you like about…         

GREEN HAT® -- CREATIVITY, IMAGINATION, NEW IDEAS,  POSSIBILITIES                                                                                                                               

What if...  Can you create other ways to do this?  How would you solve the problem?  What new ideas can you think of?  What other possibilities are there for ...  Express yourself through literature, poetry, drama, media etc.                  

BLUE HAT® -  Thinking, Summarizing, concluding, Organizing,  Listing, TRACKING THINKNG

Tell how you got your answer.  Tell the order of events.  Tell what you just read?  What was the problem; how was the problem solved?  Tell me about the text structure. What is your conclusion?  Summarize ?  What is your action plan?  Track your thinking..  Impact!