Reading and Writing for Critical Thinking (RWCT) is a set of best teaching practices. It provides a systematic approach to teaching and learning that tells the teacher when and how to use those practices. RWCT is delivered to classroom teachers through a series of workshops that feature active demonstrations, guided practice of the teaching methods, field trials in classrooms, and refinements in later workshops. RWCT is designed to be shared--workshop participants are encouraged to share what they have learned with other teachers. This spreads the benefits of the training. It also leads the participants to a better understanding of what they have learned to do in the workshops.

RWCT can be delivered to your site through a series of two to three workshops, each of three or four days, spread over a school year. The workshops are presented by trainers certified by the RWCT program.

• Certified trainers are available for projects in Europe, Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa. Ask about locating trainers for these regions by contacting the project through both of the following websites:
  http://www.ct-net.net
  http://www.criticalthinkinginternational.org

• Select a target group of about 35 participants. They could be grade 5 through secondary school, or teacher trainers, or university faculty, or a mix of participants. Try to select 3-4 participants from each school site. It helps to have a small group instead of just one person. Who should be selected?

  • Educators with outstanding teaching experience
  • Educators with leadership potential
  • Educators willing to become certified trainers
  • Educators willing to train others

• You will need to pay the costs of local participants. Look for funding from government private sources. These costs might include:

  • Transportation, hotel, meals, if necessary
  • Photocopies of project materials
  • Supplies, such as chart paper, markers, tape

• You will also need funding for the expenses of the certified RWCT trainers. This might include:

  • Transportation,
  • Hotel and meals
  • Sometimes an honorarium, although many will volunteer their services

• Make a schedule for the workshops. They could be weekly after school, or weekends, or during vacation breaks. You can discuss this schedule with the trainers.

• Make a plan for expanding the project. One effective plan is a cascade model. The participants in the first group are certified as trainers. Then they go out in groups of 3-4 to train other groups of 35 participants. Those new participants then do the same.

• Be sure that participants have time for guided practice during the workshops. Be sure that they try out project strategies with students between workshops. Have meetings between workshops for participants to share successes, ideas, questions, and problems.