Can we Teach to Think in Primary Schools? A Comparative Analysis of the English and the Brazilian National Curriculum and the Impact of a Small-scale Cognitive Enhancement Study in Brazil.

In England, the National Curriculum Framework for Primary Education has explicitly included teaching to think since 2000. In Brazil, the National Curriculum does not address this issue explicitly, hence the debate. This paper also outlines a study conducted in Brazil that investigated the impact a pedagogical proposal based on a thinking skills intervention known as Philosophy for Children had on 10 year-olds. The study aimed to ascertain whether group debates about concepts and attitudes had an impact on pupilś disciplinary conduct. Results showed that children enjoyed systematic reflections about key issues. Participant teachers also noticed improvements in the classroom. Additional contributions to the understanding of educational policy and practice in Brazil were provided.