ATL Thinking Skills Report Comments, Ages 11-14

Thinking covers critical thinking (questioning, analysing evidence, recognising assumptions, reaching reasoned conclusions), creative thinking (generating ideas, considering new perspectives, taking intellectual risks) and transfer (applying skills and knowledge across subjects and in unfamiliar situations).

Below are 13 sample sentences for Ages 11-14: two strengths and one next step for each of the 4 comment levels (Expert / Practitioner / Learner / Novice), plus a tip for families. They are a small selection from the 173 thinking sentences in the full pack. Copy one, then add a detail only you know about the student.

Jump to: Expert · Practitioner · Learner · Novice · Writing tips

Student name Pronouns

Fills in the name and pronouns on this page. Nothing is sent anywhere.

Expert E

Strengths

When given a group role such as idea generator, [Name] models how to build on unusual suggestions rather than dismissing them.
In [his/her/their] reflections, [Name] accurately judges which thinking strategies helped most and explains why with specific examples.

Next step

Setting a stretch goal to tackle one open-ended problem in each unit will build skills that will help [Name] in the community project.

Practitioner P

Strengths

[Name] uses [his/her/their] process journal regularly to record and develop design ideas before choosing one.
[Name] contributes several distinct ideas when brainstorming and is generally willing to try a less obvious option.

Next step

[Name] could use [his/her/their] process journal to sketch two contrasting ideas for each design task before deciding.

Learner L

Strengths

[Name] sometimes records design ideas in [his/her/their] process journal and is learning to add notes on how each could be improved.
[Name] offers ideas during brainstorming, at times settling on the first option, and is learning to explore alternatives.

Next step

Pausing before each new task to ask 'where have I used this before?' will help [Name] link skills across lessons.

Novice N

Strengths

With close support, [Name] records first ideas in [his/her/their] process journal, using sketches or short notes.
[Name] shares an idea during brainstorming when given time to think first and a partner to talk with.

Next step

In group tasks, having two question starters written down in advance will help [Name] offer and test new ideas with more confidence.

Support at home

When [Name] gives an opinion, you could gently ask 'how do you know?' to encourage reasons and evidence.

How to write thinking comments for Ages 11-14

Describe a question the student asked or a problem they solved step by step. Younger students often stop at the first answer, so a goal like brainstorming three options before choosing one is concrete and easy to check.
For transfer, mention a link the student made between lessons, such as using a graphing skill from one subject in another or connecting two units. Interdisciplinary units, where the school runs them, are a good source.
Creative thinking shows in a willingness to try an unusual idea and then refine it. Say whether the student offers new ideas in group tasks or keeps to safe ones, and suggest one low-risk way to experiment.

Watch out: Avoid mistaking fast, confident answers for strong thinking. Some students think best in writing or after time to reflect, so base the comment on the reasoning shown in their work, not on speed in discussion.

Show the stage through what the student does rather than writing the stage name. Expert language is independent, flexible and used in unfamiliar tasks, often modelled for others; Practitioner fits usually and with few reminders in familiar work; Learner fits with guidance, a model or a checklist; Novice describes what is emerging with close support, which is normal for many students new to secondary school.

What Thinking covers

ATL clusters covered for thinking:

critical-thinking skills: analysing and evaluating issues and ideas (questioning, using evidence, recognising assumptions, drawing reasoned conclusions, solving problems)
creative-thinking skills: generating new ideas and considering new perspectives (brainstorming, taking intellectual risks, designing original solutions)
transfer skills: using skills and knowledge in multiple contexts (connecting subjects, applying learning to unfamiliar problems and real situations)

More ATL skills ages 11-16 comments

How these sentences were made, and what has been checked: About these comments.