Project THISTLE: Thinking Skills in Teaching and Learning. A Model College-School Collaborative Program in Curriculum and Staff Development.

Project THISTLE (Thinking Skills in Teaching and Learning) is designed to improve the basic skills of college bound urban students by working with their teachers in an integrated process of curriculum and staff development. The project's emphasis is on preparation of classroom teachers to strengthen creative, logical, and critical thinking abilities of their students, helping them to develop the interest, willingness, and ability to engage in intellectually active, constructive, and reflective encounters with ideas within the content areas. The project design involves participating teachers in three "phases" of staff/curriculum development over a period of three years or more. The three overlapping but sequential phases are: (1) graduate course work in curriculum development and basic skills instruction; (2) classroom implementation of individually prepared curriculum plans; and (3) extension activities depending upon individual personal and professional needs, strengths, and preferences. Project THISTLE was initially conceived by Montclair State College (New Jersey) faculty and planned as a cooperative higher education/local education agency venture involving the college and the Newark (New Jersey) public schools. At present, more than 100 teachers from 10 high schools and 3 elementary schools are actively engaged in Project THISTLE. (JMK)