Real Skills for Real Life: Critical Thinker Examples
February 05, 2026
Critical Thinker Indicators & "I Can" Statements
How can districts teach the metacognitive skills necessary for students to adapt to future challenges that traditional academic credentials alone cannot address?
These examples can help districts move beyond rote content mastery and target the development of executive function skills—specifically working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility—which form the neurocognitive foundation for solving complex, real-world problems.
The following are resources from school districts to help support educators in this work:
- Berea City School District (Ohio): Critical Thinker Indicators
- MSD of Warren Township (Ind.): I Can Statements for Critical Thinkers

Âܲ·AVÊÓÆµMember-Only Companion Guide: Critical Thinker Indicators & "I Can" Statements
This companion guide is a facilitation tool for district leadership teams seeking to integrate metacognitive and other executive functioning skills into their district-wide curriculum and culture.
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This resource is part of a larger Public Education Promise Toolkit on The New Basics: Real Skills for Real Life.
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