A recent article by Stedman Graham in the Huffington Post paints a dire picture of America's students. When it comes to the ability to critically think out a problem and relate it to real life situations, our students are ranked 27 ^th out of 34 nations. Think of the consequences for society as we know it if our children can't think out and solve real-world problems. A staggering and sobering statistic, Graham feels that we can do better and we can .

How can we help our children improve their critical thinking ability? Is this a skill that can be taught or is it something we are born with? The truth is –

It can be taught.

How? Through the improvement of reading and writing skills.

When you read, your brain must make sense of what it's seeing. Whether it's doing that in a situation with distractions, with a limited vocabulary, or with a lack of interest, there are many factors that contribute to your child's reading comprehension . If your child can not understand what they read, how can they do anything with that information? They can't.

A child learning how to write effectively has another set of obstacles to overcome. The ability to concretely write and respond to texts, to structure responses in a way that makes sense, and to have the vocabulary to express one's self all contribute to writing ability. Whether for a common essay, SAT prep , or a report on the environmental effects of a new building, those skills serve an important purpose and play a significant role in critical thinking.

The brain can be trained to analyze, absorb, digest and respond to all sorts of information. By learning strategies and techniques to integrate reading and writing into a relevant, real world environment, your child can learn how to think critically. But it needs a skilled professional at the helm to lead the way, one with the time and attention to dedicate to every student. With class sizes going over 30 these days, it's difficult for teachers to address the needs of every student. That's where a reading tutor and a writing tutor come in.

By hiring a reading or writing tutor, you guarantee individualized attention for your child. Our trained educators can diagnose and customize a plan to improve your student's critical thinking skills by working on their reading and writing abilities. The end result – a confident child who is able to understand the world around them, form an opinion, and express their thoughts succinctly. In other words, your child has learned the art of critical thinking .