Teacher's Strategy in Building Students' Critical Thinking Competence through Reading Skills in Elementary Schools

Abstract

This study aims to examine the elementary school teachers’ strategy in developing critical thinking skills for grade IV-A students of SDN Simpar, Poncokusumo, Malang Regency, through reading skills using an integrated thematic approach. This research uses qualitative methods with phenomenological research. This study explores information in the form of phenomena or events that are scientific and correct presented in qualitative data. Research data are obtained through a triangulation process consisting of analysis of observation data, interviews and documentation of learning activities that refer to the research topic. Critical thinking competencies related to the ability to reason, express, analyze, and solve problems. Critical thinking competence is a must-have for students in the 21st century to prepare themselves to face global competition. This critical thinking competence can be built through reading skills. Teachers have a patterned and continuous developing strategy in instilling students' critical thinking skills in the form of skills in presenting problems, determining relevant information and making conclusions and solving problems in achieving learning objectives.