As I was reading chapter 5 of Mind in the Making: The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs, I began to make a new connection. As Skill 3 addressed communication as the foundation for real language and literacy development, and Skill 4 focused on making connections as the essence of math sense, following suit, Skill 5 showed critical thinking as the root of real scientific understanding. I have really enjoyed seeing how these larger essential skills have woven in the “academic” skills, not ignoring their importance, but highlighting them with the proper perspective within a larger framework of true knowledge and understanding. Here are some of my favorite takeaways from this chapter: