Six Thinking Hats^©

Prepare students to be great independent thinkers and productive world citizens.

Background: The Six Thinking Hats® method is based on Dr. de Bono’s very extensive experience in the field of the direct teaching of thinking skills across different ages and abilities, ranging from six-year olds to senior corporate executives. The school program was specifically developed to equip school administrators and teachers with instructional materials to teach children to become independent, thoughtful and productive thinkers.

For example: Six Hats® problem solving has benefited students in Odyssey of the Mind, Destination Imagination, and Invent America. It promotes communication among team members, improves creative production, provides the next steps, and resolves team problems effectively.

A corporate level training program was developed in 1992 because of the school program feedback received from parents, teachers and educators—we need this thinking tool too! Today, businesses, non-profits and governments around the world in over 57 countries are teaching their employees how to think through business challenges using this method. By teaching students to use this tool you are helping to prepare them for the world of work.

Availability: The world has changed dramatically since the early 1990’s when the program was first introduced to schools, and so have teacher and student material needs. We expect to have the first series ready for purchase by January 1st, 2008. If you would like to be added to our email list for notifications please send us an email using this email form:

Highlights: The Six Thinking Hats® is a tool that promotes separating out and organizing thinking into six different types of thinking. Six Thinking Hats® is a simple mental metaphor. Hats are easy to put on and to take off. Each hat is a different color which signals which thinking ingredient is being used. In a group setting each member uses the same hat at the same time on the same challenge—focused productive thinking which is thorough and complete.

“My students revel in the metacognitive strategies of Six Hats®. They just love thinking about thinking! Students enjoy the simplicity of the hats and can easily, and purposefully, examine all approaches to problem solving. And, besides that, they'll tell you it's just plain FUN!—Judy Micheletti, Teacher, Berwick School District

**The Six Thinking Hats® Tool Kit**
	Process control. Managing the thinking. How are we going to think about this? What’s our action plan?
	Data, information, facts — known and needed. What are the facts? What don’t we know?
	Creativity. Ideas. Alternatives. Solutions. Possibilities. What ideas can you think of? What are some other ways?
	Benefits with reasons. The optimistic view. Plus points. What are the good things? What are the benefits?
	Potential problems. Danger. Difficulties. “Uh-Oh!” What problems might happen?
	Hunches. Gut instinct. Intuition. Feelings. What are your feelings about this right now?

The Six Thinking Hats® school program provides a wonderful framework for thorough thinking to help students:

Conduct a richer, more balanced exploration of any subject.
Become independent thinkers.
Objectively guide group discussions.
Evaluate alternatives constructively.
Improve research and writing skills.
Think thoughtfully before speaking.
Listen more intently to the views of others to gain a deeper understanding of issues.
Present ideas with more confidence to teachers, peers, parents and community groups.
Solve problems.
Make well thought through choices.

Testimonials from principals and teachers: Franny McAleer’s Groups

"Our work with de Bono's SIX HATS® has been a great base for improving our work with higher level thinking. I often hear references to those darn "White Hat questions", so deadly in large numbers. The awareness created from the SIX HATS® has been valuable.” —Suzanne Herr, Principal, Solanco School District, PA

“Applying the SIX HATS® is a natural for the classroom. Franny presents the information in a clear, usable, and valuable fashion. Move over Bloom - a great new way of teaching thinking!” —Susan Holzer

“I am using the SIX HATS® daily. I refer to them to get the children thinking in a certain direction. What I like about this program is that it gives the students a direction to think towards by the questions on the hats. In the primary grades especially, the students need to develop specific thinking areas. I did an activity where they had to pick a wish and then use white and black hat thinking about the wish. They did a great job. This is the first program I have used that starts students in the direction of thinking critically. They loved the activities especially the green hat. I'm happy with where I'm going especially as I use this with PSSA (state assessment) preparation.” —Debbie Miller, Wilkes Barre School District

"We love the hats. Tara and I introduced our students to them right away on Friday. Our Academic/Honors students were skeptical. My Applied Communications class LOVED them. Since then, with a little encouragement, we have had nothing but success with the hats. Tara’s Journalism class is attacking the school magazine all with hats. My Applied class designed and implemented a new independent novel unit utilizing the hats. My Honors Speech and Debate class has implemented a new peer comment format that revolves around yellow, black, and green hat ideas. My Honors III class is exploring The Red Badge of Courage with the hats. The red hat is especially helpful because they are putting themselves in a few of the characters’ shoes. They also linked the current Jessica Lynch debate (hero or not) to the novel with the hats.”

”I’ll admit, although your talk was informative and fun, I had doubts about getting the students to use it. After one day, my Applied students were correcting each other during a green hat session with, 'We’re wearing our green hats now. Save the black hat comments for later.' Amazingly no one was offended and the class continued working. I just wanted you to know how excited we are to share in this great method and how much we appreciate your instruction in it.” —Renee Sorensen, Teacher at Tunkhannock High School

“After attending the workshop, I was excited about going back to my classroom and trying out the Six Thinking Hats with my ESL students. I found it easy to simplify and adapt to their proficiency levels and they responded with enthusiasm to the visual and tactile presentation of the hats. They were motivated to answer questions and were able to demonstrate increased comprehension of the story. Even my most reluctant student was more responsive to questions. Though many of us are already doing some of the things Franny spoke about in the workshop, The Six Thinking Hats® provides a way for us to create a more muiltisensory learning environment, giving our students a greater chance for success. I found the SIX HATS workshop to be dynamic and inspiring. The Six Thinking Hats® concept is a valuable teaching tool that can be adapted to many areas of learning.” —Karen Lau, ESL Teacher, Luzerne Intermediate Unit

“I have learned so much about using the SIX HATS® in my classroom. I have already started using it in my class and it has been very successful.” —Dana Dubyak

“SIX HATS® has provided me with a whole new channel of thinking - pulling my mind into new directions.” —Carrie Mathias

“I attended this workshop with little knowledge of thinking skills and how to develop this concept in the classroom. This seminar introduced skills, developed those skills, and gave me new ideas to work "thinking" into my classroom, and daily life. Franny was a refreshing change of pace to other presenters. She was lively, creative, willing to share ideas and activities, and over FUN! Great workshop; wonderful presenter.”