A study was conducted at a program in rural southwest Virginia to determine whether Head Start parents and adult basic education/high school equivalency program students use critical thinking skills. More than 50 definitions of critical thinking were collected, and Bloom's Taxonomy was reviewed for background information. The teachers' manual for the GED (General Educational Development) tests also was reviewed. A journal of classroom observations and reflections was kept, and three classes were videotaped. The study found that the students were able to compare, judge, and evaluate. Critical thinking also was demonstrated as students spontaneously discussed a short story. Students were able to relate the short story plot to a real-life incident. Additional findings included that the students told the teacher how and what to teach through subtle messages. The study concluded that teachers should tape at least one class and listen to their students carefully in order to model their own critical thinking skills. (KC)