We had a lively discussion at last week’s homeschool math chat about teaching algorithms versus allowing a discovery learning process.
What I can’t help but think about when I reread this discussion is how this compares to teaching a child manners.
Teach kids manners early. Very early.
I know someone who elected to wait until their child understood the concept of appreciation before teaching them how to say thank you. The child is now eight years old and doesn’t say thank you unless prompted.
Daughter, at 18 months old, is being taught please, thank you, ma’am and sir. She has no concept of being polite. Her frontal lobe is about as advanced as the local neighborhood chimpanzee’s. Her favorite phrase these days is, “No. Mine.” I correct this with, “No ma’am.”
At some point it will become habit. Or at least the ritual of, “No,” from her and my “No ma’am” response will become habit.
And at some point shall make the connection that using these polite words will gain her something. She’ll be looked upon favorably, considered one of the “good kids,” or smiled at a little more.
And then she’ll connect it. She’ll see that the concept of politeness is directly tied to the “algorithm” of saying polite words.
Teach kids algorithms early. Very early.
I love the idea of teaching concepts before algorithms in math. But sometimes algorithms have to come first so that the rhythm and habit are in place when the brain is ready to understand the concept.
Each child’s brain is different. One of the beauties of homeschooling and private tutoring is that you can focus on a child and know when they’re ready for algorithms and ready for concepts. As a classroom teacher, it’s a little bit more difficult, but still can be done.
In the classroom you can teach algorithms at the same time as concepts. If you cycle them back and forth, you can catch each student as they are prepared to accept the learning.
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