Should I Teach My Daughter Advanced Material?

Whether or not you should teach your daughter advanced material is a question that many parents face. The decision to push your child beyond the basics can be challenging, but knowing that you are setting her up for success is comforting. Here is how to approach the situation effectively, leveraging key educational theories and strategies.

The Importance of Advanced Material

Teach whatever she is able to learn. Don't let her school or peers hold her back. She will likely be bored in class. It often sounds like she can handle advanced classes, but it's wise not to push too hard.

In elementary schools, "advanced" is not a well-defined term. It generally means anything above the bare minimum, which is set quite low, primarily to accommodate the least gifted child. This is because elementary education is mandatory and must be accessible to all children. While schools and textbook authors are capable of teaching more, they must mark advanced material as optional, not mandatory. Often, this material is skipped in regular school lessons to save time and resources.

However, if your primary goal is to nurture your daughter's individual growth rather than fit into the broader educational system, then teaching her advanced material is a commendable approach. You know your child better than anyone else, so focus on what she can achieve.

The Dangers of Overshooting

If your daughter is far ahead academically from her peers, she will get bored in school. It is best to let her stay at her current level with her peers.

Teach Thinking Skills, Not Content

Teaching your daughter thinking skills rather than content is crucial. Focus on imparting a deeper understanding and the ability to analyze and evaluate information. As a parent, you are already an expert in using Blooms Taxonomy, which is a framework that categorizes different levels of thinking.

Blooms Taxonomy, Theory and Practice (1956), is divided into six levels:

Knowledge: Recalling previously learned knowledge directly. Comprehension: Understanding the meaning, translations, extensions, and sources. Application: Using the knowledge effectively in a new situation. Analysis: Breaking down the material into parts. Analyzing and questioning the relationship of the elements. Evaluation: Making judgments about the value of material for a given purpose. Synthesis: Putting parts together to form a new whole or proposing a pattern for future learning or actions.

Understanding these levels ensures you are providing the right kind of questions and materials for your daughter. For example, if the question is at level 1 (knowledge), ensure you answer accordingly. Answering a level 1 question with overcomplicated ideas would not be appropriate and might confuse her.

Types of Thinking

Inductive Thinking: Inductive thinking involves classifying things into groups. For instance, sorting out symbols (XOOXXOXO) into groups and determining the number of groups or their names. You can elevate the level of understanding by asking for the Blooms level of each question.

Deductive Thinking: This involves figuring out the question when you have the answers. For example, solving a puzzle where a man is found hanging in a tall ceiling with no furniture and no way to enter or exit. You must think back to what makes the answer true.

Inference: Understanding the current situation based on the facts available. For instance, inferring that your child might have eaten the cookies based on their presence around the empty jar.

Prediction: Making educated guesses about the future based on the facts at hand. For example, predicting that you will continue reading this article to the end based on the continued engagement.

Teaching your daughter these types of thinking and using Blooms Taxonomy can significantly enhance her cognitive development and problem-solving skills. Applying these principles will ensure she grows academically and practically.

Conclusion

Teaching your daughter advanced material or focusing on developing her thinking skills can be highly beneficial. Understanding and applying Bloom's Taxonomy and other educational theories will help you guide her learning effectively. Remember, your primary goal is to nurture her individual growth, not fit into a rigid educational framework.