Depending on where your child goes to school, he or she may not be learning as well as possible. Research has proven over the years that children (and adults) learn best by doing problem-based activities that are interactive. Does this mean that typical "drill-and-kill" exercises have no place? Not at all. But such activities are only to help students gain enough skill in a task so that they can access problem-based learning exercises. These are the kinds of activities that allow kids to learn to think critically and apply knowledge to real-world scenarios. Here are some things suggested by Helene Goldnadel a child development and a life coach, parents can do at home to enhance critical thinking and learning overall.
- Make learning tasks interactive: Whether you use a website that has games, or you make your own games at home, kids need to be able to touch, or click or move things. This kinesthetic element solidifies what they are learning. For example, if your child needs to learn number fact (sometimes called fact families), create index cards with numerals 0-9 on them. Have your child make number triangles on a table (10 at the top, 7 in the lower left and 3 in the lower right). Using addition and subtraction students can learn the 4 facts that go with this family. This activity can be adapted for all kinds of math activities all the way through algebra. For more interactive ideas in math click here.
- Writing: There is an old saying that says "if one can put an idea in their own words, they understand". Making your kids write about math or chemistry (or any subject) not only shows what they truly understand, but also helps with their expressive language skills. They will be practicing spelling, grammar and vocabulary along with the concepts they are writing about. Have your child keep a journal called Things I Understand. Here they can write about all subjects. To learn more about the science behind journals, click here.
- Make a video: Most kids are hams and they love to watch themselves. Let them practice skills by "teaching" it in a video lesson. This will force them to sequence concepts, provide examples, and answer questions from the "audience" (i.e. you and your family). Kids can make a "storyboard" first that sets out the way the video will proceed. They can be creative and make title screens, add music and more.
- Problem Based Learning: Critical thinking skills are the main element that many countries complain are lacking in students. The main reason for this is that students are not given enough exposure to open-ended problems; problems that may have more than one solution. In the real world, there is usually more than just "one" answer. Helping students ask questions and anticipate outcomes comes with practice. For most, it is a skill that is taught. To help your child in this area, make up problems for them to solve. For example: Kipp wants to buy an inflatable pool to use in the summer. What kinds of things does she have to consider? Or Kerith wants to make one dozen cookies, but all the recipes she finds make 3 dozen cookies. What can she do to solve her problem?
Learning is usually most effective when it is meaningful and fun; that is when kids can "see" why it is necessary to learn something. If they see no way they can use a skill, most kids simply shut down. In fact, most adults do too! All of us tend to excel in tasks we are interested in. Make your child interested in learning by creating situations he or she can learn best in.
