Learning Argumentative Capacities at the Primary and Junior School Levels: A Practical Teaching Pedagogy

Abstract

The development of argumentative skills is often postponed until after students complete their compulsory education, creating a gap in their understanding and abilities. This gap can be attributed to issues with the curriculum and teaching methods. To address this, we propose that teaching argumentative skills at the primary school level is crucial for enhancing students’ comprehension of the world and its inhabitants. To support this idea, we have designed practical teaching modules that can be introduced in primary and junior schools. Our pedagogical approach emphasizes relatable examples, interactive discussions, peer reviews, and recommendations, with a focus on teacher-to-teacher training. It is vital that teachers receive thorough training on implementing these pedagogical strategies and consider the context to achieve early development of argumentative skills in the modern classroom.