Reply to What is the point of enrichment?

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[quote=Anonymous]There seems to be some confusion in your post. In order to attempt a response, I have to clarify sone things.

You ask about enrichment and then focus on math. Enrichment can be anything. History, science, literature, arts/music, etc.  It’s not just math.

You talk about getting ahead in math. Generally, math acceleration is about going faster, while math enrichment is about going broader. So while acceleration might mean working through 1st grade workbooks and moving on to 2nd, 3rd, etc., math enrichment is about telling time with an analog clock, doing logic puzzles, learning about secret codes, playing games, cooking, watching shoes like Cyberchase, doing crafts, etc.  Some acceleration is probably involved in enrichment, but that’s not where the focus is.  The focus is letting a child who is interested in math, follow their interests.

You ask about what the advantage is in having the child years ahead of schedule in math.  There isn’t one. Yes, they get bored when they’re ahead of the rest of the class. That’s why you do enrichment.

One of my children loved math, and played with numbers the same way she played with toys.  She just figured things out, and then sometimes she’d have to explain it to me.  She figured out the concept of multiplication before she started K. I knew she wasn’t learning math at school, but she was happy enough with the games they played that it didn’t really bother her until 3rd grade.  That’s when she started shutting down. She tried explaining to the teacher that she already knew the material and trying to make arrangements to learn something new, but the teacher brushed her off.  I completely agree that perseverance, diligence, and hard work are important traits to cultivate, but since she wasn’t given the opportunity to practice this at school, and wanted to challenge herself, enrichment was the only way.

I went through public school myself. While they didn’t claim to be “one of the best school systems in the country”, and may not have offered as many optional programs, I think the standard curriculum was stronger.  I was NOT. a math kid, so I had no desire for math enrichment and/or acceleration. My parents, however, did provide many other types of enrichment. I had music and dance lessons. We took wonderful vacations across the country (and into Canada), visited national parks and countless museums, attended festivals and performances, read together, worked on projects, played games, etc.   Basically, they shared their interests with me and encouraged me to identify and pursue my own.

That’s what enrichment is about. It’s exposing a child to new things and letting them explore the things that interest them. While I believe that approach has inherent value, it’s not goal oriented. It’s certainly not about gaining a competitive advantage.  While enrichment may sometimes result in the child accelerating, that’s an unfortunate byproduct that we cope with as it arises. 
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