Debater para aprender: A estratégia de debate no 1.º CEB

Abstract

This article, although implemented during initial training, is the result of research into the implementation of the debate strategy in teaching practices and aims to give other teachers the ability to reflect on the issue in question, namely “Debating to learn: The debate strategy in the 1st cycle of basic education”.

Just as the world is constantly changing, some of the interests and needs expressed by children are in line with these changes. Therefore, taking into account that it is in the institution that pupils acquire the main skills and knowledge that are fundamental to their growth and believing in a pedagogical practice based on cooperation between all the members of the class, that is, between the teacher and the pupils, it is crucial that the school assumes itself as a place where, just like adults, children can also exercise their rights - and duties.

So, during a curricular internship, more specifically in a 3rd grade class, and faced with a relevant sharing, I considered it crucial to respond to the interest shown. In view of this, and with the aim of promoting participatory and democratic citizen training, as well as sharing and raising awareness of social issues, one of the important methodologies for developing and acquiring the citizen component was used, namely the debate strategy.

In short, these free moments of sharing proved to be advantageous for the children, as they allowed them to develop and/or appropriate attitudes, skills and competencies inherent to citizenship training, such as argumentation, reflection, respect, among others, but also to become aware of the world around them and, consequently, to bring everyday life into the classroom.