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Teaching to a level you never reached


Hedgehog
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I've been mulling over a thread I posted a while ago about learning languages, being good enough to do the language at uni, and fluency; there's also a relatively new thread where a Mom is teaching Math to a 4th grader but finding she doesn't know some stuff.

 

So I just have a question for y'all. How many of you are - or will be, in your current plans - teaching your dc subjects to a level you never reached? How are you/do you plan to achieve this? I ask because I'm "teaching" my dc English Grammar and Latin without understanding a THING about either. We are sort of learning together, although I have to say that they often "get it" quicker than me! It will happen in the end with Math too, because by the time I got to 15yo I was struggling.

 

I'm all ears :001_smile: :lurk5:

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Per my current plans, I will be. I'm wanting to do Latin, Greek, and Hebrew to a high level, plus proofy math, taught in ways that require teacher mastery - and I am currently at novice level (or lower :001_huh:) in most of them :glare:. (I've already decided to outsource music, though I occasionally still dream of educating myself to the point that I am up for it.)

 

My primary plan is to keep at the self-ed. My back-up plan involves finding good curricula that teaches close to my ideal and learning along with my dc. I've also decided to focus on skills - LA (in all my languages) and math - and learn along with my dc (or even unschool) the content subjects.

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I taught Latin that I didn't previously know, as well as ancient Greek. I taught biology to IGCSE level, having given it up at 14. I learned alongside, but in each case the child ended up better at the subject than I was. I had the secret weapon, however: the answer book. The boys knew that I wasn't an expert but we enjoyed learning together.

 

ETA: Calvin is enjoying very much having specialist teachers at school - home was good, school is also good.

 

Laura

Edited by Laura Corin
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well I never learned phonics. I am a child of whole language and didn't have the slightest knowledge of any phonics rules at all. I just kept a lesson ahead of my children , and it worked.

I now are having trouble with Physics and math . I left school after year 10 and went to work( it was very common in Australia 20 years ago). I have NEVER done physics, and I find it a real struggle. Fortunately my ds is very math minded, and can work most things out for himself. Next year I will outsource some of his subjects. He will be doing online physics through open university, which has the advantage that it is first year university, and will count towards his degree.

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It depends on the subject. Latin, Greek, Spanish: I am learning ahead of them - and I better get moving on Spanish! Math: I did well in math, so I'll brush up on that when they get closer to Algebra. Music: I chose a good Piano book for basics, after that I will give them to Dad (he is more musical) or outsource. Grammar: Learning with them. For content subjects (science, history) I'm trying to stay ahead by working with them and reading an adult level text. I hope to have our schedule nailed down by the end of next week, enabling me to read / study more.

 

If they get ahead of me - and I'm pretty sure they will in science, we will figure something out. Like Laura said, there's always the answer key.

 

Amy

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This really is a serious issue and not one to be dismissed lightly. I have witnessed with my 14 yos where being around people who really know their subject matter can take them vs. their being limited by my understanding.

 

For some subjects, it hasn't meant a detrimental handicap. My oldest ds does not have the same understanding of grammar that the rest of my kids have b/c I was really learning grammar along with him. While my 6th grader can probably run circles around most adults with her grammar knowledge......definitely not the case with oldest ds. As a chemical engineer, I don't think it is hurting him too much! ;)

 

Now, for other topics or for individual children, it really does matter. My 14 yos left me in the dust 2 yrs ago when it came to his understanding of math and math concepts. All the "self-education" in the world would not have kept me ahead of him. He is simply light yrs beyond where I am even capable of going. It really has taken a math mentor to meet his needs.

 

I never want to limit my kids b/c of my lack of knowledge. I outsource where I need to for subjects that are vital to their future interests. Some subjects are more important than others in this regard.

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I do not view it as teaching if it is something I am not proficient in.

I can help my child learn, I can learn alongside with my child, I can facilitate learning by providing instructional materials. But that's not teaching.

 

I do all of the above. I learn Latin and French together with the kids. I can facilitate the study of biology and history.

But I can teach only the subjects I am truly knowledgeable about.

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I intend on teaching to a level above where I have gone in Latin, Math and Science.

 

I have no problem with the idea of it because I am looking forward to my own education in these areas. I plan on using material that is extremely thorough and teaches completely with no dependence on teacher knowledge. I do not have time to work ahead so alot of the learning that will be going on in this house will be a joint effort.

 

Right now I am learning math with my 7th. There were certain areas of math that never stuck with me. I had learned enough to get by but really didn't master the concepts. Fractions, decimals and percentages were my nemesis for a long time. Last year I mastered fractions along with my dd and this year we are mastering decimals and percentages. As I just posted in the other thread you mentioned, I love the experience of discovery along with dd and she strives to 'get it first'. I know she has reached mastery when she can give me some insight to help me finally 'get it' too. Hubby is near genius level when it comes to math so he is always my backup, but we haven't had to use him yet.

 

I was a little worried about my kids thinking less of me because there are things that I can't teach them from my own knowledge, but that hasn't been the case. I think they see from my example that learning never ends and that its never too late. They get a little twinkle in their eye when they ask me a question and I say that I don't know but we will find out together. Honestly they get more excited about the subjects I learn with them than the ones I actually teach. When I learn with them they know I am in the trenches with them, not sitting back at base giving orders.

 

As for what specifically I am going to use when the time comes...I haven't gotten that far yet. We are taking things one year at a time. If it becomes overwhelming for me or they aren't getting the level of instruction that they need, then I will outsource or get dh to step in, but right now learning together is working out better than I ever imagined it would.

Edited by 5LittleMonkeys
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This really is a serious issue and not one to be dismissed lightly. I never want to limit my kids b/c of my lack of knowledge.

:iagree:

 

I do not view it as teaching if it is something I am not proficient in.

I can help my child learn, I can learn alongside with my child, I can facilitate learning by providing instructional materials. But that's not teaching.

But I can teach only the subjects I am truly knowledgeable about.

 

Precisely this.

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Well, I think we will search out tutors if needed. Science and Math come pretty easy to me and I have had up to college level Calculus and physics. However, even though I have had English level college courses and even received A's in those courses grammar is not my strong suite and I look forward to learning it with them and staying ahead as needed. I have never had Latin but dh has studied some on his own, he learns very, very well by reading books on anything so we will likely work together as needed. I wouldn't ever hold them back but I don't forsee it being an issue until they get into highschool grades though and we would certainly look into dual enrollment w/ the local community college as well. I guess we will see as we go and then we will be searching out whatever they need be it private tutors or other hs families w/ more experience/knowledge in various subjects.

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Dh is Phd level in English (literature, rhetoric & creative writing) and my background is English as well so I think we have all that covered. I know a good bit of history, but I think if you can read and write well that shouldn't be a problem. My mil teaches college level math so we are set on that end, but I will definitely outsource language and science if those are big interests.

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