I hear a lot of new homeschoolers lament the fact that they weren't good at certain subjects. "How will I teach my darling child algebra if I was never good at it?" they cry. Or whatever the subject might be. For me, it was most forms of higher math and science.
I may never fully understand how to plot 2x = y on a graph or calculate the quadratic formula, but I can try to find resources that explain it different ways. I may not remember how my tutor, Mr. Lanahan, drilled proofs into my head so that I could pass geometry, but I can call up friends and family with more mathematical minds to help me out. And I can also choose to allow my children to explore subjects on their own, without interference, and every now and then they will come back and explain difficult concepts to me.
If I want my children to be open and unafraid of new ideas, I must show them that it is not so terrible to be confused and not understand. What is important is a willingness to learn, to recognize that making mistakes is part of the process of learning and find answers. These are the skills I most want my children to know.
3 comments:
I agree with you - but find it difficult to convince my nearly 10 year old daughter that's it's o.k. to make a mistake. Higher math is not my forte either but fortunately my husband is good with that realm. I'm better than I used to be though, due to homeschooling. Cool!
Enjoy your week - Kate
Definitely agree with everything you've written. It must surely keep our middle-aging brains youthful too.
Blessings,
Paula
Oh wow this is SO true! I learned math by "teaching" it to Ben.
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