I"m fortunate in that my husband is a high school math and science teacher so he can take my kids pretty darn high, but I know most homeschooling parents don't have that. What do you do when your kids are in the upper grades and move in to subjects that you don't know? We may be facing that with one of my sons with his math - he's going into pre-Calc now. Hubby could take him through Calculus, but then it's getting over his head - I think they would simply learn the next level together.
Remember that homeschooling is not about teaching what I know, but facilitating an education. If a child reaches beyond what I can teach I find a way for him to learn the material or I learn it along with him.
Good point! I'm just thinking about another family I know who's son was trying to learn Algebra via a computer program. He just didn't get it and neither parent was able to help him. He asked my husband to help him, but we weren't with them long enough. I don't think they are an abnormality - I suspect there are plenty of parents out there who don't know the ins and outs of Algebra, Geometry, and Calculus. Makes it hard to help your kid when you don't know it yourself! As for history and such, I'm all for learning together - that's what I'll do with my boys. I know bits and pieces, but it'll be fun to actually work together to learn about various aspects of world history!
Yes, it is hard to help when you don't know the answer. I just refer my child to someone/something that can give an answer or explain better. If I don't know how to explain algebra I find someone or something that can. There are plenty of math tutors out there. It sounds like the family reached out to your husband to explain. I don't consider that a problem, but a family or child finding another way to learn the material.
It wasn't a problem at all except this particular family is traveling around and won't have a consistent source of help for the kid. The boy really wanted to learn but was having a very hard time teaching himself - and he didn't have anybody to turn to. It was pretty sad.
There are math tutors available online too. Sounds like that would be a good fit for families who travel.
I've only worked through Algebra 1 with my child so far, but we did it together. I worked through the problems as she worked through the problems. Then we compared answers. Between us, we always managed to understand what we were doing. Once or twice we wondered why something was the way it was or we just couldn't figure out how the text came up with the answer it did; when that happened we either asked someone who knew or we searched the internet. There are many tutorial video on various topics on youtube.com. We'll be moving on to Algebra II this year; I expect I'll follow the same proceedure. It worked well for us, and I feel like my student learned to wrestle with the problems rather than sitting back and waiting for someone to explain it to her. A few times, she figured things out while I was still struggling with it, and she had the joy of teaching me a thing or two. We are using Life of Fred which seems to be very friendly to the independent learner.
We start our kids in college (dual enrollment) as early as possible, somewhere around age 16. Our community college in NY was great. Wonderful teachers and very homeschooling friendly. Here in PA we are finding that the 4 year colleges have programs for high schoolers offering them half-price tuition. I know some homeschoolers that took pre-calc (and maybe even lower math than that) at the community college.
My kids are still young (2nd and 4th) but there are already things I don't know before we learn it. I have zero knowledge (and used to be zero interest) in geography. I am sketchy on U.S. history (again, had zero interest). So I learn it before I teach it: I review the information and know what I'm talking about before I pass it along. At this point, I don't see that as any different than when my 7yo dd asks me why turtles only dig with their hind feet (which I guess I hadn't noticed) and so we look up the answer together. She also taught me about horse body language.. before we even started homeschooling. Maybe that will change when they get older- idk. But for now, I'm not worried.. well, maybe about geometry
I think if that were to happen and oh gee it happens a lot. The kids have questions and I don't pretend to have all the answers. We find the answers together. If I still can't get it and no one I know can. I would refer to a tutor in that area no problem. I am not afraid to admit I am out of my depth
I have asked this on another board before. I was given they learn it together or some parents do a year ahead themselves then they are more prepared when their child gets to that point. The way I see it is if I cannot do it, I will find someway to make sure my son is able to. If that means hiring someone, using ps, online schooling, anything I will do it.
well i have to say that being in the PS system growing up, I stopped understanding math around 6th grade, and i could never get a teacher to give me enough time or attention to help me understand it. So I'm starting my son on MathUSee from the very beginning and I will just have to learn everything with him. I'm ok with that tho because I feel like it'll give us both a good foundation to start with... and thank God they have DVD instruction!
I know I did Algebra in school but barely remember it so my solution has been to do my daughter's math curriculum right beside her. I'm in no position to teach her this subject but I make a great co-learner and working together makes the subject more fun.
This happens in PS, the difference is that often it gets ignored completely. My algebra teacher was a coach who didn't seem to understand the material. When I had a question he would repeat the same straight from the book material. Almost every day he'd leave his open book with answers on his desk and stand outside the classroom in the hall. I think it was because he wanted the kids to cheat so his failure wasn't obvious. I got by in that class, and understood most of it anyway, but when O got to geometry I was done for. As was mentioned, the teacher didn't have time for me. We work together when there us something I don't know. It's already happening and my kids are 8 and 5! I would look to tutors once I was completely over my head. I also plan to utilize community college courses in high school.
Online math tutor I won't mind if my daughter is more advance than me. In fact I always want her to excel in everything. I want her to achieve the goal I could not. I am always there beside her and try to help her by all possible means. Children need their own space so that they can explore their talent and creativity. We, the parents should always stand beside to help those learning different things. We should teach them different subjects in different innovative ways so that they love to learn them. We should let them understand that homework is the most important part of education and without proper education they can’t be succeeded in their life. Parents, especially mother is the best teacher in a child’s life. The way, she can guide a child, no other can! However, sometimes, it becomes hard for the parents to help children doing homework. In that case, they can take advantage of online tutoring services like tutorteddy.
My cousin taught gr 11 math, but took no university math in her ed degree. She said she learned each weeks lesson with the teacher guide and the answer key, then she taught it! She said she was honest with the kids that they were learning together, an it worked fairly well. She also wasn't afraid to swap classes with the another math teacher occasionally so they could have a good Q & A session. Its' the same with homeschoolers. We use the materials to learn/teach, and don't be afraid to bring in higher level people to help once in a while.
