Teaching What You Don't Know

A question I am often asked, especially when kids start getting into middle and high school, is how am I supposed to teach [insert subject] when I did so poorly at it when I was in school? Well, I'm glad you asked.

The easy answer if you are completely daunted by something. Pass the buck. I don’t even teach every subject to all of my kids. It’s more of a time thing when you have multiple kids, but honestly when I am trying to explain why we do something in Algebra 2, my response comes out something like, “I don’t know. You’re just supposed to do it like that.” Thankfully, CTC, Khan Academy, or my brother will give a more meaningful reply. Between online avenues, co-ops, tutors, or family/friends/neighbors, your child can learn what they will need to know.  

Now, the other answer if the easy answer didn’t suffice. Funny enough, we teach subjects that we didn’t do so well with better than the subjects we excelled at. Why? Because we learn along with our kids and we are already aware of possible stumbling blocks that will come up and how we overcame them. It’s usually the outside of the box thinking that helps the best. Children see that even adults still need to learn or get snagged and they’re not afraid to do so. I cannot tell you how many times I have been teaching my kids and the words, “holy smokes! Is that why we do that?!” come out of my mouth.  

If you are using an up to snuff curriculum that comes with a teacher’s guide, then you will usually get a pretty decent explanation of why you need to put a comma somewhere or why x+2=y. However, there are times when you read the explanation and are still just as baffled as your kid. For me, this is where the Internet or someone else comes in where you have at least five explanations for the same question all for free.

So, have no fear! You are able to teach even the stuff you don’t know! We are always learning and we can do it right along with our kids!

“Research shows that you begin learning in the womb and go right on learning until the moment you pass on. Your brain has a capacity for learning that is virtually limitless, which makes every human a potential genius.”

—Michael J. Gelb