Monday, December 3, 2007

Let the Older teach the Younger

I'm sure this is not ground breaking news. For those of you with 2 or more children, you've probably already found this concept happening in your home. People often don't understand how I can teach 3 (soon to be 4) different grades at the same time. Although this year has been the most challenging for me, one of the things that has kept me afloat is letting my older children help teach the younger ones. The best part about this philosophy is most of the time, my kids don't even know they are learning. They enjoy "playing" school and my oldest is usually the teacher.


I have noticed a number of times where I have gone to teach one of my younger children a concept and they already knew how to do it because their big sister had told them. This has even happened with my 3rd girl. One day she excitedly called me over to show me that my 3 year old had written a "J". I smiled that smile of, "Oh, how nice (not really believing he did it)". Well, to my surprise, he had not only written a "J" but an "A" and "E". I have never even tried to write any letters with him before.

I guess learning from your big sister must be a lot more fun than learning from boring old mom. That's ok, it works for me and I am loving it.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Isn't that the best?! Math is also my favorite subject and I tutor middle school kids every week in Algebra and General Math. However, Arianna, my middle-schooler, can't or won't learn from me. She has a hard time in math and it is unbelievably frustrating when I'm explaining and she screams that she just doesn't get it. If someone else shows her the same concept, though, miraculously she gets it! Yes, I think they tune us Mom's out sometimes! :-) Give all the kiddies my love!

Anonymous said...

That is actually a strategy that they tell us to use in our education classes. It's called peer tutoring. Most of the time peer explanation is easier to understand.

Ben checks homework for the younger two for me when I am at school. He has already done the homework before so he knows when it is right. Ben has really helped me out a lot this year by being the "homework checker".

Have a great day!

Dianna

Unknown said...

You are getting so good at blogging..I can't really put htis into practice with only one kid. I am going to have to ask Nathaniel to start teaching Abbie..or I can just borrow one of your kids!

Jackie Sue said...

Kids are such sponges....I love it when they learn without any hard work :) Davie knows so many things and I have never not even once sat down to "do school" with her. I wish folks understood that about their kids...when they are ready they just learn...they can't seem to help it!

Cassie - Homeschooling Four said...

Jess,

Even though you can't do that now with 1 kid, just wait until another one comes along! I know Abbie and she will be quite the teacher :)

Cassie - Homeschooling Four said...

Jackie,

You are one of the people who helped me learn this concept. Thanks for being such a good example of the "laid back" home school mom.