How Do You Handle...

[SmilingChick]

...

[Dar]

Well, if you can't remember enough to solve an equation, perhaps it's possible for children to grow into healthy, happy, successful adults without being able to do so, either. I mean, if it's working for you.... I guess I can't see requiring a child to learn something you clearly don't know and don't need to know.

That said, if you child wants to learn these subjects there are plenty of resources out there. There are great books (I love Harold Jacobs' books for higher math), videos, community college classes, etc. By this age, many kids want to work fairly independently anyway, and won't expect you to be "teaching". Or, perhaps you and your child can learn together. Perhaps you have a friend or neighbor who would be interested in helping out (I'd love to do that), or you can hire a college student to do some tutoring. There are many possibilities...

Dar

[UnschoolnMa]

If my kid wants to learn it, and comes to me for help/suggestions/direction etc then we just go about learning and gathering info together If the info is out there for my child it is also out there for me. I agree with Dar too about finding someone who can help with the subject.

[UUMom]

I'm intellectually all about that Dar & Unschoolma. My problem is emotional. I do tend to worry if they don't have the info or basic skills (not talking about quantum physics here or anything) that I think are important. My kids seem to have patience with my stumbling, however. Well, maybe not my 11 yr old ds, but my 12 yr old dd does. Staying respectful of their needs is very important to me.

I am waiting for my oldest dd to want to know how to write well. I think it's coming, but I would not say she's foaming at the mouth wanting this. lol I try not to push, and I admire those with the patience you both write about.

[roundpegmom]

I am raising my nephew who is in 6th grade in public school. My two DD's are younger and HSed (I would HS nephew, but I am not sure how long he will be with me). Anyway, when helping DN with his homework, there are many times I have to review the section before explaining the concept to him. Usually I can pick it up easy because it is stored somewhere back in the cobwebs of my mind (it has been a looong time since I was in 6th grade).

I also think that one common feature of a HSing "teacher" is a love of learning. I have spent countless hours reading ahead on stuff I want to teach the girls. I can't just teach them the things I know and love, making little clones is not my objective. I also have an advantage because my DH and I do not have any common strengths academically. What I have trouble grasping is second nature to him. So we can tag team the kids when needed.

When they get older and need science labs and stuff, I hope to be involved in a homeschool co-op situation. Where a group of HSers can trade off on lessons each grownup targeting with their strengths. For example, I could teach the group human anatomy and biology (I am a health care professional) if someone else can cover the physics for the group.

There are endless possibilities.