Taking Classes with Your Children

As a homeschooler, I have experienced the fun of learning alongside my child for years. I have enjoyed filling in the blanks of my own education while teaching them. I have become more well read, pursuing for pleasure many of the classics I had missed along the way.

This year is the first time I am learning alongside a subject alongside one of my children. Although it was not planned, I am finding it is a wonderful experience for us both. I must admit, I have to work harder to find the time to study Latin and learn than I did in my younger years, but I am enjoying the process.

This morning, Scout and I started the day by doing two worksheets together. While we do our readings and student pages alone, we study together at least once a week. It is interesting to mix our strengths: his greater memory for vocabulary, and my knowledge of grammar. We work through the exercises well together, and have more than a few laughs at my (mis) pronunciations.

When we finished this morning, he went on to do his other school work and Girlie came down for a math lesson. She began working on some other things, so I opened up the Latin again. Knowing that we had a Latin quiz that afternoon, I made a study card for the quiz: verb declensions,noun endings, cases, and genders, and personal pronouns. I helped Girlie finish up, did a bit of my own correspondence, and made lunches.

When Scout and I jumped in the car to leave, I handed him the study card and asked him to quiz me. He looked really puzzled. “Mom, we already studied. You don’t need to do this.”
I assured him that I did, and since we had a half hour ride to the tutor, I wanted to make use of the time. He still balked, but agreed to humor me.

As we drove, it was apparent that we both were in need of the extra drill. We worked the whole way up, and by the time we arrived, we were solid. He mentioned that he had never studied for a test like that before, and can’t believe how much clearer he is in just a half hour. When asked why he hadn’t, as I had told him how many times, he replied that he always figured that he would just do the best he could on the tests and that was all he could expect.

I replied that by not studying or drilling before a test to review, he was NOT really doing his best. He agreed, and admitted that hearing it from me wasn’t enough, but seeing and doing it with me has him convinced. After the quiz, which we both did well on, he asked if I would show him how to make a study card for next weeks lessons, so he understands the process.

I had not counted on this benefit when I agreed to take the class. I was seeking personal enrichment. Yet, I find that I am able, through the good study habits and techniques I learned over the years, to teach my child through my actions. He gained more in a half hour of studying alongside me than he did in years of wasted words.

The more I thought on this new revelation, I realized that my children are now old enough for much of our dynamic in learning to change. While in many subjects my prior knowledge makes me naturally more of a facilitator/teacher, there are plenty of subjects where I can learn alongside them as a peer.

Girlie loves to draw, and has become quite good at illustrating in the anime style, and has a flair for drawing fairies. Yet she really wants to learn the nuts and bolts of drawing: perspective, shading, foreshadowing, etc. I would love to learn that as well, and so we shall do it together. I pulled out a book I had in the curriculum cabinet that will be perfect for us to study together.

Not only will we both learn to draw better, but I can mabye teach her to be more forgiving of her imperfections through my example. She is very hard on herself in her art. Hopefully in seeing her artistically challenged mother struggle and persevere, she will learn gain confidence in the process. I will be able to put my words into actions for her as well.

I am excited thinking about all those new opportunities that are opening up for me through their interests. Scout wants to add Italian to Latin studies his junior year, in prep for a long-dreamed of college semester abroad in Italy. Girlie wants to learn about computers and desktop publishing and herbal medicines. All of these things are interesting to me as well.

Mayhaps I shall also impart the joy of being a lifelong learner!