Why is it good for children to teacher other children maths?

[RoadArt]

I know there is a good reason for this, a teacher told me ages ago, but I cant remember why.

I tried to explain to my DD that if she can explain in a way that another child understands, then it confirms her own understanding.

What other reasons can I mention.

Do you think it is a good idea?

I am a bit concerned that she is not going to be extended beyond her current knowledge because of this.

Should I be worried?

Thank you

Reasoning is an important skill, and one of the best way is to explain your thinking to someone else.

Is she being used by the teacher as a teaching aid though or is it for her own benefit?

It's also because there's more than one way to approach most mathematical manipulations and getting another perspective can make something click when the teacher's way doesn't. Peer explanations can often cover a wide range of learning styles.

It not only enhances understanding (the idea that if you can explain it you can do it) but also works key skills like communication, reinforces appropriate vocabulary and cements the order of the process in the brain.

It's not thr biggest deal in the world if she doesn't want to but it might be worth looking at why. Is it because she's insecure about the maths, she's shy or she just doesn't see the point?

I think peer explanations can be good. I was known as 'the calculator' at school, and often taught my friends things.

Why is it happening though?

Teaching someone else anything means you need to have a really deep understanding. It will help you to see holes in your own thinking, and put a spotlight on your weaknesses. As well as the fact that if someone is struggling, then getting someone else to explain it might help, just a slightly different example or different use of words can lead to understanding.

Thank you for your feedback. I knew I would get some good answers.

I havent spoken to the teacher yet, thought I'd wait and see how it goes, and how often it is, but apparantly she has been asked because she has a good understanding of maths (and I do think it's to have another body in the class for the kids to ask).

It will be good to see if she can explain clearly, she tends to "just do the sums" without really thinking about what strategy she has used. I imagine it will be good for developing and extending her social skills.

Thanks again

Ah, that's a good reason. To make her really think about what she's doing and why she's doing it, not just 'doing the sums'. This may really stretch her, even if the intention is to be another TA in the class.

A significant part of the maths curriculum is 'solve problems, communicate and reason' about her maths. This could be a way of getting her to do that.

I would just keep an eye on it, and make sure it is helping her.

We have Smart Children in my class, where each child chooses something they consider themselves good at ( either academic or social) and they become the first port of call for any queries the other children might have. So if the children have problems with a spelling, they have 2-3 Spelling Smarts they can ask, similarly with maths, science, sport, art, friendship etc. The children enjoy the role and, as they are self selecting the area they are SMart in, gain in confidence

This is the philosophy behind teaching others....

How We Learn

10% of what we READ

20% of what we HEAR

30% of what we SEE

50% of what we SEE and HEAR

70% of what is DISCUSSED with OTHERS

80% of what is EXPERIENCED PERSONALLY

95% of what we TEACH TO SOMEONE ELSE

William Glasser

Thats great, thank you.

I don't think I was especially good at maths, but in Lithuania under Soviet rule where I grew up it was official policy for better students to have to help weaker ones, and I had to spend a lot of time doing that.

Before long I was always top of the class in maths, right up to age 14, when I left.

It is good for her confidence and she will consolidate what she has learnt, it should, however, not happen all the time - that would be a TA's job.

Hhmm, interesting thread this. My DD in yr2, whilst not a genius, seems to "Get" maths and enjoys it, and often says that she helps others, and one girl in particular, on her table. Whilst I agree with others comments about it helping to consolidate her learning she mentioned yesterday that she was "Fed up of helping people" . Where do I go from here with this? To say something like that it is clearly bothering her.