this post was submitted on 26 Oct 2024
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Its hard to explain hiding methods because they depend on the situation. Its much easier as an adult then as a child because i am not questioned as much.
On my job i can work mostly independently and have acquired positive credibility.
I’ll give you a pattern i distinctly remember from school.
Pre context: I was always unable to concentrate to the live lesson that was occurring i still cant do phone calls for the same reason. Because i often still stared in the right direction this was more frequently not noticed (though enough to still have the label). Then when we had to do a task i suddenly notice everyone moving and i had no idea what the class even about.
But i was very good at independently interpreting the knowledge in a given handbook or on a blackboard, very quickly. So in the beginning i was able to catch up and start on the assignment during this same time and eventually i started to secretly learn independently during the class.
I have 2 distinct memories of situations that occurred as a result.
i was scolded multiple times for not paying attention, which did happen frequently but now was because i was obviously looking in the book and writing when i was supposed to listen. But from my perspective i was paying attention to the source material actively doing my best to understand it. That really broke something me.
we got a new math teacher in middle of the year. They gave us a test but apparently my class was not yet taught the formulas required. This only came to light when someone complained as we got the graded test back. The teacher singled my test out as proof that we had already seen it because “i” did have the correct answer… My class was not happy.
For the record i have never been able to memorize any mathematical formula. Instead i use the question to estimate a possible answer, reverse engineer a formula from the deducted answer to then solve the problem normally. In some way this will pattern on its own where i first solve it my own way in order to understand what other people expected and then writing down those expectations is a form of masking and hiding.
On my job i am selective to who i let in on certain “shortcuts” and alternative flows that i discovered.
If this reply lacks sense, i typed it in 3 parts over the course of hours.
Hah, I see. It's real interesting. A few of the kids of mine have the same way of working, so we've agreed on them being allowed to work the way they want to. If they need computers to work, they're allowed to. If they struggle to listen to the lecture for the rest of the class, that's fine. As long as they're not disruptive, they're allowed to work on stuff their own way.
Also, I also don't like teaching rote memorisation-stuff. I just give the kids formulas on tests and ask them to understand which one to use. No memorization, just understanding.
My philosophy is just that "if you understand it, you won't need to memorize it".
In any case, I'm sorry to hear you've had such a shitty school situation. That's not the school-system I'm used to. I'm used to looking for situations where the kids can prove what they can do, not looking for what they can't do. If kids are disruptive, underperforming or whatever, we find out why. We may not always be able to solve all the problems, but we spend a significant amount of time trying to accommodate for the kids' needs.
May I ask where you're from?
I'm teaching in Norway.
Oh damn apparently i already posted but i was still was writing and editing that comment, busy day today.
I am in awe because of this line:
“My philosophy is just that "if you understand it, you won't need to memorize it"
This is not my philosophy as it is observation of reality.
One of my weaknesses is my memory and in a plan i may forget what step i am on. But if you really understand it you can deduct what step your on and the logical next. Its somewhat of a life hack to get things done.
When i am online on a public facing website i am usually from a somewhere USA.. In context of your question you probably mean what school system, i am honestly most familiar with those where from central Europe.
I had good people as teachers but the systems they where supposed to use like _focus on grades _ didn’t work for me. I learn because i really want to know not to win or be perceived as successful.
I think the focus on grades is more harmful than helpful, to be honest. It just puts a ton of pressure on them to perform instead of learning.
And yeah, regarding philosophy/observation of reality, I agree! In case I wasn't clear, I mean philosophy as in.. teaching philosophy, or mantra, as it were.
There are definitely times where you just gotta memorize something.. like names. It's difficult to "understand" those (though not impossible if there's a pattern. Friend of mine has siblings all named the same base word with minor changes.)
But yes. Math, science, social studies, law, etc. You don't need to memorize almost any of it if you UNDERSTAND IT. You can reason out dates of historic events, you can reasonably guess why the mass immigration into the US stopped in like the 1920's, etc.
So that's how I try to teach.