Inspired Wednesday - Find Another Teacher

 There are some topics for which I am not the best teacher.

I don't know how to change the oil in my car.  Mechanical engineering will never be my thing.  Neither will astrophysics.

I can't teach them because I personally know nothing about them - so I can either go learn myself or find someone who knows.

When it comes to mechanical engineering and astrophysics, I'm all about finding someone else.

Sometimes, though, instead of a whole 'nother teacher, you just need icing on the subject.  That's what we found with Annie at Tir na nOg Pub in downtown Raleigh a few weeks ago.

Annie is the catering manager there, and she hales from County Armagh in Ireland.  Although I've always been fascinated with this island, I've never been there and so the information and descriptions that I can share with my kids are limited - but Annie's the real deal.

We went there for lunch, and Annie met with us to answer questions and share a bit about her childhood.  She really went the extra mile for us and rearranged her personal schedule to make this work.  After we learned about her magical-sounding childhood in a cottage on the shores of a lake, My Big Helper asked if she learned any Irish dance when she was a child.  Annie replied that she didn't know much, but that a waitress in the restaurant was an award-winning dancer, so they collaborated to get the right music.  

Soon the waitress was on stage, dancing away, feet flying to the beat of the music.  It was wonderful - and far better than anything we could watch on YouTube.  When the demonstration was over and our children had finished eating, many of them began dancing in the aisles, eager to practice what they saw.  Fortunately, nobody was sitting near us, so our 'enthusiasm' didn't disturb anyone.

Field trips are really great ways to make new knowledge personal for a child, and it helps them connect with the information in a way that they might not be able to do otherwise.  You don't have to visit only places that advertise for field trips, though - seek out any place or person connected to the information you're learning and make a request.  Many people are happy to have you visit or to come to you and share what they know.

Some great ways to find another 'teacher' are through:

• restaurants
• community helpers - police, fire fighters, etc.
• hobbyists - stained glass artists, musicians, etc.
• people from other countries - ask around; they're easier to find than you might think!

For a list of fun field trips and speakers that we've visited in the past, check out the Teaching and Learning tab above.

For what subject might you find another teacher?

Last week Sharla at The Chaos and the Clutter linked up a post about whether you need to finish every textbook.  I agree with this author's point - not only do you not need to finish each book, you don't necessarily need to try!  To find out more, visit The Chaos and the Clutter - and Sharla, please visit our Inspired Wednesday page and take the "I was featured on Washed Up Inspired Wednesdays' button back with you.  

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If you have a post about an encouraging activity, project, or trip that you've taken, please link up below and add a link back to this post.  Either way, please read on to find out more about a fun activity that we enjoy here in our nest, and be sure to hop over to Where He Leads, We Follow to check out Stephanie's  Inspiring Wednesday post, too.