Want another tip? Yes, it’s also a bit heretical. If I don’t know much on a subject, I start with the children’s version. Sometimes I use the same resource to teach. For example, I’m teaching Brit Lit. The textbook begins with the Anglo-Saxons. What I know about the Anglo-Saxons can fit in a tea cup. So I refreshed my understanding with BBC BiteSize. Yes, it does lead me down several rabbit holes, which is part of the process; Sutton Hoo comes to mind. My Brit Lit class will be able to put the Anglo-Saxons into context before we read Beowulf.
I do this all the time. Let’s say you are struggling with the fundamentals of electricity. Start with a children’s book. I don’t mean the middle school textbook. I mean the ones for early grades. Try the graphic or comic versions. (NSTA’s Stop Faking It! series has merit, too.) The next time you are stumped, look at a resource on the topic for kiddos. It really helps when I’m struggling!
