Maximizing Learning Potential: Finally, Time to Post

Monday, June 14, 2010

Finally, Time to Post

I looked at the date of my last post and was shocked! It's been way too long since I sat down to the computer to blog.

The kids have decided they'd like to stay home again full-time next year. We are busy making up the schedule and prioritizing our activities. Haley has decided to play in the homeschool band (the flute) instead of starting violin lessons back up. It saves me a 25-minute drive each way, as well as a lot of tuition $. I think she'll have a lot more fun in band as well, since there will be other students her age. She is taking Precalculus and Spanish at the Learning Center from 11:30-1:30 next year on Tuesdays, so band just fits in nicely from 1:30-2:00 (same place/same time).

All three kids want to play basketball next year. Maddie will also probably continue to play soccer in the fall. Other than that, we are keeping the schedule open.

We are switching JET days next year so that we go on the same days as the Carpenters. This way, we can plan units together. We just finished a Greek Mythology unit. The kids deciphered a code in Greek, read and summarized Greek myths, played games and finished up with a "Hera Talk Show." It was hilarious! (ended up like a kid version of the Jerry Springer Show) :)

Next year, we are learning a lot of exciting things with our Beyond the Page curriculum! Haley will be studying poetry, energy, tall tales, literary elements, immigration and much more!

Hunter and Maddie will be working on the same curriculum and will learn all about matter, movement, community, culture and many other topics!

I'm really excited to dig in! Of course, the kids would like summer to last a little longer. LOL

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Is it a Cheetah?

When we think of cheetahs we are likely to think first of their speed. It's flashy. It is impressive. It's unique. If a cheetah is confined to a 10 X 12 foot cage, though it may pace or fling itself against the bars in restless frustration, it won't run 70 mph.

IS IT STILL A CHEETAH?

If a cheetah has only 20 mph rabbits to chase for food, it won't run 70 mph while hunting.

A school system that defines giftedness (or talent) as behavior, achievement and performance is as compromised in its ability to recognize its highly gifted students and to give them what they need as a zoo would be to recognize and provide for its cheetahs if it looked only for speed.

However, schools are to extraordinarily intelligent children what zoos are to cheetahs. Many schools provide a 10 x 12 foot cage, giving the unusual mind no room to get up to speed. Many highly gifted children sit in the classroom the way big cats sit in their cages, dull-eyed and silent. Some, unable to resist the urge from inside even though they can't exercise it, pace the bars, snarl and lash out at their keepers, or throw themselves against the bars until they do themselves damage.
In some schools brilliant children are asked to do what they were never designed to do while the attributes that are a natural aspect of unusual mental capacity -- intensity, passion, high energy, independence, moral reasoning, curiosity, humor, unusual interests and insistence on truth and accuracy -- are considered problems that need fixing.

Exerpts from Stephanie S. Tolan ©1996

Work Samples

Manatees (unedited)
By Haley
05/14/09

Manatees are very different than other animals. Manatees are aquatic mammals. They are also endangered. Manatees live in warm waters. They are very slow. Manatees are related to elephants. Manatees never hurt any other animal.

Manatees are funny looking creatures. Manatees are a grey- brown color. They are known as sea cows. A baby manatee weighs about 60 pounds. A grown manatee weighs about 1000 pounds. Sharp propellers from motor boats scar the manatees back.

Manatees have to lots of things after they have a baby. A mother manatee always stays near her calf. Manatees always teach there calf which plants are safe to eat. Manatees usally have one baby at a time every three years. The first thing a baby manatee does after it gets born it rises to the surface to breath. Last, a female manatee becomes an adult when it is five.

Manatees were used in lots of different ways. Its skin was burned as fuel. Also its bones where used as medican and jewelry. Its skin was made into shoes. Manatees fed many people.

Manatees are endangered animals. People need to protect them and not hurt them so they don’t dye out!