Wednesday December 2, 2009
I know, I know. December just started, so why start thinking about holiday gifts? Because if you wait too long, you'll just get frustrated and might end up buying things that people don't really want. And you really want to get your kids the kinds of
toys that gifted children enjoy. Luckily, you have some time to think about your child's interests and
what to consider before buying toys for your child.
Of course, if you're like me, you have other people in your life on your holiday shopping list. The guides from the parenting channel have created many different lists that should make finding the right gifts for the people in your lives much easier.
Monday November 30, 2009
According to an article in USA Today, some smart kids are definitely ignored.& The article,
Smart kids ignored? Disparities in gifted education reported, discusses the findings in the recent National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) report on the state of the states in gifted education.& And it's not pretty. Here's a quote:
"There is a markedly insufficient national commitment to gifted and talented children, which, if left unchecked, will ultimately leave our nation ill-prepared to field the next generation of innovators and to compete in the global economy."
There is a national commitment to children who are behind the norm, but not for children above the norm. Del Siegle, the author of the report, refers to the "age of Sputnik" when money was spent on math and science in schools. I can remember those Kennedy years, and I remember how my high school added classes in math and science and even Russian. We weren't a wealthy school district and we didn't really have room for those classes, but the school made do. Some classes were held in various empty spots, not classrooms, with portable chalkboards. Those weren't the math or science classes, of course, but Russian classes were held in the foyer to the auditorium as were other classes to make room for the extra math classes that needed the chalk boards in the classrooms.
Were those ideal conditions? No, but we make do in order to place the emphasis on what we think is important. Schools don't need large budgets to accommodate the needs of gifted children. They simply need the willingness to provide these children with something more than what is offered. It doesn't cost anything, for example, for an elementary school to use
cluster grouping. It takes some commitment and a willingness to understand gifted children and what they need.
What do you think?
Wednesday November 25, 2009
Do you have a special way of celebrating Thanksgiving? My family always tries to spend time together, but it gets harder and harder as the kids grow up and scatter. There used to be fourteen adults and kids at my mother's house at Thanksgiving. But now my son and I take my mother to my spend the day with my older brother, who lives a couple of hours away. Only six family members will be there; everyone else is scattered around the country and even around the globe -- Indiana, California, Wisconsin, Tennessee and China.
Even though we don't get to spend a lot of time together anymore, I am very grateful for the wonderful family I have. I am especially
grateful for my son, who, although not perfect, continues to make me proud. He joined the National Guard and was supposed to be in basic training now, but his training was delayed, so I'm so grateful that he'll be with us this Thanksgiving!
What are you grateful for?
Monday November 23, 2009
All year long, we are busy. Busy at work, busy at home, busy with the kids. We deal every day with big problems and little problems and rarely have a chance to consider the things that aren't problems in our lives, the things that we can be thankful for.
Thanksgiving is a day that was meant to be a time for us to consider those things, a day to be thankful for all that is good in our lives and about life in general. Take a little time this week to find ways to think about the good things in your life and help your children focus on the good things in their lives.
Whether you watch some Thanksgiving movies with the whole family, read some Thanksgiving books, or engage in other activities, you can find
ways to be thankful on Thanksgiving. Many activities require little preparation, so you still have time to get what you need. Even if you don't have any books or movies at home, you can easily borrow some from the library.
Do you have special ways to give thanks on Thanksgiving?
You can share them with us!
