Daniel makes stuff, and, in his spare time, writes about things like movies, kid culture, and geek stuff.
Resisting The "Special Classes For Gifted Children" Allure

The Jewish life-oriented Tablet Magazine has a fresh, sensitive, and perhaps above all wonderfully nuanced take on the dilemma many parents of “gifted” children seem to find (or perhaps put) themselves in: the choice of whether or not to place their child in special “gifted” classrooms and programs.

Marjorie Ingall reflects on some of the personal reasons why she didn’t, uses Andrew Clements’ wonderful books “Frindle” and “The Report Card” to add a literary perspective to the problem of “grade-obsession” in America, and finally paints a beautiful portrait of the life of her seven-year-old daughter’s wonderful “ordinary” classroom.

It’s a great read.

Also don’t miss this earlier column of Ingall’s, in which she shares the whole process she originally went through to reach her decision in support of regular neighborhood schools.

After mulling over the research on kids and praise, which I wrote about a few months ago, I decided that a gifted and talented program might not be healthy for Josie. She’s already hypercompetitive, afraid to get the wrong answer. I want her to heed the clarion call of Ms. Frizzle in “The Magic School Bus” books and TV show: “Take chances! Make mistakes! Get dirty!” And I think a school that appeals to citizenship and cooperation is more likely to keep her an adventurous, enthusiastic learner than one that makes her worry all the time about whether she’s truly gifted. All kids have gifts and deserve to have them recognized.

Nov 07, 2009 :: Tagged under: , , , :: #

Explaining Michael Jackson's Demons

The BBC News has psychologists weigh in on “how the extraordinary childhood experiences of someone such as Michael Jackson might shape a person in later life”…. It’s a terribly fascinating glimpse at the ways in which children internalize their experiences and later might reconcile them in adult life.

What struck me the loudest was this quote, from psychologist Peter Congdon:

“It’s well known that the best preparation for growing up is to live fully as a child. Parents of clever or talented children shouldn’t forget this.”

Jun 29, 2009 :: Tagged under: , , , :: #