WOW! We have had another busy week so far. Yesterday we went through Uptown in the rain on our transportation trip and really learned a lot about how the LYNX, busses, trolleys, and other modes of transportation are the same and/or different.
As I explained in the newsletter, we started blogging with our buddies around the world. With the class blogging adventures also came individual blogging fun. Each student in our class has his/her VERY OWN blog! We will write on the blogs at least once a week at school. It is optional for your child to write on his/her blog anytime at home. They can use any device that connects to the internet to blog and can also upload pictures or other types of media. It is amazing what they students were able to do in just one blogging session and I cannot wait to see more unfold! The most important thing about the blog is... THIS IS YOUR CHILD'S BLOG. As the administrator of the blog, I am able to preview and accept or deny any blog posts, comments, etc. that are made. I will not accept and post anything to the blog that is not 100% your child's work. I expect there to be misspellings and errors. I expect there to be mistakes and misunderstandings. I expect this to be a learning process. Please do not interfere with this process by correcting your child's work or efforts. All of the children are excited and correcting their errors or mistakes will only dampen their spirit of eagerness.
This brings me to my next point... please DO NOT correct your child's work at home. This includes projects, homework, optional work, etc. It is characteristic of a gifted child to feel a heightened sense of perfection or natural stress. When you correct your child's writing, spelling, math, etc. you are heightening their sense of stress and demonstrating that perfection is required or expected. This causes your child to hold back from taking risks, thinking outside the box, and trying new things because the fear of being wrong, incapable, or corrected is overpowering. Please let me know if you have any questions regarding this. I know it is a difficult concept to grasp because you do not want your child to grow up thinking there are no capital letters or that a misspelled word is correct. By allowing your child to learn through exploration and trial/error, they will actually internalize their learning and acquire knowledge at a faster and more successful pace.
Please remember that the assignments on the website are OPTIONAL as are the math Homelinks. I do not expect your child to be completing each and every assignment. ONE OR TWO optional assignments per 9 weeks quarter is enough to earn a "4" in homework. Our day is extremely busy and academically enriching... your child needs to play, explore, and relax after school, not go home to more school work. If you want to work on skills or practice with your child, the best way to do it is through exploration and play. Talk about the colors or sounds in LEGOS, dolls, toys, etc. Talk to them about their day, favorite things, etc. Look for street signs and read what they say or infer through the pictures. Enjoy being with your child and experiencing life through their world.... I assure you they will be learning along the way! =) The only assignment daily is to read and record in your child's reading log, which are checked/signed off on weekly.
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