It was 10 o’clock at night, after a full day of touring New York City, and I worried  that my youngest child would fall asleep during the production of Dream, an adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Instead, he was on the edge of his seat guffawing with laughter.

Actually, we were all laughing at that point.  The young cast of this Downtown Art production, under the direction of Ryan Gilliam, had put on a delightful performance.

This comedic tale of romance and parental disobedience has been “infused with Celtic tales of mischief and magic.”  Irish fairies snatch babies and use magic potions to redirect love and turn a man into a donkey.  The talented teens drew us right into the story, and kept us completely engaged throughout.

Our kids loved the show, even 8-year-old Alex. 

This was his first time seeing a full production of a Shakespearean play and I was concerned that he wouldn’t understand or enjoy the show.  A couple of times, Alex had to ask for the definition of words like “woo.” And the language was difficult to follow: a Shakespearean English delivered with an Irish accent.  Mostly, I was mistakenly thinking that Shakespeare is only for older children and adults.

In truth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream is perhaps the most accessible Shakespearean play for children.  This particular production was an excellent introduction to theatre and the Bard’s work.

I’m glad Alex had a chance to just enjoy the magic and wonder of Shakespeare, long before it is a sometimes dreaded required topic in high school.

Of course, this successful introduction is just part of an ongoing learning campaign. 

Introduction

Alex’s first introduction to Shakespeare was in Preschool as one of a group of Elizabethan dancers.  For the past six years, Sean Fagan has put on an annual extravaganza that brings the entire Robert C. Parker school community into an amazing performance of Shakespearean theatrics.  This year, Alex returned to Parker as a member of the audience watching his sister in an excerpt from The Taming of the Shrew.

The Globe

Another exposure was on our European vacation in 2005, when we took a guided tour of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.  We weren’t able to get show tickets, and didn’t really want to tackle a crowded, standing-room only, performance with a 5-year-old.  However, the tour provided fascinating insight into Shakespeare’s world.  Also, the shop had a wonderfully comprehensive collection of books on everything and anything to do with Shakespeare.

My kids picked up a book on Shakespearean insults that has remained a treasured source of their wit.

Our Books on Shakespeare Collection

Shakespeare: The Basics by Sean McEvoy is a good way to quickly pick up an overview and essential information on any of the Shakespearean plays.  I keep it as a reference to jumpstart my faulty memory.

Shakespeare: The Bard’s Guide to Abuses and Affronts - This is my kids’ treasured resource on Shakespearean insults.

Ten Tales from Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb. - These short story versions of the plays are a good way to share the story before seeing one of these plays.  It includes: The Tempest, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, As You Like It, The Merchant of Venice, King Lear, Macbeth, The Taming of the Shrew, Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, and Othello.

Welcome to the Globe!: The Story of Shakespeare’s Theater (DK Readers: Level 4) is a a colorful, well-illustrated introduction to Shakespeare’s world.

Shakespeare’s Globe: The Guidebook contains all the details on this historic theatre.

William Shakespeare & The Globe by Aliki - The story of the Globe is told as if it were a play that is illustrated as if it were a beautiful comic book.

Mr. William Shakespeare’s Plays presented by Marcia Williams is a cartoon retelling of the following plays: Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth, The Winter’s Tale, Julius Caesar, and The Tempest.

Other Resources

Shakespeare Movies For The Family - A guide to movie versions of Shakespeare’s plays that are appropriate for children.

The Globe’s Online Learning includes a virtual tour of The Globe and the opportunity to follow an actor through a season.

Folger Shakespeare Library - Online games, challenges, and educational resources.

Shakespeare Are Kids - Do Your Own Shakespeare allows kids to virtually participate in a play and a teacher’s section with tips for K-8 educators.

Surfing the Net with Kids: William Shakespeare - Lots of kid-friendly fun and educational links.

Future Exposure

We plan to continue finding opportunities to enjoy Shakespeare’s plays, and perhaps pick up a few pointers on creating stories that can stand the test of time.

I can’t wait for the Shakespeare in the Park Series!

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I just read an article that challenges readers to Value All Gifts and Talents by creating new school options rather than the traditional academic model.

The underlying assumption in this article is that the typical high school’s college preparatory classes fulfill the needs of gifted students, while unnecessarily stressing students whose strength lies in arts, athletics, crafts, mechanics, teaching, etc.

I believe that this is a popular assumption, and that this is one reason that there is very little funding or support for Gifted & Talented Programs in many school districts throughout the USA.

Definition of Gifted

In our egalitarian society, you have to be brave to describe your child as “gifted” with its suggestion of elitism and status-chasing.  Many people will tell you that all children are gifted, which is true, but not in the sense that the term is used in the field of education.

Here, gifted is a relative term that describes “individual exceptionality from the norm, about learning differences at a given point in time that require special educational adaptations.” (Mathews and Foster, Being Smart about Gifted Children)

Gifted just means that a student will have different education needs from that of most age-level peers, but those needs may vary drastically per individual.

Levels of Giftedness

Researchers are finding that there are many more gifted individuals in the general population than previously thought. However, the IQ of the gifted can range from Level One Moderately Gifted (117-129) to Level Five Profoundly Gifted (141+.) Note that these numbers reflect the new, lower IQ test results.

Early Indicators (prior to Kindergarten) of Intellectual Giftedness are found at all of these levels:

· Understands complex verbal instructions

· Shows interest and ability with shape sorters and 8-10 piece puzzles.

· Speaks in complex, correct sentences using comparatives and connective words

· Can sight read a number of words or familiar signs

· Completes 25+ piece jigsaw puzzles and complex mazes

· Recognizes and/or names a wide variety of colors and shades

· Knows the letters in or out of alphabetical order

· Makes letters by writing or using sticks, utensils, etc.

· Knows the numbers

· Shows keen memory for detail in spatial directions, past events, etc.

· Uses one-to-one correspondence in counting objects

It is interesting to note that in school districts that draw students from a high socioeconomic population, where most parents are highly educated professionals, most of the students are Level One Gifted but average learners. Also, a typical middle class elementary school will have 1-2 (out of 100) Level Three students at each grade level. Level 4 and Level 5 students are less likely to be found in schools, as they are more likely to turn to homeschooling or alternative schooling options.

Even more interesting is how the level of giftedness impacts academic abilities and needs. The Level One Moderately Gifted average learners already “show impatience with repetition and slow pace by age seven or eight.” Level Two students have the ability to do accelerated work often as soon as they start school. Level Three students can read youth or young adult books at around age 7. And Level Four students are capable of completing 8^th Grade work by 4^th grade.

(Source: Deborah Ruf, Losing Our Minds: Gifted Children Left Behind. 2005: Great Potential Press.)

Gifted Domains

Identifying the gifted is further complicated by the wide variety of abilities that falls under the “gifted” umbrella.  Karen Rogers, one of the leading researchers in Gifted Education and the author of Re-Forming Gifted Education, sorts Giftedness and Talent into six domains: general intellectual; specific academic; creativity; psychosocial or leadership; visual and performing arts; and psychomotor. A gifted individual may display a mixture of traits from these domains.

While a Level Three Intellectually Gifted student who excels in class may be easy to identify as gifted; a disorganized, divergent “Creative Spirit” may be hard to spot as gifted.

Gifted Educational Needs

There are many options for providing an educational plan for the gifted, but – despite the prevalence of college preparatory school curriculums – “many experts in the field of gifted education have argued that the general school curriculum does not contain enough breadth or depth of content for bright, eager learners who crave knowledge.” (Rogers, p. 79)

Gifted Students want schools that:

· Provide advanced courses, honor classes, and other opportunities beyond the standard curriculum,

· Offer out-of-school options such as mentorships and community service projects, and

· Provide opportunities for teachers and counselors to learn about the special needs of gifted students.

Gifted students want to:

· Learn at their own speed

· Opt out of work they already know and understand

· Study things that interest them and go beyond the basics

· Work with abstract concepts that require more than simple thinking – such as creative, reflective, and analytical ideas

· Work with peers who share your interests and abilities

· Participate in options that connect your learning to the “real world.”

(Source: Surveys of gifted students reported in Galbraith and Delisle, The Gifted Kids’ Survival Guide: A Teen Handbook. 1996: Free Spirit Publishing.)

More Links:

Responding to the Needs of High School Level Gifted Learners

Dealing With the Needs of Underachieving Gifted Students In a Suburban School District: What Works!

Losing the Gifted

When the opportunity for relevant, meaningful learning doesn’t exist, gifted students may become bored and act out. Some become frustrated and angry, while others start clowning around. Many students who are forced to conform to the class standard may become withdrawn and/or apathetic. A student who started Kindergarten as a bright, eager, curious child can end up as a dull, uninterested adolescent. A pattern of underachievement can set in as early as the primary grades. By high school, many drop-outs are gifted students.

How to tell if your school district values the gifted and talented:

· There is funding for training teachers about Gifted Education.

· Gifted education options and resources are available from Kindergarten through 12^th Grade.

· There is a Gifted Education Coordinator in your elementary school.

· A Gifted Coordinator/Guidance Counselor is available to follow a gifted student’s progress from 7^th-12 Grade.

· There are opportunities for acceleration, at a minimum, in Math and English.

· Subjects that aren’t tested on the annual state standardized tests, such as Science and Social Studies, are given in-depth, meaningful coverage.

· Language arts programs include many opportunities for creative, as well as expository, writing.

· There is an Enrichment Program that provides opportunities for the development of higher level skills, such as divergent and evaluative thinking, problem-solving, and creativity.

· There are opportunities for self-directed or independent study.

· Availability of AP courses that follow the AP curriculum guidelines and offer the end-of-course exams for college credit.

· Library, Music, and Art instruction is given as much funding and time as physical education.

· Academic contests such as spelling bees, science fairs, or math counts receive as much funding and popular support as athletic or other programs.

So, do you think your school values the gifted and talented? What does your school do well? What else would you like to see your school doing?

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Much of what I know about parenting comes from what I learned from dog training. When Mowgli, my yellow Lab, was a puppy I followed the advice of Carol Benjamin, author of Mother Knows Best: The Natural Way to Train Your Dog. She counsels new dog parents to spend several hours each day physically attached to their puppy with a leash. After a few days of this quality time, the youngster becomes emotionally attached to “mother.” The puppy comes to obey the owner because he wants to please his mother dog.

In the hopes that my kids will listen to me because they want to please me, I have tried various bonding activities.

Try these activities. They work. Sometimes the children do listen.

1. Family Meals
Every parenting expert tells you to share family meals, but it’s hard to find the time for the entire family to eat together. Even though I’m a stay at home mom, juggling various schedules means that we can’t always eat together. That’s OK.

Commit to a family meal 1-2 times per week. Consider getting together for other meals such as a weekend brunch. Keep the meal simple and expect everyone to help. Some fun ideas: Pancake Dinner; Picnic on the Living Room Floor; Reverse Meal (kids cook & serve).

2. Outdoor Time

Commune with nature, get some exercise, and listen to your kids and the birds on a family hike. Start with short trips and build up to more strenuous expeditions. Make sure everyone dresses in layers, stays hydrated, and pack snacks. Keep them motivated by encouraging them to identify the flora and fauna and dole out mini-chocolates as an incentive & sugar rush.

Consider trying other sports such as biking, skiing, rock climbing, white water rafting, or tubing.

3. Parent/Child Project

Some of my husband’s favorite childhood memories involve building model airplanes with his Dad. Forget the trauma of the annual science fair project and pick a project that interests both of you.

You could create a Butterfly Garden or participate in a global project like Star Count or Project FeederWatch.

A young friend is raising egg-producing chickens with his Dad. They built a portable chicken coop to house the hens and documented the entire project. Now they are earning money for their Chicken Tractor Plan on EBay. You never know where a weekend project will lead.

4. Share Books

You’ve heard it a million times - read to your kids! Sure, but it isn’t always easy to find the time to read aloud. We like to relax with a bedtime book, but not every night. Sometimes we prefer to read our own books.

Try sneaking in some reading at other times. We keep magazines & newspapers at the breakfast table. Carry books & magazines everywhere, you never know when you’ll have to wait somewhere. Borrow or buy audio books for long car trips. Our library has a great collection, but now you can also download books on your ipod through services such as audible.com or The Spoken Alexandria Project.

Don’t just read. Talk about it! Share the excitement with a book club. Start a Mother/Daughter Book Club or a Kid’s Book Club. Visit the book’s setting or the author’s home. Have a book theme party.

5. On On One Outings

Occasionally, plan a parent/child outing. It can be as simple as a trip to the ice cream stand or to the pet store. It’s important to have a time to chat without sibling interruptions.

6. Share a Hobby

If your child seems interested in your hobby, give them the chance to try it as well. Don’t push it if they lose interest. If you like to scrapbook, set up your child with his/her own supplies so that you can work together (but apart.) They may drop the project for awhile, but come back to it later.

7. Be a Scouting Volunteer

One of my most rewarding volunteer activities is being a Girl Scout Leader. I get to hang out with my daughter and her friends while we try out new activities or help out in our community. It’s fun, and I get to hear what’s going on in their lives. Now my husband is experiencing a whole new level of parenting, and developing strong organizational skills, as a Cub Scout Den Leader.

8. Coach a Team

You can coach your child’s sports team, but there are other options as well. Last year, I co-coached two Odyssey of the Mind Teams. It was a blast enabling these kid’s creativity, and I learned a lot about what it really means to “think outside the box.” Other team competitions include: Math Counts; Lego League Challenge; and Destination Imagination.

9. Explore Your World

Family travel can be a relaxing time to share interests in a setting devoid of the stresses of your regular schedule. Well, I’ve heard that it can be relaxing. I just don’t travel that way. I like to experience a new environment to it’s fullest potential. Fellow travellers have labelled my pleasant jaunts “death marches.” Hey, different strokes for different folks!

My family actually enjoys the way we travel. We’re never bored because there is always lots of stuff we want to do.

Explore your world at the pace your family enjoys. You don’t even have to go far. Check out your local museums, arboretums, theme parks, odd exhibits, festivals, and fairs.

10. Blog Together

Share your family story through a blog. There are several family network sites including: Famoodle; Familyroutes; and Amiglia. Another option is to create a Family Blog using Blogger’s Team Blog feature.

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I confess. It’s my fault that Alex doesn’t like math. Before he entered 1st grade, I thought it would be a great idea to give him the same advantage enjoyed by many successful Asian mathematicians. The media often reminds us that Americans are losing the math wars, and I didn’t want Alex’s path to Nobel laureate to be hindered by a lack of mathematical skills.

The Kumon Math program seemed like a good way to ensure that Alex gained those skills. Kumon started in Japan, but centers can now be found throughout the US. Students visit the center weekly for testing and to pick up a packet of worksheets that they complete daily. Based on the assessment test, they are placed at a level that they can comfortably handle. The Kumon philosophy is that repetition and success breeds math confidence and excellence.

Kayla enrolled in the Kumon program late in 2nd grade, when she started doing math fact drills in school. The Kumon practice was an extension of what she was doing in class, and it really helped to reinforce her school work. She gained confidence in her math abilities because the daily practice enabled her to shine in math class.

By 5th grade, daily Kumon practice had definitely lost its allure. The 10 minute worksheets were dragged out into hours. School math was easy, so Kayla saw no benefit to extracurricular math practice.

Meanwhile, we saw many Asian preschoolers picking up their Kumon packets and feared that Alex was falling behind. We enrolled Alex when he was in Kindergarten. Soon, he was completing worksheets with single digit addition and subtraction. This was much more writing work than the “easy” math in school. Kumon became a dreaded exercise in “drill and kill.” Eventually, we discontinued Kumon practice for both kids.

Now I’m paying for my eagerness by having to overcome Alex’s aversion to math. He just wasn’t ready to practice math facts when he didn’t understand the concepts behind the process. Kayla, on the other hand, asked to go back to Kumon. She is in a more challenging math class at school and she realizes that her math skills are rusty and slowing her down.

Learning math is like learning to play a musical instrument or to speak a foreign language. You need to build your knowledge base, bit by bit. You also need to do your daily practice. Kumon is an excellent way to provide the daily practice, but it is not a substitute for the hard work of learning to understand the ideas behind the problems.

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