Why We Love Academy

��Ƶ Staff — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 16:30:04 +0000

It’s always a joy to watch our students be challenged by the enrichment classes we offer, ranging from Kitchen Chemistry to Myths and Monsters. Academy allows the gifted students we serve engage with a community of peers and return home eager to talk about what new things they learned. We asked our Academy community how they feel about the program and here is what they said:

Students

What fascinating things did you learn?

“Who doesn’t want to learn about the water bear which can survive being frozen or boiled! And I also learned a lot about the causes of natural disasters. It’s a really interesting class!”

“I am [now] able to distinguish the traits of Cenozoic animals. Nothing could make this class better – the class is too amazing!”

“I [learned] how to code and where to hook up wires and electronics. My favorite activity so far was making games with LCD!”

Did you feel challenged by your classes?

“{With] only two other people in the class, we were able to learn more. I felt that I was in an environment with kids like me. This allowed me to be more challenged.”

“It was more challenging, but in a good way. I am not challenged at all in school and it becomes very boring. But here, I am constantly engaged and it was fun.”

“It challenged us to mold our ideas into something instead of putting them aside.”

“It challenged me to build things that I haven’t built before. When something didn’t work I had to fix it and try to make my structure better.”

What was your favorite part about Academy?

“I felt part of a group of kids who are just like me and I want to feel that feeling again!”

“They told me why here, but at my other school they just say, ‘Do this!’”

“This is the first math class I ever had that wasn’t boring!”

“I am able to assemble, have my own ideas, and execute them.”

Parents

What has your child taken away from Academy that will promote life-long learning?

“My son enjoyed the class so thoroughly it’s difficult to pinpoint the most valuable aspect. He plans to become a wildlife conservationist in the future so the knowledge gained from the class will be very useful.”

“She found the class to be very fun and interesting and she liked the hands on projects. It nurtured her interest in an area that she may not have discovered on her own.”

“My daughter has learned so much at ��Ƶ, but most importantly she learned that learning can be enjoyable. She looks forward to all her ��Ƶ classes and runs to the front door every time.”

Does your child look forward to Academy classes?

“We have tried other science camps and classes that wasn’t the right fit for our daughter. The World of Science was the perfect balance of difficulty, challenge, fun and education. Thank you!”

“The classes at the Academy have been rigorous and challenging and yet creative and extremely fun for my son.”

“My son looks forward all week long to being engaged, inspired and learning the mysteries of the universe in his classes at ��Ƶ. Each Saturday is like Christmas morning.”

“My son is academically-inclined and enjoys school, but he LOVES attending Academy Courses. The courses are didactic but also very discussion-based, and he thrives in a setting where he can interact with others sharing- and challenging each other with ideas within a wonderfully supportive and caring environment. He loves ��Ƶ!”

What does your child tell you about Academy?

“After one of his classes, my son came out saying, ‘That was awesome. I love it!’ There is nothing else he would rather do than go to ��Ƶ class and I am so grateful.”

“After the first day of class, my son came home and said, ‘It’s scary. It’s like they know me!’ From that day forward, I could tell Ryan felt comfortable and understood at ��Ƶ. By the last class, he was exuberant.”

“We were driving in the car last week and Annie remarked from the back, ‘You know your hippocampus is very important. It is where you make memories. I am using my hippocampus right now!’ Clearly, at least some the anatomy lessons stuck!”

Instructors

What is your favorite thing about teaching at Academy?

“I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would be able to teach what I learned in college and graduate school to such a young audience. I learned to never underestimate the students at ��Ƶ. It’s truly unimaginable what things they can accomplish!”

“It was very rewarding. The students were very excited about the subject matter and commented frequently on how much they enjoyed the class.”

“The students were so ready to learn and create, it was a pleasure to work with them. Everyone said they wish the class was longer so that they could continue it.”

Did that get you pumped about Academy? Join us this session! to learn web coding, algebraic chemistry, scriptwriting and more.

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The Gift of Gab

��Ƶ Staff — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 05:23:27 +0000

By Elizabeth Jones, ��Ƶ Co-Founder and President

I have had the privilege of learning from gifted and highly gifted students for over 20 years. During that time, we have worked with schools, trained teachers, supported students, provided fun, engaging learning experiences, guided parents and listened to kids.

The anecdotes that follow demonstrate some of the most common characteristics of intellectually precocious youth, such as advanced vocabulary, curiosity, deep empathy, rage to master, keen observation, humor and the articulation of apparently logical theories.

Although these incidents are all unique to different children, if you have had the benefit of spending time with these amazing young people, you will inevitably relate to similar comments or events.

“Who knew? School is not a place you go to learn; it is where you go to make macaroni necklaces.” – 5-year-old boy

“There are 532 dots in the ceiling tile over my desk. I know it is a weird number but it is the number. I know because I count them every day when we read together in class. I think they should make the tiles with 576 dots or 484 dots. Why? Because it is easier to do the square root.” – 7-year-old girl

“Can I be my 8-year-old self this afternoon? I had to be my 15-year-old self all day.” – 8-year-old girl

“I learned something new in school today: you get in trouble if you tell the teacher she is wrong—even if she is wrong. That is not right—it is wrong!” – 7-year-old boy

“In my school, we have gifted kids called ‘nerds,’ and we have good athletes we call ‘jocks.’ I think we need a word for gifted kids who are good athletes—like ‘jerds!’ Ha! I am a total jerd!” – 11-year-old boy

“I just feel better when I eat only white food. What is the problem?” – 6-year-old girl

“I remember, when I was young, I cried when I saw the leaves on the tree in the back yard fall off. I thought it must hurt the tree. So I went to hug the tree, and she told me it was okay, it didn’t hurt, and new leaves would grow back. It took such a long time, but it happened. I love that tree.” – 6-year-old girl

“Home is safe; I have my books, my computer, my snuggle bunny and mom. Why should I go to some strange house to ‘play’?” – 8-year-old boy

“You are right; if you do your math work sheet upside down, it is a lot more interesting.” – 10-year-old boy

Gifted children are not better than other kids, they are just different. They think differently, learn in unique ways and they have a wonderful sense of humor. Imagine a world that celebrated all these kids have to offer! What a wonderful world it would be!

What things have your kids said to you that demonstrated a characteristic of giftedness? Please share in the comment section below!

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quotes – Institute for Educational Advancement

Why We Love Academy

Students

Parents

Instructors

The Gift of Gab