It takes grit

A little rain couldn't dampen the smiles at Camp Chincachgook. 

What do kids learn there?  That they can do things they thought they couldn't: like being away from home, sleeping in a cabin, going out in a giant canoe or kayak for the first time, and climbing pilot Knob or Buck Mountain.  These things take real "grit" - and everyone can manage it.  The satisfaction of accomplishment will last - and it will transfer to other challenges.

Meanwhile back at school...

What is grit?

What if the Secret to Success Is Failure?  www.nytimes.com

Why our children’s success - and happiness - may depend less on perfect performance than on learning how to deal with failure.

Rich curriculum = rich vocabulary

What does it mean when the average verbal SAT score is dropping, as has been reported recently? Demographic changes, sure.  More kids taking the test.  But thoughtful analysis shows it is actually the focus on memory and testing in elementary school, instead of on a content-rich curriculum. 

A savory, juicy, rich curriculum develops a big vocabulary - exactly what's needed for success on the SAT.  Seems simple doesn't it?  Read more in How to Stop the Drop in Verbal Scores from the NY Times.

Being smart about technology

Technology has expanded what we do in school in amazing ways.  We can communicate face-to-face in real time with people far away.  We can write, revise, and collaborate in ways unimagined 25 years ago.  We can see the New York Times from 1864.  We can crunch data, design and test a bridge model, and tell a story through video that can be seen around the world in a moment.

But it doesn't replace building the bridge model and seeing if it stands.  Or taking 50 yellow cubes and dividing them into seven cups by hand.

This article from the New York Times, In Classroom of Future, Stagnant Scores, tells the story of schools seduced by the glamour of technology, but not necessarily using it for better learning.  To do that takes teachers with discriminating intelligence.

Technology transforms learning - if we're smart about it.

Snapshot of the first days

Getting to know each other, getting to know the school grounds, observing what looks different after recent rains, helping to spruce up the school...These are a few ways we develop that all important culture of strong community!

Sunny smiles

Sunny smiles prevailed over gray skies on the first day!  It is fantastic to see our friends back in school  - and some new faces who will soon be friends. 

Read this article from Smithsonian about Why Finland's Schools Are So Successful.  It sounds an awful lot like Parker! 

Revelation of a society's soul

Nelson Mandela has said, “there can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children."

Yet, The Kids Are Not All Right, Joel Bakan's Op Ed piece in the New York Times, tells of modern childhood usurped by corporate interests, of children subjected to the lure of unhealthy foods, of violent sexual imagery, and toxic chemicals. 

For educators and parents this cultural phenomenon is untenable.   But we do have recourse.  We can limit what our children view and teach them to be critical consumers.  We can make sure the balance of their daily experience is free from the negative aspects of corporate influence.  We can feed their growing minds with meaningful questions and explorations, and can steep them in a culture of caring and intellect. 

We can bring intention and thoughtfulness to the world we create for our children - at school and at home.  And we can use the democratic means at our hands to work for positive change.

Things I learned at camp

Did you know that if you scratch a frog's tummy, he falls asleep? 

Who needs summer homework? Good question.

Who needs summer homework? from the New York Times, shares a Mom's take on fighting the so called "brain drain."

I LOVED the summer reading list as a kid: visiting the library and returning home with a stack of delicious books.  OK, I was a book worm, sacrificing backpack space for The Good Earth on a camping trip...or forgoing a swim at the pool so I could finish A Tale of Two Cities. 

I'm sure there is a balance there somewhere!

No brain drain here

"For children, play is work; it is how they learn who they are, what their roles are, what skills they have and how to get along with others," says Deb McGregor of Wisconsin's Children's Service Society.  "One of the best ways to unlock the learning potential in a child is to provide a stimulating environment for creative play, one that is full of sights, sounds, tastes and smells."

Knowing this, we craft a summer experience for children where activities are open-ended - where they can explore friendships as well as new and challenging things like building a rocket or writing a puppet show together. (A lot like the regular school year!)

There are reports about how much learning children loose during the summer. The Brain Drain.  But it's not that simple.   A good summer experience adds to a child's sense of self-sufficiency and stretches them into new and unfamiliar territory.   It gives them relevant background knowledge to draw from.

But what about those kids who don't have access to something exciting?  Food for thought for future Planet Parker programs...