If you are going to make a difference in the world, you will soon learn that you can't follow the herd.
In order to lead, one must possess a strong sense of direction. One must have a purpose and understand the meaning behind his or her action. One must also be able to communicate this so that others may follow.
To educate means to 'lead out'. Our world's greatest political and spiritual leaders have dedicated their lives to educating and leading... as have parents, teachers, coaches and mentors.
Sometimes we forget and become more concerned with the results of "what" our children are learning and less about the “how” and “why” of learning. However, if a student is encouraged to understand "how" she learns, and "why" something can be exciting, and then be inspired to satisfy the curiosity... it will make a difference between her success and her failure.
Inspired learning is the primary difference between 1) a linear, one-size-fits-all education designed to create followers - regurgitating back what is given, and 2) an individualized education which can create leaders - sparking interests that bring about change. One takes the same ingredients of structured content and attempts to produce a standardized result, and then order each studnet in numerical order. The other attempts to structure time to teach a student to think, to learn 'how' to learn, and to discover 'why' this adds interest and value to his or her life. In other words, it focuses on leading out and feeding the curiosity that is within. The gained result in not standard but extraordinary. It develops one who can gain mastery of himself.
This year, CP students have been encouraged to focus on the HOW and WHY of learning. Through identifying their own learning styles and learning about varying ways brains process information, they are learning to use their unique strengths to gain knowledge, problem solve and consciously create their future. The articles listed 'In the Classroom' are brief descriptions of recent classroom activities designed to stimulate critical thinking and creative problem solving.
So, projecting forward, which one will more likely stand out in the stacks of resumes and college applications? Which one will be more likely to further the vision of an idea... of a company... of the world? Number 6 out of 789 or this ONE who masters pieces of himself...
Remind YOUR child that he or she is a unique ONE... regardless of where he or she may be in line.
~Carol