Soaring 38” by 49” / mixed media/ cost $ 765
Soaring with TAG
Smart, intelligent, intuitive, creative, brainy? Absolutely. Every parent knows that what Garrison Keillor says is true…we live in a place where “the kids are above average.” Each one of our children belongs in a TAG program for the gifted and talented. And so do you.
Let’s start by considering our children. When my youngest son was in elementary school and his teacher was nominating kids for TAG he was not selected. She thought him to be average because he did not follow her rules all of the time. My husband and I, thinking him above average of course, questioned his teacher and insisted that he be allowed to take the IQ test necessary for being part of the select group. When the results came back she was shocked. My son passed the test with flying colors, was admitted to the program, and proceeded to have a grand time with the special activities and attention that was given to TAG children. He was easily on a par with his other classmates.
After observing his enrichment program, it wasn’t long before I realized every child would benefit from TAG. The projects were not particularly advanced, challenging or difficult. Teachers offered many opportunities for creativity and open ended solutions. They presented more activities involving exploration than offered through a typical class curriculum. Also, the group size was small and manageable. TAG instructors know how to make school fun and lessons exciting by teaching to individual learning styles. As a result the children were involved and absorbed by the challenges presented and there were no behavioral problems.
I am convinced that if more children were taken on field trips, exposed to open ended problems and given the opportunity to use their individual abilities that brain cells would explode in the classroom. Hours of rote memorization and workbook based teaching is a perfect way to kill ambition and desire. Today’s large classes adhering to state and federal standards have resulted in teaching to the test not the child. Curriculum needs to needs to start with the child to insure that learning takes place.
If a school does not embrace an individualized learning philosophy then it becomes the responsibility of parents and grandparents to become a TAG-like educators. Though it would be wonderful to have inspiring programs for every child budget restrictions have made that difficult. But help from mom or dad is available. Family members usually understand their child’s learning style since they have to react to it daily. They are capable of adding enrichment programs to feeds their young one’s brains and many do.
But what about you? Aren’t you worthy of having your brain nourished by interesting activities? Advice given on Care.com suggests that to remain vital continue reading. According to a Mayo Clinic study on aging, reading books can lead to a 50 percent decrease in your chance of getting dementia. Other suggestions are to consider going back to school or auditing a class (learn, test your brain and feel young once more.) Play games and puzzles (improves creativity, memory and decision-making skills), write (helps thinking, language and memory), or pick up an instrument ( improves hearing, memory and hand movement.)
Though the brain does slowly deteriorate, older heads are so filled with knowledge that it just takes a bit longer to retrieve the right information. So, don’t worry if you are slower than you used to be. That is to be expected. It is also why so many of our presidential candidates are in the 60s and 70s. They lived long lives and know more than younger colleagues. It is also true that these politicians participate in a perpetual TAG program. Their busy lives demand constant problem solving, providing a continuous challenge to their brains. By being showered with a barrage of facts and experiences new synapses are created that connect the parts of their ever expanding knowledge.
Denise Park, co-director of the Center for Vital Longevity at the University of Texas at Dallas claims, “As we age we accrue knowledge, have a higher vocabulary score, and know more about the world.” We can remain relevant and dynamic if we adopt the simple advice of a past museum colleague of mine, neuroscientist Marion Diamond who said, “Use it or Lose it applies to brains, bones and muscles!” She advises people to change their hobbies, exercise patterns and jobs in order to stimulate their minds. Marion, authored the Brain Coloring Book, reinforcing her belief that “use of one’s kinesthetic sense in coloring enhances learning and memory processes.” If we, as adults, adopt a TAG mentality and participate in brain building, we can remain contributing members of society throughout our lives.
References
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/01/140128-aging-brain-memory-cognitive-decline-neurology/ – Aging brain is pretty smart
https://www.sfn.org/~/media/SfN/Documents/TheHistoryofNeuroscience/Volume%206/c3.ashx / About Marion Diamond
https://www.care.com/a/9-ways-to-keep-an-aging-brain-smart-1207200456 / Ways to keep an aging brain vital.
Art work is alway for sale. Go to eichingerfineart.com for more information or contact me at marilynne@eichingerfineart.com.
Home » Blog » Soaring With TAG
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Soaring with TAG
Smart, intelligent, intuitive, creative, brainy? Absolutely. Every parent knows that what Garrison Keillor says is true…we live in a place where “the kids are above average.” Each one of our children belongs in a TAG program for the gifted and talented. And so do you.
Let’s start by considering our children. When my youngest son was in elementary school and his teacher was nominating kids for TAG he was not selected. She thought him to be average because he did not follow her rules all of the time. My husband and I, thinking him above average of course, questioned his teacher and insisted that he be allowed to take the IQ test necessary for being part of the select group. When the results came back she was shocked. My son passed the test with flying colors, was admitted to the program, and proceeded to have a grand time with the special activities and attention that was given to TAG children. He was easily on a par with his other classmates.
After observing his enrichment program, it wasn’t long before I realized every child would benefit from TAG. The projects were not particularly advanced, challenging or difficult. Teachers offered many opportunities for creativity and open ended solutions. They presented more activities involving exploration than offered through a typical class curriculum. Also, the group size was small and manageable. TAG instructors know how to make school fun and lessons exciting by teaching to individual learning styles. As a result the children were involved and absorbed by the challenges presented and there were no behavioral problems.
I am convinced that if more children were taken on field trips, exposed to open ended problems and given the opportunity to use their individual abilities that brain cells would explode in the classroom. Hours of rote memorization and workbook based teaching is a perfect way to kill ambition and desire. Today’s large classes adhering to state and federal standards have resulted in teaching to the test not the child. Curriculum needs to needs to start with the child to insure that learning takes place.
If a school does not embrace an individualized learning philosophy then it becomes the responsibility of parents and grandparents to become a TAG-like educators. Though it would be wonderful to have inspiring programs for every child budget restrictions have made that difficult. But help from mom or dad is available. Family members usually understand their child’s learning style since they have to react to it daily. They are capable of adding enrichment programs to feeds their young one’s brains and many do.
But what about you? Aren’t you worthy of having your brain nourished by interesting activities? Advice given on Care.com suggests that to remain vital continue reading. According to a Mayo Clinic study on aging, reading books can lead to a 50 percent decrease in your chance of getting dementia. Other suggestions are to consider going back to school or auditing a class (learn, test your brain and feel young once more.) Play games and puzzles (improves creativity, memory and decision-making skills), write (helps thinking, language and memory), or pick up an instrument ( improves hearing, memory and hand movement.)
Though the brain does slowly deteriorate, older heads are so filled with knowledge that it just takes a bit longer to retrieve the right information. So, don’t worry if you are slower than you used to be. That is to be expected. It is also why so many of our presidential candidates are in the 60s and 70s. They lived long lives and know more than younger colleagues. It is also true that these politicians participate in a perpetual TAG program. Their busy lives demand constant problem solving, providing a continuous challenge to their brains. By being showered with a barrage of facts and experiences new synapses are created that connect the parts of their ever expanding knowledge.
Denise Park, co-director of the Center for Vital Longevity at the University of Texas at Dallas claims, “As we age we accrue knowledge, have a higher vocabulary score, and know more about the world.” We can remain relevant and dynamic if we adopt the simple advice of a past museum colleague of mine, neuroscientist Marion Diamond who said, “Use it or Lose it applies to brains, bones and muscles!” She advises people to change their hobbies, exercise patterns and jobs in order to stimulate their minds. Marion, authored the Brain Coloring Book, reinforcing her belief that “use of one’s kinesthetic sense in coloring enhances learning and memory processes.” If we, as adults, adopt a TAG mentality and participate in brain building, we can remain contributing members of society throughout our lives.
References
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/01/140128-aging-brain-memory-cognitive-decline-neurology/ – Aging brain is pretty smart
https://www.sfn.org/~/media/SfN/Documents/TheHistoryofNeuroscience/Volume%206/c3.ashx / About Marion Diamond
https://www.care.com/a/9-ways-to-keep-an-aging-brain-smart-1207200456 / Ways to keep an aging brain vital.
Art work is alway for sale. Go to eichingerfineart.com for more information or contact me at marilynne@eichingerfineart.com.
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