About
As an educator, parent, author, and consultant in gifted/high-level development, I’m pleased to share ideas, experiences, and information with you. It is through beyondintelligence.net where Dr. Dona Matthews and I offer lots of resources, links, and material about supporting and encouraging children’s optimal growth.
It’s Not All Bad News! Evidence of Young People’s Commitment to a More Inclusive Global Community
It’s only when we give kids opportunities to think about and act upon their highest goals for society that they get a chance to display their initiative and wisdom. In spite of increasing concerns about bullying and youth disengagement there’s reason for optimism about today’s young people. There are many students who take on leadership […]
Thoughts about Intelligence-Building
I recently reread an article written by fellow Canadian Lannie Kanevsky, published in Gifted Child Quarterly (Vol. 55, #4, Fall 2011, pp. 280-299). She writes, “Students come to school to learn more than just subject matter; they come to learn to be learners. …self-knowledge is essential to effective, autonomous, life-long learning” (p. 296). The focus […]
Challenge and Effort: A Mindset Perspective
By Joanne Foster, Ed.D. In this blog I review my thoughts about an informative presentation, and share some insights about learning. Last year I had the good fortune to meet renowned psychologist and researcher Dr. Carol Dweck, and to attend a presentation she gave to parents and adolescents at Branksome Hall, an independent girls’ school […]
September: Changes in the Air
By Joanne Foster, Ed.D. This is a blog that I actually wrote a couple of years ago but that I think bears repeating. Every September, countless parents revisit the challenges of kids returning to school, while other parents experience this “rite of passage” for the first time. Perhaps the information that follows here will be […]
Critical Thinking Skills: Essential for Coping Successfully with Challenge and Change
Continuing with our theme of guiding parents to help their children become good at coping with challenge and change, we discuss the important role that critical thinking skills play in children learning to be good decision-makers. How can parents help their kids acquire the critical habits of mind that will stand them in good stead […]
Attunement and Advocacy: Strengthening Home and School Connections
Think for a moment—or longer: Are your children learning what they should be learning at school? Are they happy and productive? Sometimes parents perceive a mismatch between a child’s needs and the education they’re receiving. Finding a suitable “fit” between a student and the school system can be problematic. An effective plan requires thoughtful decision-making and collaborative effort on […]
Current Events as Learning Opportunities
Week after week, fears and frustrations are the lead stories in the news. How can parents (and teachers) use these disturbing events productively to help children better understand the world they live in, and cope with a time of disruption? Children—as with adults—can find it difficult to deal with the anxieties attendant on society being […]
The ABCs of Being Smart
Using the alphabet as an organizer, I’ve put together some ideas for parents to help children thrive. The series ABCs of Being Smart is featured in the journal Parenting for High Potential, published by NAGC. (Please see links below). For now, a preview of the letter A: ACCOMPLISHMENT ACCOUNTS Encourage your child to keep a record of his positive […]
Messages that Transcend Time
I teach in the Teacher Education Program at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto (also known as OISE). I recently came upon a very large table laden with mounds of journals “up for grabs” for all of our 2013 graduates. There was an extensive range of titles among the […]
Helping Kids Remember Their Learning: Five Tips for Parents
Joanne Foster, Ed.D. As the school year draws to a close, parents may be concerned about whether their kids will retain the knowledge they’ve acquired over the past several months. Here are some suggestions parents may want to consider. 1. Talk to kids about what they’ve read, refreshing their memories, and encouraging them […]
