Who says you are supposed to hate
Hebrew School?
Smooth Moves
At Temple Emanu-El, we believe that Jewish
Education should be challenging, stimulating and
fun. Our teachers use methods and materials that
emphasize the joy of Jewish Learning, whether
your are five or one hundred and five years old.
Helping Your Child Make Transitions: From
Preschool Through College
BY STEPHEN W. GARBER, PH.D., MARIANNE DANIELS, GARBER, PH.D.,
ROBYN FREEDMAN SPIZMAN
achel has been talking all
summer about how she
will be a big girl and soon
go to "school" like her big
brother and sister but, now, as
the time draws near for her to
start kindergarten, suddenly she
has become clingy and doesn't
want to talk about school.
Joseph has been reluctantly
working his way through his
summer reading list for middle
school. The excitement of seeing
old friends is overshadowed by
concerns about the size of his new
school, changing classes, and the
rumors he has heard about "30
minutes of homework each night
for each class."
Sarah is new in town. She
didn't want to move away from
friends, family and familiar sur-
roundings, but her father was
transferred. Now she !rn--1
must contend with
the adjust-
Research suggests that the
majority of the 10 most stressful
events facing any individual deal
with transitions — life changes
resulting from the loss of a fam-
ily member, a job or moving. For
children, changes in school and
moving rank high on the list of
the most stressful events. The an-
nual change of grade level and
class might appear to be a sim-
ple occurrence, but for the young
student, contending with an un-
familiar teacher, unknown ex-
pectations, and new classmates
can be overwhelming. The
preschool child who has little ex-
perience outside the home is even
more uncertain about what to ex-
pect. On the other hand, the
young adult who has an idea
about what lies ahead may be
anxious about the new indepen-
dence and responsibili-
ty college living
brings.
The Temple Emanu-El Education Center offers you:
• Nursery School and Day Care
• Religious School (K-12)
• Family Education
• Holiday Workshop SeriesTM
• Introduction to Judaism
• Yeshivat Kallah/Academy for Adults
Join us this year and enjoy Jewish Learning!
Temple Emanu-El Education Center
Ira J. Wise, RJE, Educator
Amy B. Brodsky, Rabbi
Lane Steinger, Rabbi
Dr. Milton Rosenbaum, Rabbi Emeritus
Beth A. Robinson, Administrator
Norman Rose, Cantor Emeritus
14450 West Ten Mile Road • Oak Park, MI • (810) 967-4023
WHY SPECIAL PROGRAMS FOR GIFTED STUDENTS?
We often think of gifted students as children who will be able to "make do" in just about any classroom
setting. Most people believe that they will achieve to their full potential regardless of the educational
atmosphere.
This belief is a fallacy. Gifted students are students who have educational needs that go beyond what
a regular classroom can provide. Of course, there are many gifted children who are academically
talented, but giftedness is not limited to academic pursuits alone.
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ments to high school
and simultaneously make new
friends. Luckily, she met a few
classmates at the pool during the
summer but the thought of start-
ing school has her stomach in
knots.
Kevin's memories of gradua-
tion are fading now that he is
about to go off to college. Although
he would never admit it, leaving
home suddenly doesn't seem as
easy as he anticipated. He has
dreamed about being off on his
own with nobody to answer to, but
now ...
With summer coming to an
end, many students and families
are anticipating the changes that
Rachel, Joseph, Sarah, and Kevin
are facing.
O
Adults know that
life is filled with transitions,
but as parents we often react to
change rather than anticipate it.
Frequently, we are at a loss as to
how to help our children through
difficult transitions or are sur-
prised by the intensity of a young-
ster's reaction to a new
experience. As a result, we scur-
ry to help our children struggle
with change, sometimes neglect-
ing our own needs in the process.
Changes in the lives of our chil-
dren have a significant effect on
the entire family. On a day to day
basis, difficulties a child is antic-
ipating in a new situation may
show up in his actions rather
than his words. Unusual behav-
ior, withdrawal from a situation,
SMOOTH page P20
Gifted students often view the world in a way that causes them to see many sides to a problem. It is
sometimes difficult for them to give a simple answer, or to accept a simple analysis. Nothing is "cut
and dried." Every question is a puzzle to be solved.
Gifted children need a classroom setting that allows them to delve into a problem as deeply as they
desire. A good program for gifted students should not only provide a broad curriculum, but should
allow for a truly meaningful depth of study, too.
Finally, gifted children need an atmosphere of support, respect, and acceptance. Just as an athlete or
musician is respected in a regular classroom setting, a gifted student needs the recognition and
acceptance of his or her classmates. All too often, creativity and intellect are hidden, driven under-
ground by a lack of acceptance—or outright taunting from classmates.
All gifted programs, whether in public or private schools, should address these issues. For more
information on gifted education, Gibson School's Gifted Program for 4-1 3 year-olds, or the free Gibson
Lecture and Discussion series (GLAD), contact: Gibson School, 1 2925 Fenton, Redford, Michigan
48239, (3 1 3) 537-8688.
GIBSON SCHOOL
,4 Quality Environment for The Gifted Student
12925 Fenton Rd., Redford, MI 48239
(313) 537-8688
Open to all regardless of race, colon religion, national or ethnic origin.
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