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. CL CL ›- CD 0 Cr I- C/3 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. 1 P19