Gifted + Talented versus Interested + Motivated + Encouraged

I listened to a fantastic Radiolab short last evening while making dinner.  Malcolm Gladwell spoke at the 92nd Street Y about the idea of "gifted and talented".

I was especially intrigued with the idea of interest and motivation that he talks about.  If you are intensely interested in something, and you have the means to experience it often and practice and your teachers and other adults are encouraging you, isn't it inevitable that you're going to get quite good at it?  Especially if it matches up with your natural learning style, I think.  Perhaps there is such a thing as natural talent, and there is also such a thing as motivaton and support.

Songs about our Moms

By Na and Ca. I captured this on video and pulled the sound out for a "single" -- each child took the lead on one song, and they performed both together.

My Mom Never Ever Sung Quiet

My Mama Said

I'm really looking forward to getting back into the classroom!

Listening

My husband listened to this last week and described it to me; I finally had the opportunity to listen last night. This American Life is a fantastic program from Chicago Public Radio that is a slight addiction for me, and the streaming archives have allowed for hours of entertainment, despite the fact that I am not currently living my American life...in America.

Listen to this episode about a man from Harlem who works with parents to change the way families receive assistance in parenting -- introducing new techniques to a community that is plagued by repeated histories.

Then make a pot of tea and listen to a few more, and a few more, and a few more...