TIDBIT # 33-Understanding and Supporting Your Child’s Behavior
Understanding and Supporting Your Child’s Behavior: Shifting from “Bad” to Empathy When your child exhibits challenging behavior, it’s important to shift your mindset from labeling it as “bad” to recognizing it as a sign of struggle. By approaching the situation with empathy and understanding, you can provide the support and assistance your child needs, rather […]
Tidbit # 19-The Magic of a Strengths-Based Classroom
A magical classroom with curious minds, Where the air is filled with whispered rhymes. Childish laughter, ideas that grow, Creative spirit brought to the show. Colors of imagination that come alive on paper, Fantasy worlds brought ever closer. Innocent eyes look around in awe, As joyous thoughts take high flight from every corner. A […]
TIDBIT # 12- AUTONOMY IN THE CLASSROOM
Kids go through various stages of increasing autonomy as they age. However, numerous studies have found that the stage that begins around 6th grade and continues through the teen years is unique. Unfortunately, this is what gives ‘the rebellious teenager’ an infamous bad rep. Home and street behavior are fertile ground for the flexing of […]
Tidbit # 11-Where are we going?
I’ve been turning around a few ideas these past months about college prep, test prep, high school classes, middle school requirements — “necessary” skills and knowledge and the energetic push to guide our children as best we can (while we can) to be successful, happy, productive individuals. Or at least, happy … or at least, […]
Tidbit # 7 Hobbies
Is it possible to have a hobby you’re not serious about? I mean, can you actually casually do something and somehow resist the urge to try to be the best at it? Is there even such a thing as a “hobby” or are all hobbies really just another serious interest that you’ve decided you don’t […]
Tidbit # 3
As my kids have gotten older, more mouthy and self-assured in their positions, I have vacillated between being pleased not to have sugar-coated or avoided difficult topics or unpleasant realities, including the fantastic set of hypocrisies that are much of life, and very uncertain about whether I took advantage of their unusual capacity to deeply […]
Tidbit # 5-The Perfect Fit
We all want to fit in — some of us more outwardly than others! The desire to be seen and heard is the desire to be accepted, to be affirmed in one’s expression of self and to feel connected with others. There are different patterns to how different people go about fitting in, and the […]
Tidbit # 4: “The fallibility of innate talent”
Just the other day, I exchanged a lengthy text communication with a student who needed to write about a weakness he had overcome. He wrote me to say that he could not for the life of him think of any weaknesses. Thus far in his 17 years, he had had nothing but success in life […]
Tidbit # 2
How to start the year on the right foot? I feel safe in saying that pretty much everyone experiences some degree of anxiety about the start of the new school year, and as one approaches the end of high school, the real and imagined pressures mount. And because gifted kids tend to have heightened emotional […]
🌟💙 A Personal Family Update from Dr. Lowder: Celebrating Haley’s UNC-Chapel Hill Graduation 🎓🐏
Dear Scholars Academy Family, This past weekend was one of those moments as parents that feels almost impossible to put fully into words. Our oldest daughter, Haley, a proud Scholars Academy alumna, graduated with honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Haley earned her Associate of Science in Exercise and Sports Science […]