Path to Discovering Genius!

I recently read “Understood Betsy” for the Mentoring in the Classics course and realized that the book centers around Betsy's discovery that she has a genius. Since this is an integral part of what we strive for in Vanguard, this is a good checklist of pondering to review both as parents and mentors.

Betsy goes through quite the process to get there:

-discovery that she can learn (driving the wagon*)

-discovery that she can be needed (the cat)

-discovery that she can be a part of something bigger and that she is a contributor (prepping meals with Cousin Ann)

-discovery that she need not be limited by externally imposed labels (grade-levels in schools)

-discovery of the joy and heart of genuine service ('Lias)

-discovery that she, too, can lead and deal with problems (the Fair)

-discovery that she doesn't need Aunt Francis's validation to succeed (end)

*references within book

I would highly recommend this short, readable classic for the parent mentors of any group. The reading and discussion of it could even be extended over the whole year, with a chapter or two per month.

Enjoy!

Notes from "Teach the Children"

A tantalizing tidbit before you start studying!

"The purpose of education is to help man reestablish proper relationships with himself, his origins, his fellow men, and his living God." pg 215

"Most of us preoccupy ourselves with what we are going to do during the upcoming class time.  More productive is the concern with what are the students going to do.  Emphasis on the latter stimulates the teacher to consider how to invite learning involvement.  Student rather than the teacher of the subject matter become the focal point in planning." pg 221

"In moral matters, teachers are their own best teaching tool.  And personal morality applies to the teaching of any subject. The effective agency teacher teach all subjects as components of character....this is the optimum kind of teaching  to influence character.  As they radiate, teachers give of themselves to others without demanding any return.  They lose themselves in service, and in so doing find their best self.  Free from the numbing fear shown in stage fright, lack of confidence, and the inhibition of self-consciousness, teachers join the students on their side of the fence, see life through their eyes and enjoy sharing in their experiences." pg 227

Referring to the power of a teacher who reaches out with love to their students, "Students have access to this same power...Students love expressed toward teachers has the power to lift those teachers above their own limitations.  Students who reach out and embrace the good a teacher has to offer may find that their learning will exceed the limitations of both themselves and their teacher." pg 228

After a great break-down of why the lenses (pg 234-236...Leadership Academy is the "morality/fifth aspect" he refers to on page 231 and then expounds on 238), Flinders says: "Too often, teachers and students become lost in the curricular means and fail to recognize that it is the general capacity and not a particular application of the capacity that we need to develop.  The details of school studies are soon forgotten; it is the expanded capacity that remains to enrich our lives." (pg 237)

Pg 272 he addresses how to have an effective interview between mentor and student, along with some great questions about evaluating the relative "importance" of creating as part of the educational process. I find my children are natural creators after being exposed to information in a spiritual, impactful experience and the process of creating may be beautifully summed up in the book "Get Busy Beaver"....basically, sometimes you cannot measure the creative process by "normal" standards and may be frustrating.  Great section to read...through 281: "Creativity is simply the act of organizing existing elements for some purpose."

"Education (is) the conscious and intentional interaction with the messages of others...If there are no messages, there can be no education...Effectively connecting messages and purposes is the trademark of good scholarship." pg 304

"True scholarship is open, inviting participation from all who are willing and interested." pg 305

"True scholars create, report, explain, and clarify; they listen, comprehend, confirm, correct, and reject.  To engage in debate, disputation, argument, contention, self-serving salesmanship, and other forms of intellectual compulsion is not scholarship--it is rhetoric...honestly revealing information that may be personally validated or invalidated by others is scholarship....In this type of environment positive relationships rather than adversarial relationships are fostered." pg 309-310

"If you are a humble follower of all truth, the doors are wide open.  The Lord will help us use our talents to inspire one another in all kinds of things." (quoting David Allan on page 311)  Powerful personal examples from others on page 311-315, a mom, a teacher, and a scientist.

Page 320-321: How to prepare for classes
Make the experience before class and during interactive: page 323

The Power of Words

From Tammy in Box Elder:

 

Do you guys want to take word study to a whole new level? I highly recommend the book "Aspire; The Power of Words" by Kevin Hall. You can read the first chapter for free here:

http://www.powerofwords.com/aspire-chapter-one.html

Here is a brief video with Kevin Hall, who is an LDS author, coach, speaker, etc. He is amazing. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFVMdt8L6mg

I am in the process of trying to connect with him on getting his books in bulk at a discount. I am also working with him to come and possibly speak to our youth. After viewing the chapter above and the video clip, let me know if this would be a good master day for a combined Vanguard activity. :)

He is so moving and ... inspiring. This guy understands WORDS

Thanks for the inspiration!

We had an incredible mentor retreat yesterday!  Thanks to everyone involved with that!

I would like to make this post a repository for links to the talks, notes and articles from that meeting.  Presenters, if you could just "reply" in the bottom with links to skydrive versions or google drive versions of your notes, that would be fabulous!  Also, if anyone had any epiphanies/ah-hahs! from the event, please also feel free to share.  It would be a great time to synergize!

Please include, also, in the comments, any links that were shared (Tresta, :)!) so that those of us who didn't write those down have them.  Thanks, everyone!

Here was our outline for the day, in review:

AGENDA

-8 AM Kick-off: quintessential Vanguard: the basic vision-30 min Mary Biesinger

-8:30 AM Special Musical Number : the Petersons

-8:45 AM Creating a spirit-led learning environment 30-45 min Becky Edwards

-9:30 AM Review of the 4-R method and how to effectively use it...particularly discuss Word studies and the power of reflecting and recording 30 min RaNae Housholder

10 minute break

-10:15 AM Use of different methods/elements in classes: lacking other feedback, I think it would be great to just have a discussion about a list of elements/methods.  I will put the list in initial registration packet for people to ideally review before then, so they will have time to prepare some thoughts, experiences, or ideas about them to share.  Does anyone feel a delightful yearning to facilitate this part? :) 45 minutes

-11:00 AM Mentoring in class: 45 min, Julie Johnson

11:45 AM: LUNCH (serve up 15 min). Discussion 30 minutes in different rooms
Leadership: Kitchen

Eureka: Downstairs Living Room

Geo-conquest: Downstairs Back Room

Imaginative Arts: Front Living Room

-12:30 PM Different personality styles: different systems, how to use it in class: 30 min Mary

 Biesinger 

 -1:00 PM Parents!  Monthly mentor meetings, how to encourage WAMs with their youth (weekly accountability meetings), effective communication modes with parents in your group 30 min Genevieve Peterson

-1:30 PM Youth leadership and junior mentors: standards, expectations, and how to effectively incorporate them and help them feel ownership. 30 min Marni Hall

-2:00 PM Discussion of "agency education"--how to involve the youth!  how to write inspirements, etc. 45 min  Karen

-2:45 PM A panel of youth for Q & A.  1 hour led by  Melinda and Maretta Scott

Musical Number: the Petersons

Final brief presentation 15 min: Mary