Summer & The Gifted Learner Karen Brown, MEd Gifted Program Mentor

Downtime for Gifted Learners Downtime does not mean a lack of engagement. It is merely an opportunity to move away from the academic stressors the student deals with on a daily basis. Summer is a great time to experience the non-academic world or to explore a particular passion. Learning how to successfully manage downtime is a life skill.

Schedules The lack of a daily schedule or structure can be difficult for some children. Planning out the week or even the day can offer the needed framework to allow the child to anticipate what is coming up.

Exploration time (1) Become an observer of the world (2) Take time for solitude (3) Seek out a new experience (4) Follow a passion (5) Fail UP! Practice Perseverance

Engage, Engage, Engage Getting lost in a good book is a good activity – Getting lost in a good book with a friend is a great activity! Solitary activities are important and the offer the learner the opportunity to unwind. Sharing the world and our experiences with others offers the learner that change to see life through another’s eyes.

Simple ideas – Lead to adventure Take a botanical nature walk. Check out the bug life in your yard. Design and carry out an experiment. Make recycled music – create an instrument with items found around the house. Create a photo memory book for the summer. Plan a special meal. Create a family newspaper.

Explore Arizona

Reading Program Phoenix Public Library Maricopa Public Library

Summer in Paradise Summer school classes for all Contact Community Education for brochures

“Some” Camp Options Camp Zoo – Phoenix Zoo Phoenix Theatre Camps Sun Devil Fitness Kids Camps Camp BROADWAY Arizona Children’s Museum Bass Arts Studio Camp LEGO League Intermediate Camp

More… ASU Summer Tech Camps – iD Tech Camps arizona-state-university-asu/ ASU School of Computing, informatics, decision systems engineering Game Camp 2016 Middle School Robotics Camps 2016 Middle and High School High School App Camp 2016 High School Camp Innovation – Arizona Science Center Camp Invention

And More… Learn to Code Camp az/ week-learn-to-code-camp CodaKid – Kids Teach Camps scottsdale-az Summer Enrichment Programs ASU Camelback Desert School content/uploads/sites/19/2014/10/2016-elementary-Camp- Brochure.pdf

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