In This Issue

• An Attitude of Gratitude
• Speak with Good Purpose – the Third Key
• C’mon, Gimme That Test
• The Quantum Learning Tenets

An Attitude of Gratitude

It’s almost Thanksgiving, which means it’s time to eat too much and to give thanks. At SuperCamp, we talk about having an “attitude of gratitude.” It’s a mindset that we encourage campers to carry with them 365 days a year.

In addition to the material things they might be thankful for, we tell campers to think about the people who are important in their lives, the people who they value. Believe it or not, parents, family is right at the top of most lists.

So, why not use Thanksgiving as an “excuse” to tell your kids how grateful you are for them. It’s amazing how this attitude of gratitude can become contagious. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at SuperCamp!

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Speak with Good Purpose – the Third Key

The third of our 8 Keys of Excellence, which campers learn at SuperCamp, is Speak with Good Purpose. How appropriate for Thanksgiving month.

Words are powerful. They have the power to build up and break down. They can uplift and enlighten or depress and destroy. Speaking with Good Purpose is a very important Key for teens and pre-teens because they discover early in life the power of words.

We tell campers that what we say is a conscious decision. We must begin by “watching” our words; we don’t have to say each thought that enters our minds. There is a choice and we must consciously make it, particularly when someone makes us angry.

In addition to thinking before we speak, we explain that the idea of Speaking with Good Purpose is to speak with positive intent. One should be honest and direct when communicating, but by speaking with positive intent, even constructive criticism can be done in a non-hurtful way.

Speaking with Good Purpose is the cornerstone of all healthy relationships – within families, between friends, with neighbors, even with others at work and school. It’s a good habit we all can practice by being aware of negative thoughts that come to mind before we speak and by focusing on the intention behind our words.

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C’mon, Gimme That Test

First semester tests and finals are almost here, so it’s a good time to review with your student some of the test-taking strategies taught at SuperCamp. Here is SuperCamp’s list of the “Top 10 Test-taking Tips”:

1. Know you know. Be prepared. Practice. Simulate the exact conditions and tasks of the exam.

2. What’s it all about? Find out the format of the test. Is it multiple choice? Essay questions? Sentence completion? Short answer? True/False? Open book?

3. Eat it. Your breakfast, that is. Have a healthy, light breakfast that includes some protein like eggs, lean ham or yogurt and fruit. It’s great for your energy without making you sluggish.

4. It’s about comfort. Dress in layers. You never know what the test-room temperature will be. Be ready for anything.

5. Memorize important facts and formulas. Write them down in margins when you first get the test.

6. Ask your teacher. Seriously. Ask for clarification or rephrasing of questions you don’t understand. This may help trigger information in your head.

7. Write it down. Write down your reasoning, even if you don’t know the exact answer. Get partial credit where you can.

8. Picturing. If you can’t remember a fact, close your eyes and picture where it is in your notes, in your book, or on your Mind Map.

9. Know your needs. Prepare everything you need for the exam the night before.

10. Get psyched, stay psyched. Talk to yourself before and during the test. Say things like: “I know the material and will remember it easily.”

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The Quantum Learning Tenets

It’s probably been a while since you looked at your SuperCamp parents’ guide. In it, we list the Quantum Learning Tenets, the principles upon which the teaching methodology we use at SuperCamp is based. We thought you might want to see them again.

Everything Speaks
What you say and how you say it sends a message.

Everything is on Purpose
Everything has an intended purpose – everything.

Experience Before Label
Learning happens best when information is experienced before it’s labeled.

Acknowledge Every Effort
Students are acknowledged for stepping out of comfort zones, for both their competence and their confidence.

If It’s Worth Learning, It’s Worth Celebrating!
Celebration provides feedback regarding progress and increases positive emotional associations with the learning.

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