Creative Synthesis

Intelligence

Who Is the Aaron Swartz in Your Life?

Lisa Rivero M.A. on January 15, 2013

Young people can often fool others into thinking they are more self-reliant, more confident, and more emotionally resilient than they are.

Young people can often fool others into thinking they are more self-reliant, more confident, and more emotionally resilient than they are.

Gratitude

That Gratitude Thing Not Working Out for You?

Lisa Rivero M.A. on November 21, 2012

Being able to feel and to express gratitude has been shown to make us both happier and healthier. One important factor, however, may influence whether the practice of gratitude actually does us any good.

Being able to feel and to express gratitude has been shown to make us both happier and healthier. One important factor, however, may influence whether the practice of gratitude actually does us any good.

Productivity

This Fall, Get in the Swing of Doing Less

Lisa Rivero M.A. on August 26, 2012

A commitment to doing less is not easy in our current productivity-obsessed culture and even takes some courage. The potential pay-off, however, is nothing less than life-changing.

A commitment to doing less is not easy in our current productivity-obsessed culture and even takes some courage. The potential pay-off, however, is nothing less than life-changing.

Creativity

Your Creative Summer

Lisa Rivero M.A. on May 26, 2012

I am sharing here twelve TED Talks for twelve weeks of a more creative summer. Some of the presentations are specifically about creativity, while others inform us about one or more of the six ”high-touch and high-concept aptitudes” or senses that Pink says are crucial for the conceptual age in which we live.

I am sharing here twelve TED Talks for twelve weeks of a more creative summer. Some of the presentations are specifically about creativity, while others inform us about one or more of the six ”high-touch and high-concept aptitudes” or senses that Pink says are crucial for the conceptual age in which we live.

Education

Education Reform, One Assignment at a Time

Lisa Rivero M.A. on April 28, 2012

Barbara Clark reminds us that “under the threat of grades, bright students balk at venturing into the unknown or trying any area in which they are not sure they will succeed.” The resulting perfectionism and risk-aversion, far from lessening in college, can cause university students to focus on grades to the exclusion of deep, personal, creative learning.

Barbara Clark reminds us that “under the threat of grades, bright students balk at venturing into the unknown or trying any area in which they are not sure they will succeed.” The resulting perfectionism and risk-aversion, far from lessening in college, can cause university students to focus on grades to the exclusion of deep, personal, creative learning.

Adolescence

High School Years: College Prep or Life Prep?

Lisa Rivero M.A. on April 11, 2012

It takes courage for parents to put college prep into a broader perspective during our children’s teenage years, especially when friends and family believe that admission to specific schools is the only validation of potential.

It takes courage for parents to put college prep into a broader perspective during our children’s teenage years, especially when friends and family believe that admission to specific schools is the only validation of potential.

Emotional Intelligence

Mister Rogers' Emotional Neighborhood

Lisa Rivero M.A. on March 21, 2012

While there are many different definitions of emotional intelligence, they all include being able to recognize, identify, or perceive one’s own emotions. The idea is simple, but the regular practice of staying with our feelings long enough to know them is often very difficult.

While there are many different definitions of emotional intelligence, they all include being able to recognize, identify, or perceive one’s own emotions. The idea is simple, but the regular practice of staying with our feelings long enough to know them is often very difficult.

Creativity

Be More Creative Today

Lisa Rivero M.A. on March 10, 2012

While we individually cannot do much to change our educational system or paradigms right now, we can change our approach to creativity today in our homes and classrooms, including these five mindsets and habits that parents and teachers can to use encourage children of all ages, and ourselves, to hang on to and nurture our innate creative capacity.

While we individually cannot do much to change our educational system or paradigms right now, we can change our approach to creativity today in our homes and classrooms, including these five mindsets and habits that parents and teachers can to use encourage children of all ages, and ourselves, to hang on to and nurture our innate creative capacity.

Education

The Self-Education of Oscar Micheaux

Lisa Rivero M.A. on February 18, 2012

Whether his achievements were the result of talent or practice or something else entirely, one trait stands out as allowing Oscar Micheaux to pursue his successive dreams: He was willing to be the oddball and to appear foolish in others’ eyes.

Whether his achievements were the result of talent or practice or something else entirely, one trait stands out as allowing Oscar Micheaux to pursue his successive dreams: He was willing to be the oddball and to appear foolish in others’ eyes.

Intelligence

Many Ages at Once

Lisa Rivero M.A. on January 24, 2012

Gifted children will not necessarily fit comfortably within a group of age peers or meet usual expectations in terms of their development. For young children, this lack of fit may lead to misdiagnoses or premature diagnoses of learning and other disorders.

Gifted children will not necessarily fit comfortably within a group of age peers or meet usual expectations in terms of their development. For young children, this lack of fit may lead to misdiagnoses or premature diagnoses of learning and other disorders.

Social Networking

Social Media and the Hedgehog's Dilemma

Lisa Rivero M.A. on January 8, 2012

To what extent do we use social media as the middle, safe distance to avoid having not only closer, unplugged relationships with others...

To what extent do we use social media as the middle, safe distance to avoid having not only closer, unplugged relationships with others...

Intelligence

Slow Intelligence

Lisa Rivero M.A. on January 1, 2012

Learning skills of slowness may be particularly beneficial, and particularly challenging, for those who think the fastest.

Learning skills of slowness may be particularly beneficial, and particularly challenging, for those who think the fastest.

Resilience

To Be Your Best, Suck You Must

Lisa Rivero M.A. on December 26, 2011

Just two months before winning the 2011 U.S. Open in record-breaking fashion, Rory McIlroy lost the Masters in what some pronounced “a breakdown of historic proportions.” How many of us, after sucking in such a public way, would have picked up our bags and gone home for good?

Just two months before winning the 2011 U.S. Open in record-breaking fashion, Rory McIlroy lost the Masters in what some pronounced “a breakdown of historic proportions.” How many of us, after sucking in such a public way, would have picked up our bags and gone home for good?

Intelligence

Practice Safe Sharing

Lisa Rivero M.A. on December 24, 2011

Being more open and honest about our thoughts and feelings is always the best course. Or is it?

Being more open and honest about our thoughts and feelings is always the best course. Or is it?

Intelligence

Give Yourself to Yourself

Lisa Rivero M.A. on December 18, 2011

An advocate does not chastise, does not berate, does not push to the point of exhaustion. An advocate does not blame or bring up old mistakes.

An advocate does not chastise, does not berate, does not push to the point of exhaustion. An advocate does not blame or bring up old mistakes.

Mindfulness

No, I Insist, After You

Lisa Rivero M.A. on December 9, 2011

If we can resist the urge to reach for the security blanket of a cell phone, long queues offer a built-in opportunity to slow down, to practice mindfulness, to watch life unfold at its own pace, to practice gratitude, even to daydream a little.

If we can resist the urge to reach for the security blanket of a cell phone, long queues offer a built-in opportunity to slow down, to practice mindfulness, to watch life unfold at its own pace, to practice gratitude, even to daydream a little.

Intelligence

College Considerations for High-Ability Teens

Lisa Rivero M.A. on November 13, 2011

Research points to more effective college options than ever before for our brightest students, especially for families willing to approach the problem with an open and creative mind.

Research points to more effective college options than ever before for our brightest students, especially for families willing to approach the problem with an open and creative mind.

Happiness

Growing Up on Purpose

Lisa Rivero M.A. on November 5, 2011

When we are unhappy because we don't get what we want, perhaps we are asking the wrong question. A better question than "What do I want?" may be "What do I want to be?"

When we are unhappy because we don't get what we want, perhaps we are asking the wrong question. A better question than "What do I want?" may be "What do I want to be?"

Intelligence

What Does It All Mean?

Lisa Rivero M.A. on October 23, 2011

Bright and creative young people can easily find themselves standing on an existential precipice, asking important questions that have no simple answers. Such questioning can be triggered by something as normal as a baseball game.

Bright and creative young people can easily find themselves standing on an existential precipice, asking important questions that have no simple answers. Such questioning can be triggered by something as normal as a baseball game.

Loneliness

Growing Up Clever

Lisa Rivero M.A. on October 15, 2011

What bright children need is an adult who understands the fear of one's own cleverness and who can offer the glimpse of a less lonely future.

What bright children need is an adult who understands the fear of one's own cleverness and who can offer the glimpse of a less lonely future.