Alisa Murray

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Living the Sweet Life

When I was a little girl, my nickname in my house was “motor mouth.” I can remember when we were all sitting at the table, and I would start to talk. The adults would pretend to listen to what I had to say, which by the way was probably very important, and right in the middle of one of my sentences, someone would start screaming “SHUT UP!!!!” I got very used to this sort of behavior, but it did not sway me from whatever subject I was determined to discuss. In grade school, the adults would often comment that I was “articulate.” I liked the way that sounded. The time came for me to be “tested” for the term I have now come to despise  “gifted and talented” which was supposed to say, I guess, that you were above average, depending on what they were testing and who had made the entrance rules. I did not get in to this program. To my chagrin, my sister did.

It was not until I became a mother and delivered unto this earth another “motor mouth” that it all came flooding back to me. The hurt and anger, that is, at being labeled because of a personality trait that I will attest has served me quite well, thank you very much!

Over my years in learning, it was very obvious that a smaller school classroom was the perfect fit for me. I was often asked to answer questions and in my learning style of talking through answers and information in order to understand my world. Ask me to stand up in front of a loving class filled with peers that knew me to give a speech, and it was a piece of cake. The sounds of their hands clapping when my first art exhibit was unveiled.... like music to my artistic ears!

When my sister, who had never studied in her life and could regurgitate any information, came to the small school, she was very withdrawn and quite unhappy. She was expected to work in groups and talk through subjects and yes, give speeches. For her, one would have thought that was worse than death itself. In the small classroom setting where I could personally speak with each professor and ask questions until the information finally clicked, I was unstoppable. You know what? I found that I was a gifted and a very talented kiddo despite that early label. You see, my sister fit into the perfect mold of the perfect student that by someone (who by the way I’d like to strangle) had designated for the public schools.

In my own search as a mother, I have found many tools that have assisted me in what and how to better parent. There’s a book by Barbara Joosse entitled I Love You the Purplest in which a mother answers the question that every child secretly wants to know the answer to: “How much do you love me?” In the book, she describes to each their best virtues and characteristics, telling them through colors who they are to her and how much they each mean to her.

I came across Appleton and their “geniuStyle” program a few months ago, and immediately, I was sold. In their own words, “Real students are so much more than a percentile, a GPA or a test score.” I wanted to learn more about what made the program so special. Through a personality profile, Appleton asks the child and the parent the ways in which they like to study. Do you get queasy in the classroom if you have to stand up in front of the class? Do you prefer working until you get through or is it better to take small breaks so you can reset the brain and actually retain more? All of these questions translate into a “geniuStyle” that has cool names and explains how that person best learns. For example, the Aristotle is well-loved by teachers because they have a learning style that is a perfect match to the traditional classroom setting. Then, there’s the exact opposite – Picasso – who is talkative and needs to explore through discussion.

In a classroom set up for teaching many children, there is little time for meeting the academic needs of the later. Aristotles are often seen as compliant and easy to teach and yes, “gifted and talented.” Whereas Picasso’s may be seen as being talkative and disruptive despite the fact that they are a majority in the personality profiles of National Merit Scholars. All in all, there are a total of eight different and equally valid learning styles. The Appleton system is set up specifically to work with children and match a tutor that is as close to their own personality/learning style as possible I am so pleased by the entire experience. There has not been any complaining about having a tutor, no sad grumpy faces and no reluctance at all to the materials. My children are enjoying doing their homework because our tutor is correctly matched to them to deliver the information the way

they must receive it to be their best. Appleton Learning creates customized solutions for each student to help bridge the gap between the end of this school year and the beginning of the next. Summer is the perfect time to really ensure academic success for all students. It isn’t only a time to get caught up in trouble areas, it’s a time to stay fresh on the material that was just covered and move ahead in preparation for the next year. If you’re interested in creating an amazing experience in education, I highly recommend the program. It is an amazing tool as a mother, as well when you realize the reason your child is behaving in a certain way is indicative of the style that they are. Suddenly, that child that is talkative is not just running his mouth to hear himself talk, but is actually trying to process and learn actively in his environment. I’ll tell you something else too... I found out I was a Picasso and went on back to the studio while the children were taking their tests. James Edward threw open the door and with his arms outstretched and a grand smile on his face, he exclaimed “Mommy, I am a Picasso too!” It was a proud moment!

Take Care of YOU!!!!

For my readers, when you call Appleton, you and your children can be tested gratis. Use the Code Word SWEETLIFE. They are waiving their regular $75.00 fee! Call them and get ready for an amazing summer and a school year filled with happy to be educated youngsters! Contact: Lacey Cesarz, Education Specialist Appleton Learning P: (713) 461-4131 extension 304 F: (713) 461-5609 Lacey.cesarz@appletonlearning.com Visit us at www.AppletonLearning.com