Chapter+15

Share about something that you learned through self-directed learning. What motivated you to be a self-directed learner? Carrington: I remember when I was about 8 or 9 my grandma had a book about all about John F. Kennedy's assassination. I had spent a whole afternoon reading the book just because I wanted to know about what happened. I practically memorized all the facts about what happened and how they got the assassin, and I was able to tell everything that happened when someone asked. I was motivated just because it seemed interesting. Emily: When I was in 1st grade I taught my self how to write in cursive out of a book because I thought it looked pretty.

Grant:I have memories of myself being in Elementary school and being scared by people in middle school getting bad grades. I obviously didn't have any idea what middle school was really like, but I had seen the horror stories on TV of people getting Cs, Ds, and Fs. I always listened and did my work on time.

Grace Z: Even before I could read I would try to memorize short books that were read to me. I would look at some simple Dr. Seuss book for hours and try to read the words, whether I knew what they were or not. Usually, I would use the pictures on every page to remember what the words were.

Noah: I taught my self how to draw perfect stick people. They were AWESOME!

Why do you think it is especially important for intense or gifted learners to be self-directed? What about a regular classroom might make it more difficult for an intense learner? Carrington: It's important because that way the intense learners can work at stuff on their own and be more interested to learn more and put this knowledge to use. A regular classroom can be difficult for intense or gifted learners because it is a slower pace to get everyone understanding the lesson and an intense learner will get bored in the class.

Grant: YES! If you want to pursue an education or career, you must have the motivation to learn and do your work!

Grace Z: I think its important so that gifted or intense learns can figure out what they want, the way they want to. A regular classroom might not have visuals or the right environment for self-directed learning.

Noah:Because they want to learn more and they can only learn so much in the classroom.

Emily: Yes because the motive to do what you want to do needs to come from within. Regular classrooms don't encourage self-directing students.