Project Percy

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Change up the Study Drill...

All work and no play makes J. a dull student.

J. had a great time constructing a snow scuplture of a favorite movie character in the front yard. J. has practically memorized the script to How to Train Your Dragon. Of course creating "Toothless" would be much more gratifying than building a snowman. While it lasted it was a great hit with the children in the neighborhood. Maybe the adults and teens too. Every day there would be a slight alteration made to Toothless by unseen passers-by.

J. recently disassembled a hand mixer, seeing as how it was already broken. This was a great activity in discovery--very "hands on". Dad was there to direct this activity.

J. has a vast "play-list" to study by and to accompany creative writing binges.

J. attends a weekly evening youth group activity -- sometimes doing activities, sometimes learning skills, sometimes giving service.

J. participates on the local libary's Teen Youth Council.

J. has been infected by a friend with Manga Mania.

J. has turned the tables on the "reading-aloud" model of the family and is now the one reading aloud a favorite series to Mom instead of the other way around. The competition is on, Mom. Turn-about is fair play.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

New Year's Resolutions

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Weekly Mentor Meeting

A weekly mentor meeting is essential with this type of school.

the program is designed for this specific teen or tween, not vice versa
the teen is the chrysalis of his or her adult self.
as the program began, the teen set forth personal goals or benchmarks
the mentor, with his or her greater knowledge, perspective, and life experience tweeks the program to this teen's needs
the mentor meetings provide a structure in which to remain focused and accountable
the mentor meetings help the mentor focus on the teen
the mentor meetings help the teen focus on the program
what is working?
what is not working?
should something be dropped?
should something be added?
what can the mentor provide that will help the teen?
what can the teen do that will create success, energy, proficiency?

In the context of Project Percy we are playing with the notion that this young person is actually a demi-god. A demi-god has specific traits or innate gifts that will prove useful in the future. The future is all-too-often closer than we think. These innate gifts are known to the demi-god's adversaries. The demi-god is a threat to the forces of chaos.

The demi-god must acquire or cultivate certain qualities before his or her innate gifts can be useful.

These include

self control
patience
sense of humor
people skills
diplomacy skills
leadership skills
dependability
perceptiveness
integrity
responsible

If the demi-god's program is not incorporating these qualities, then the program is just busy-work. The time is too short, the training is too urgent to spend valuable time in busy work.

The mentor might point out to the teen instances of integrity, dependability, people skills, and so forth. The mentor will help the teen ask him or herself questions involving these and other values or virtues. Was I being / am I being honest, cheerful, etc.?