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Pursuit of Joy, Fulfillment, and Purpose

Tag: role model

  • Unleashing Your Child’s Inner Genius: 9 Steps to Foster Autodidactism

    Fostering autodidactism, or self-learning, in a child is not just about academic success; it’s about nurturing a lifelong love for exploration and understanding. This journey towards becoming a self-learner can contribute immensely to a child’s development, instilling independence, curiosity, and perseverance.

    1. Encourage Curiosity

    Create an environment where questions are welcomed, and the quest for answers is a shared adventure. This curiosity is the spark that lights the fire of self-learning.

    2. Provide Resources

    From books and documentaries to online educational websites, providing diverse resources can fuel your child’s pursuit of knowledge. However, ensure their activities are age-appropriate and supervised.

    3. Learn Independently Yourself

    Be a role model for your child. Let them see you learning new things, showing them that learning is a lifelong journey, not just a school activity.

    4. Create a Learning-Friendly Environment

    Designate a space at home specifically for learning and exploration. This tangible commitment to learning can encourage your child to engage more in self-learning.

    5. Follow Their Interests

    Align their learning resources with their interests. If your child loves dinosaurs, help them learn more about paleontology. Their interest is the best guide to what they would enjoy learning.

    6. Teach Research Skills

    Equip your child with the skills to find information on their own. Teach them to use a library catalog, to navigate the internet for data, or to decipher a table of contents.

    7. Set Goals and Reflect

    Teach your child to set personal learning goals and reflect upon them. This practice instills a sense of purpose and achievement in their learning process.

    8. Resilience and Problem Solving

    Promote independence by helping them develop problem-solving skills. Let them grapple with challenges, offering help when necessary but allowing them to find their own solutions first.

    9. Celebrate Learning

    Recognize your child’s achievements, no matter how small. Celebrating their learning milestones can inspire them to keep exploring and understanding the world around them.

    In summary, fostering autodidactism in your child is a balanced dance between guidance and independence. It’s about igniting their curiosity, providing the right tools, and stepping back to let them explore. As they embark on this lifelong learning journey, remember, the goal is to nurture a love for learning that goes beyond textbooks and classrooms.

  • The Life and Art of Painter Allen Sapp

    Allen Sapp (1928-2015) was a Cree painter from the Red Pheasant First Nation in Saskatchewan, Canada. He was best known for his paintings and drawings that depicted the everyday life and traditions of the Cree people. Sapp was born in the same year as the signing of the Indian Act, which imposed many changes on Indigenous communities in Canada, including the residential school system. Sapp attended a residential school as a child and later said that the experience had a profound impact on his life and art.

    Sapp began painting in the 1960s and quickly gained recognition for his work. He was inspired by the art of the Group of Seven, a group of Canadian landscape painters, but he sought to depict the experiences and stories of his own community. Sapp’s paintings often featured scenes from his childhood, including the hardships and joys of life on the reserve. He also depicted traditional Cree stories and ceremonies, such as the Sundance and the Round Dance.

    Sapp’s work was characterized by his use of bright, bold colors and his attention to detail. He often included small, personal touches in his paintings, such as a favorite toy or a family member’s name. Sapp’s work was a powerful celebration of Cree culture and a testament to the resilience of Indigenous people.

    In addition to his paintings, Sapp was also a skilled draftsman and printmaker. He produced several series of prints, including a set of lithographs depicting traditional Cree stories. Sapp’s prints were highly sought after and are now held in collections around the world.

    Sapp received numerous accolades for his work, including the Order of Canada, one of the country’s highest honors. He was also the subject of several books and exhibitions, including a retrospective at the MacKenzie Art Gallery in Regina. Sapp’s work has been exhibited in galleries and museums across Canada and around the world, including the National Gallery of Canada and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

    Despite his success, Sapp remained humble and dedicated to his community. He used his platform to advocate for Indigenous rights and to preserve and promote Cree culture. Sapp was a role model for many Indigenous artists and a respected elder in his community. He passed away in 2015, but his legacy lives on through his art and the many people he inspired.