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Mel Levine On Oprah Reflections Term Paper

Dr. Levine also said that he had never met a child without strengths, but that he had met many children whose parents or teachers either did not recognize their strengths, or who did not consider them to be strengths, but instead, weaknesses. The job of parents and educators, Dr. Levine further suggested, is to help children develop their individual learning strengths, in ways that suit them personally. Dr. Levine said: "Success is like a vitamin. If you don't get enough of it growing up, you'll suffer a very severe deficiency that could have long-term impacts in your life."

Dr. Levine also noted that the idea of "well-roundedness" is overemphasized in education. Most adults are not by nature "well-rounded," that is, equally good at everything, whether it is reading, math, sports, music, science, or other areas. Therefore we should not place this artificial expectation on children. Emphasizing "well-roundedness" at the expense of allowing a child to hone in on subjects or areas he or she finds especially interesting or appealing impede a child's learning in all areas....

Dr. Levine suggested that the term "mental obesity" best describes what happens when a child is forced to learn everything equally well; such forcing is similar to making a child eat everything on his or her plate, even when the child is no longer hungry. As a result, nothing on the plate is properly savored or digested. As a consequence, the child learns to dread rather than enjoy the experience.
Just as all children have different learning strengths, they have different learning weaknesses. Some have difficulties with sounds; others with motor skills and physical coordination; and still others struggle with processing a great deal of information quickly, or with information processing in general.

All in all, Dr. Levine suggested that parents, teachers, and others need to endeavor, together, to recognize, encourage, and help children develop their natural learning strengths, aptitudes, preferences, and interests, rather than forcing them to develop unnatural or artificial ones, thereby interfering with both children's confidence building nd their love of learning.

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references, and interests, rather than forcing them to develop unnatural or artificial ones, thereby interfering with both children's confidence building nd their love of learning.
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