Thinking ahead of the class

Suzie Harrison

Listening to Vicki Olivadoti speak to her third-grade class one

would think that they were high school level students.

Olivadoti teaches at the Pegasus School in Huntington Beach, “A

private independent school for bright and curious boys and girls from

preschool through eighth grade.�

The 8-and 9-year-olds in her class listened attentively and were

actively engaged.

Olivadoti has unique teaching styles and ideas. She talks to

students about their “think time,� during which they analyze and

reason through each task.

She asks students to step outside their learning and think about

the best way to accomplish their assignments. She would throw out

questions to which with practically all the students raised their

hands.

She asked what would happen if students gave enough “think time�

to an idea.

A student aptly replied that he would be able to come up with more

answers.

Olivadoti also spoke to her students about not straining their

brains. She said to treat the mind like an elevator door and let all

the information out.

“If you say you can’t remember, the elevator doors slam shut,�

Olivadoti said. “If they don’t open, wait, and another will come.�

She stressed the importance of asking questions.

“When you ask you’re already in control of your own learning,� she

said. “That’s my goal for you. Don’t wait -- you’re empowering

yourself now by asking for what you want. You’re taking control and

that’s great.�

She suggested that a couple of ways to make studying easier may be

to use color coded note cards.

“Remember some people learn kinesthetically and other people need

to have it repeated several times,� Olivadoti said. “We’ll talk more

in depth about the different types of learning tomorrow.�

At Pegasus the students are encouraged to do their own homework

independent of their parent’s help.

Erin Vogel explained that she had made a mistake.

“I discovered that I did it incorrectly by double checking it and

proofing,� Erin said.

Students enjoyed taking ownership of their own work and being

independent.

“I told my mom that I am capable of doing my homework myself,�

said Caroline Grant. “I woke up in the morning to refresh and I

realized that I forgot a page.�