Post by Charity on May 9, 2006 14:53:25 GMT -5
www.adorasvitak.com/
Svitak is currently writing a story called The Song of the Mandolin, which is about four minstrels who are trying to overcome a huge giant of enormous strength and power. She is also trying to complete a book that will contain 100 of her poems.
Her work is very different from that of other eight-year-olds – in her poems, she talks about philosophers and what she would do if she were 39! Her stories usually focus on ”the adventures of strong heroines.’’
“Because of my love for history, many of my adventure and fantasy stories have strong historical backgrounds. I do use strong heroines in most of my stories, though,” she explains.
And there is a strong woman behind Svitak’s own success: Her mother, Joyce (whose maiden name was Zou Can), moved from China to the US in 1988 and has played a pivotal role in encouraging the little prodigy. (The family also comprises dad, John Svitak, a fourth-generation Czech Republic migrant, who is a software engineer in Redmond, Washington and an older sister, Adriana, 10.)
Joyce says: “With support, encouragement from parents and educators, and the proper use of technology, all children have the potential to excel and enjoy writing and learning as much as Adora does.”
Svitak started writing at age four when her mother bought her a laptop and now she types about sixty words per minute.
In fact, Flying Fingers includes commentary and coaching advice from Joyce and there’s also an interview with mum and child.
“I am home-schooled by my mother under the Seeds of Learning school programme (www.seedsoflearning.com),’’ Svitak says. “My parents are both very proud (of my elder sister Adrianna and I). We are always allowed the money to buy educational and inspirational books that will help us write and learn. (At home) I am treated as a regular kid.’’
And like regular kids, she enjoys playing with her sister and classmates ... and her parents. They play board games and dance. “Usually we use our own imagination. It’s quite fun,” she says.
Does she get into fights with her sister? Sometimes, admits Svitak: “My mum said that a limited amount of fights among siblings is normal and acceptable because we learn from fighting with each other. The most important lesson to be learned is how to settle the fight, so we always settle it.”
But unlike other eight-year-olds, she tells how she would rather have “a laptop with which I can write, books that I will treasure, or a trip to Europe that will expand my knowledge and enrich my intellectual life over a Xbox or PlayStation” for her birthday or Christmas.
There’s no stopping this kid
www.adorasvitak.com/articles/Adora-Mallaysia.html
Svitak is currently writing a story called The Song of the Mandolin, which is about four minstrels who are trying to overcome a huge giant of enormous strength and power. She is also trying to complete a book that will contain 100 of her poems.
Her work is very different from that of other eight-year-olds – in her poems, she talks about philosophers and what she would do if she were 39! Her stories usually focus on ”the adventures of strong heroines.’’
“Because of my love for history, many of my adventure and fantasy stories have strong historical backgrounds. I do use strong heroines in most of my stories, though,” she explains.
And there is a strong woman behind Svitak’s own success: Her mother, Joyce (whose maiden name was Zou Can), moved from China to the US in 1988 and has played a pivotal role in encouraging the little prodigy. (The family also comprises dad, John Svitak, a fourth-generation Czech Republic migrant, who is a software engineer in Redmond, Washington and an older sister, Adriana, 10.)
Joyce says: “With support, encouragement from parents and educators, and the proper use of technology, all children have the potential to excel and enjoy writing and learning as much as Adora does.”
Svitak started writing at age four when her mother bought her a laptop and now she types about sixty words per minute.
In fact, Flying Fingers includes commentary and coaching advice from Joyce and there’s also an interview with mum and child.
“I am home-schooled by my mother under the Seeds of Learning school programme (www.seedsoflearning.com),’’ Svitak says. “My parents are both very proud (of my elder sister Adrianna and I). We are always allowed the money to buy educational and inspirational books that will help us write and learn. (At home) I am treated as a regular kid.’’
And like regular kids, she enjoys playing with her sister and classmates ... and her parents. They play board games and dance. “Usually we use our own imagination. It’s quite fun,” she says.
Does she get into fights with her sister? Sometimes, admits Svitak: “My mum said that a limited amount of fights among siblings is normal and acceptable because we learn from fighting with each other. The most important lesson to be learned is how to settle the fight, so we always settle it.”
But unlike other eight-year-olds, she tells how she would rather have “a laptop with which I can write, books that I will treasure, or a trip to Europe that will expand my knowledge and enrich my intellectual life over a Xbox or PlayStation” for her birthday or Christmas.
There’s no stopping this kid
www.adorasvitak.com/articles/Adora-Mallaysia.html