She Is One Bright Cookie!
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She types 80-110 words a minute, reads two to three books a day, teaches poetry at an elementary school, has published two books and is working on four more - And she is only 11-years old. Meet Adora Svitak, possibly one of the smartest kids in the world!
Described as a tiny literary giant, Adora started to read when she was just three years old, which she thought was pretty normal. When she realized it wasn't, she became very passionate about teaching other aspiring writers her strategies and published a book - The Flying Fingers, and she had just turned seven!
This was the same year that Adora also began her teaching career. Reputed to be the youngest paid teacher in the world, she has traveled and lectured at over 300 schools world-wide, including China , Hong Kong and even the United Kingdom . When she is not globe-trotting she gives video conferences to teachers and children, charging $300 for a 50-minute class. And that is not all - she is even more popular in the corporate adult world. A recent lecture to educators and business people about the impact of technology on the creative process at a Microsoft conference, earned her a whopping $10,000USD!
In case you are wondering when this little genius goes to school - she doesn't. She has been home-schooled by her mother since she was born, so has a pretty flexible school schedule.
Adora, who is currently working on her first full-length novel, Yank in Disguise and an animated computer program to help develop children's speaking and reading skills - says she wants to be a educator, poet and humanitarian , when she grows up. Since she seems to have already accomplished the first two with such ease, we look forward to hearing about her humanitarian efforts. To read more about this amazing girl check out her website www.adorasvitak.com
Sources: Wikipedia.org, telegraph.co.uk
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80 Comments
- diamondkidover 10 yearsAwesome!
- crystalmoriover 10 yearsThis kind of reminds me of the book Matilda by Roald Dahl.
- bigmeloover 10 yearsI know, right? I loved that book so much, that I watched the movie, too! :D
- nikukyuover 10 yearsI personally think the book was much better...
- crystalmoriover 10 yearsYeah, I like how it gets into Matilda's mindset a little more. I felt like the movie turned her into too much of a typical Disney heroine, if you know what I mean. Don't get me wrong, I like Disney, but I also think it would've been nice to retain her original personality. She certainly had a very unusual attitude. The only thing I've never really liked about Roald Dahl was that he made several characters seem mean without good reason, and believe me, there is always a reason.
- crystalmoriover 10 yearsI don't think I ever saw the full movie, but I know I watched part of it. I really liked it, even though it was kinda different from the book.
- panda01over 10 yearsWow im so happy for her im sure she will go far in life later on and become a good person and be famous!!
- bigmeloover 10 yearsPeople say that I'm one of the best & brightest in my district, but I don't think I'm as smart as her! It's so ironic - we were the same age, we started to read when we were 3, & we both type really fast! Adora is totally awesome! :D
- crystalmoriover 10 yearsseriously? I didn't start to read actively until 3rd grade. Last time I took a typing test, it was only 28 words per minute, and I was still the fastest in my class. I wrote my first story when I was nine, and started on my first novel when I was 12, and still haven't finished it. I'm nothing compared to this girl! And possibly bigmello. One thing I can brag about, is that I've watched more full anime series than, well, a lot of people. Around 48.
- bigmeloover 10 yearsHa! Anime is a very interesting subject, & I certainly love the drawings, as well. Cool fact: I used to have handwriting sloppier than a 'Sloppy Joe', but now I've got handwriting equivalent to whatever font our messages on Dogo News are! The only contrast is that I write my A's in a different form. :)
- flowergirl11over 10 yearsshe is sooooo smart!!! I want to be her!!! lol
- nikukyuover 10 yearsYou are not alone
- dipperdippindotsover 10 yearscongrats niyuku!! :)
- nikukyuover 10 yearsThanks dipperdippindots! You have a cool name:)
- nikukyuover 10 yearsOmg she is so awesome! Same age, what a difference😵 then again, I'm one of the most fluent English speaking kids in Japan...My brother said I'm in third or second place or whatever. While I do think that's good thing to be proud about, I don't consider myself smart. I think anyone can be good, if you start early. I started English when I was 1 year old. At that point I was just listening to ABC songs. But as time flew by and I got older, I got better as well. So I want to thank my mom, dad and brother for supporting me all my life:)
- crystalmoriover 10 yearsMy parents tried teaching my Spanish when I was younger, but I only ever learned a few words. Probably because I wasn't very interested. I started learning Japanese when I started watching anime, which was about3 years ago, and these days I know probably over 400 words and the grammar rules. I still haven't learned much more Spanish XD. I guess what I'm trying to say is that it helps to be really interested in the language and culture. Oh, wait, my parents have been using 'atsui' and 'konnichiwa' since forever. So I guess I learned my first Japanese ages ago. But I didn't really start studying until I got into anime.
- bigmeloover 10 yearsThat's incredible! Good for you, nikukyu! Keep up the great work!
- peacheslarueover 10 yearsWow! Thats amazing nikukyu! You shud be VERY proud of yourself!
- Meover 10 yearsI like writing stories, poetry, and typing, too. We should be friends :) Also, right now she is only one year older than I am.
- RightHereabout 11 yearsI wish I were that smart
- angelmjohnover 11 yearsShe is one smart cookie