Learner Spotlight: Faye Battat

Thank goodness for the endless supply of ebooks at Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL)! iLEAD Exploration fourth grade learner Faye Battat is an insatiably voracious reader and LAPL helps keep her immersed in reading material. She loves reading anything and everything she can get her hands on, whether it is fantasy, classics, poetry, mystery, or nonfiction. Faye is always ready to engage in learning and loves to anticipate the next book she will read or the next meal she will cook. She will excitedly retell stories and adventures and activities. She and her family are very proactive with planning assignments for the learning period and creating folders with worksheets and activities they will need every school week.

Having a goal is crucial to accomplishing anything, and Faye is optimistic and self-confident enough to keep on achieving. Whether it is working through a math book or perfecting a contortion move, ten-year-old Faye trusts that every day brings her an inch closer to her target, and she believes regular small progress is the only way to achieve it. After a hundred days or so, her progress is undeniable. Assessing how far she has come spurs her on to continue for another hundred days.

Aside from reading, Faye is also passionate about cooking and contortion. Recently she has taken up piano. She writes her own comic books, complete with very accurate facial expressions. She also enjoys outdoor activities, such as climbing trees, riding a bike, visiting the beach, hiking, rock climbing, and swimming.

It is clear to see that Faye is never afraid to roll up her sleeves and dig into hard work. Every morning she goes through a routine that includes vigorous stretching to wake up her body, a healthy breakfast to fuel her endeavors, a chore to keep her environment in good order, and a review of that day’s schedule to mentally prepare her for what lies ahead. The schedule includes break times for things she enjoys, such as baking a beef Wellington or watching videos of her favorite contortionists. Knowing that she has something to look forward to helps her work diligently on her less-than-favorite assignments. When something happens that really bothers her and tempts her to lose control, she knows that she can always talk to her family to help her feel better. For some alone time, she retreats to a quiet spot with a good book, which always helps her bounce back with a renewed determination.

The two years Faye and her family have spent independent studying so far have been quite fruitful. It has allowed them increased focus and the ability to learn at the specific pace needed in each subject. It also grants them adequate time to develop interests outside of academics without rushing through family life. Faye and her siblings creatively engage in learning together and have each found a special niche where they can create, discover, collect, explore, and imagine. They are so fortunate to have a loving home with room for them all to grow into the special learners they are meant to be.