"Just in time" learning. What a great, vivid discription! The closest thing I have heard is "aproximal level of challenge" - you may want to try googling for it. There is research that shows that this is exactly what is needed!
DS says that all kids are bored (wasting time) at school, some because it's too easy and some because it's too hard. I'm not as cynical as he is. My hunch is that school works pretty well for at least 60% of kid, perhaps closer to 85%. I would like to see more kids challenged, though. I think that much too little is expected of children in many many ways. I think that almost the only thing that kids need is support to find their passion, and help how to turn the roadblocks into stepping stones.
Trin
