Teachers vs. Homeschoolers, an analogy

Is it really necessary for teachers and homeschoolers to be at such odds? I spent some time at the Teacher Revised blog this week as writer Jesse Scaccia found it necessary to write a series of articles about homeschooling. Article number 1, The case against homeschooling poked lightheartedly about the flaws of homeschooling. Both point 10 and point 1 clearly stated that homeschoolers were nerds. This blog post was a bad idea and homeschoolers made it a point to say so. The hundreds of angry, insulted, and hurt comments made that clear… not to mention the dozens of blog posts … Continue reading

I’m Still Sort Of Really Qualified to Homeschool a Gifted Child

A big thanks to Andrea for letting me share our adventures with Alex over the past year or so. In case you’re just joining us. . .Alex is our son and he is a little bit smart. This is part 2 of a series about choosing curriculum for him. I hope you find it helpful if you’re just starting to navigate the road of homeschooling a gifted child. Mom Panics I left our story last by describing the first leg of our journey–where I panicked. Last year, Alex flew through three whole grade levels of curriculum. But it was the … Continue reading

Homeschooling Our Gifted Son: The Hunt for “Gifted Curriculum”

I have to first say that it’s not necessary to find curriculum specifically for gifted kids if you have a highly gifted child. But someone recently asked me a question about whether or not you should go deeper or wider when homeschooling a gifted child and what do you do about curriculum. (In other words, do you use ‘regular’ curriculum and just keep advancing grade levels. . .or do you take your time to explore grade level curriculum in depth with lots of investigation.) I think the answer depends on the family and the child, but I’ve offered some thoughts … Continue reading

The Most Talked About Homeschooling Blogs in 2007

This is my annual list of the most talked about blogs in 2007. We love comments, and the more the better! If you have been wanting to peruse the homeschooling blog but weren’t sure where to start. . .this is the place to be! My Top 5 Math Curriculum Picks In Defense of Teaching Creation Too Much Information Homeschooling or Housekeeping? Why We Are Not Testing Our Gifted Son Reason #2 Why Tax Credits Are Wrong for Homeschoolers You Call That Homeschooling? The National Lunch Association Takes Aim at Those Who Dare to Eat at Home It Has Been a … Continue reading

Is My Baby Gifted? How to Tell

I have been reading with great interest in the forums stories of moms everywhere whose children seem advanced. I have watched with great interest those parents on the Upper East Side who vie for that one coveted spot in the highly selective preschools. My husband and I are often bemused by the parents who sign their kids up for his “advanced” sports class because, after all, their child is really advanced. I hate to break it to all those moms out there whose toddlers are doing things earlier than other children–but your child is probably not gifted. She may do … Continue reading

My Son’s Science Project Is Out of Control

I could’ve just as easily entitled this: What to Do When Your Gifted Child is Smarter Than You Are. It’s an idea and a concept that many parents of truly gifted children struggle with because the reality is that gifted children are often smarter than their parents in something. I still have things to teach him, but he will surpass mine, and my husband’s knowledge in science and math before he finishes high school. I am sure of it. He’s already challenging my ability to practically apply chemistry principles that I’m well familiar with. So what do you do when … Continue reading

Does Unschooling Really Work?

Mary Ann Romans, asked me in the forums about unschooling and what it was exactly that children learn. How is it that kids will get to being the brilliant and capable people that they can be–if there’s no curriculum? Our Experience With Unschooling The longer I homeschool, the more towards unschooling I lean. Unschooling is not practical where we live and I’ve mentioned before that I in fact have yet to meet someone who lives in this state and unschools. The regulations are simply too demanding and not even creative wording can sneak in true unschooling. However, I’ve written before … Continue reading

Homeschool Glossary (words homeschoolers should know) – F-G

Flexible Learning is a lot like unschooling. Actually, it is like unschooling under the umbrella of a private school. Some flexible learning programs will provide a diploma; others will just allow the homschooler to take classes. Clonlara Home Based Program, for example is a functioning day schools that work as a flexible learning school. Clonlara does administrative work for the parents. All the parents need to do is journal the activities of the child and submit it. The school turns the journals into a documented diploma. There are dozens more flexible learning schools especially in states like California where restrictions … Continue reading

Homeschooling Week in Review Feb 10-Feb 16 2007

This past week on the families.com homeschooling blog, we talked about finances, responsibilities, and giftedness, truths and misconceptions. Here is the week in review for Feb 10 – Feb 16 2007. Feb 10, 2007 Why homeschool? Especially if you are a single parent, Asks Michelle Thorne. In this blog post, she gives us her reasons. How do you get them to complete their assignments on time, is another question of the day. While this is not a problem unique to homeschoolers, the suggested solutions are definitely handy for homeschoolers. Finally, my word of the day, Sacrifice describes the things a … Continue reading

Homeschooling My Gifted Son. . .When the Others Are Not Part 2

Yesterday I wrote about a conversation in which my oldest asked about whether or not it was okay to not be as smart as her little brother. While the twins are too young really to know what’s going on, the older three are intuitive enough to recognize that Alex is highly intelligent in this specific academic area. Conventional wisdom says that you should talk about how each one is gifted differently. Certainly this is true. My oldest is a very talented artist and considering she’s 7, takes some amazing photographs. My 4 year old speaks Spanish really well; better than … Continue reading