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RLL 02 Caitlin Curley: Diving Down Rabbit Holes and Following Kids’ Interests

 

Diving down rabbit holes with your kiddos can lead to some pretty amazing learning and fun adventures. In this epsiode, Cait Curley shares some of the ways she embraces learning adventures with her kids, and how she cultivates their curiosity while buildng a family culture around a lifelong love of learning.

 

Raising Lifelong Learners Podcast Episode Two - Diving Down Rabbit Holes and Following Kids Interests

Links and Resources from Today’s Show

  • My Little Poppies
  • The Homeschool Sisters Podcast
  • Raising Poppies Facebook Support Group for Parents of Gifted Children
  • Gameschooling Facebook Group
  • My Little Poppies Book Club
  • Coffee and Books
  • Gameschooling
  • Thunder Birds: Nature’s Flying Predators
  • Wild Tracks: A Guide to Nature’s Footprints
  • Brave Writer
  • Marker Board
  • Dry Erase Markers
  • Curiosity Stream
  • Field Trip Zoom
  • Around the World Stories
  • Wow in the World
  • Harry Potter
  • Wonder
  • Extreme Dot to Dots

 

 Thunder Birds: Nature’s Flying Predators Wild Tracks!: A Guide to Nature’s Footprints VIZ-PRO Children Drawing Board/Kids Writing Whiteboard, Black Plastic Frame-A4 Board Dudes SRX Magnetic Dry Erase Markers 6-Pack Assorted Colors (DDM77) Harry Potter Complete Book Series Special Edition Boxed Set Wonder Extreme Dot to Dot: Wildlife Wonders Set of 3 Extreme Dot-to-Dot Dogs Puzzles for Adults from 356 to 870 Dots (Dot to Dot Books For Adults) (Volume 13)

Welcome!

Hi! I'm Colleen, gifted specialist, educational consultant, author, speaker, and homeschool mom of four gifted/twice-exceptional kids.

Grab a cup of coffee, some of that chocolate you're hiding from the kids, and join me as I learn, experiment, and explore with my kiddos -- and hopefully inspire you a little in your journey alongside smart, quirky, creative kids, too!

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Yummy hot chocolate, spring flowers, and some hand Yummy hot chocolate, spring flowers, and some handwriting work on a Sunday afternoon... ⠀ ⠀ Who says homeschool has to follow traditional schedules and rules?
We had a chance to test out our pool for the first We had a chance to test out our pool for the first time yesterday, and the kids had so much fun. They've only ever had small hard-sided or blow-up baby pools in the summertime, and since we first got the keys to this new house in late October, they've been eyeing that pool off the back deck and counting the days until the Ohio sun warmed it enough to be used. ⠀ ⠀ Yesterday was that day.⠀ ⠀ It was 73-degrees and sunny all day long. The water was a bit too cold for us adults, but those kids swam until their lips were blue, then swam some more. I am imagining lazy summer days reading or writing on the deck while the kids tire themselves out in the water all day long. ⠀ ⠀ I can't wait. ⠀ ⠀ Today it's back to a dreary Ohio 59-degrees with grey skies and constant rain, and the girls pulled out polymer clay and spent the day crafting. ⠀ ⠀ I already miss the sun.⠀ ⠀ It seems to me like the last few months have been just like the last two days -- high highs and low lows.I was in such high spirits yesterday -- so fed by the sun my soul was stretching and smiling. Today I'm blah and as grey as the clouds. Up and down. ⠀ ⠀ Little crafters, seven year old little boy snuggles, and conversations with hilarious teens make the days better. But I'm ready for full-on summer. ⠀ ⠀ What about you? What are you loving or looking forward to enjoying?
Homeschool Mom GIVEAWAY!⠀ 🌎⠀ Do you need so Homeschool Mom GIVEAWAY!⠀ 🌎⠀ Do you need some summertime professional development, homeschool mamas? You will LOVE this collection of books from some of my favorite homeschooling veterans!⠀ 🌍⠀ Every single one of these books could be yours!⠀ 🌏⠀ ⠀ 🌟Better Together by Pam Barnhill⠀ 🌟Help! I'm Homeschooling! by Tricia Hodges⠀ 🌟Homeschool Bravely by Jamie Erickson⠀ 🌟Homeschooling Gifted Kids by Cindy West⠀ 🌟Homeschooling Your Child with Special Needs by Shawna Wingert⠀ 🌟Introverted Mom by Jamie Martin⠀ 🌟More Than Enough by Kara Anderson⠀ 🌟Raising Creative Kids by Colleen Kessler⠀ 💕⠀ One person AND a friend will win the entire set! For a chance to win:⠀ 💕That's TWO winners! 💕⠀ ⠀ Here's how to enter:⠀ ⠀ ✔️1. Like this post.⠀ ⠀ ✔️2. Follow these eight homeschool authors:⠀ @colleenkessler⠀ @differentbydesignlearning⠀ @hodgepodgemom⠀ @jamie_cmartin⠀ @karastephensonanderson⠀ @ourjourneywestward⠀ @unlikely_homeschool⠀ @yourmorningbasket⠀ ⠀ ✔️3. Tag as many friends as you like. Tag each friend in a separate comment. Each tag is an entry to win.⠀ ⠀ ✔️4. If you'd like to share the giveaway in your story and tag @colleenkessler, you will get another entry!⠀ ⠀ ✔️Winners will be announced May 23rd. ⠀ Note: This giveaway is not sponsored or endorsed by Instagram. Open to U.S. residents 18 and older only.
And my kids were doomed anyway... they have ME for And my kids were doomed anyway... they have ME for a mama. 😆⠀ ⠀ What do YOU think about that whole "weird homeschoolers" stereotype? 🌺
Do your kids struggle with executive function skil Do your kids struggle with executive function skills? ⠀ ⠀ 👉Executive function skills are a set of mental skills that include working memory, flexible thinking, and self-control. Kids use these skills every day to learn, create, play, and manage daily life. Trouble with executive function skills can make it hard to focus, follow directions, and handle emotions, among other things. 👈⠀ ⠀ It IS possible to help our kiddos when they struggle with these skills! There are loads of resources on my site with suggestions and booklists, along with the "Helping Your Child Strengthen Their Executive Function Skills" workbook (pictured here). You can find the workbook at the link in my bio or by searching the shop tab on the site. And, use the code INSTA15 and get 15% off any digital product in the shop -- including the workbook. 💜 https://rll.bz/efskills
You're doing an amazing job, mama. Don't forget th You're doing an amazing job, mama. Don't forget that. ⠀ .⠀ I see you.⠀ .⠀ You're not alone. 💕
"We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and do "We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." -- Walt Disney⠀ .⠀ These kids spend so much time reading, exploring, and playing -- trips to the library, museums, field trips, and classes have filled our weeks for as long as they can remember as we were already on this homeschooling adventure by the time that sweet girl and boy were born. ⠀ .⠀ We miss our local resources... especially the library and science center.⠀ .⠀ Besides all those hands-on places, @curiositystream is our favorite resource and we've been watching the heck out of it during this pandemic. ⠀ .⠀ Do you subscribe?⠀ What are your kids' favorite shows?⠀ .⠀ >> https://rll.bz/CuriosityStream <<
How do you encourage problem solving in your home? How do you encourage problem solving in your home?⠀ ⠀ Puzzles, games, projects, and unstructured playtime -- lots of it -- are great options for fostering critical and creative thinking, skills that are crucial for problem solving.⠀ ⠀ And we have lots of downtime these days to play and build and puzzle things out together, don't we? Share some of your favorite ideas. Puzzles on amazon —> https://amzn.to/2SZjxTB aff The link to one is in my profile since people have asked.
“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”⠀ – Harriet Tubman⠀ ⠀ 💕💕💕💕💕💕💕⠀ ⠀ What are some of the dreams your little dreamers have?
This should have been the last day of our homescho This should have been the last day of our homeschool co-op...⠀ ⠀ Meeting once a week with friends for classes, field trips, and adventures is such an important part of our homeschool. It anchors us in our week. It gives us the excuse to see friends and plan things to look forward to. ⠀ ⠀ Having things all online and virtual is messing with this mama's organization. Today, for example... I totally forgot today was Monday until I got a message from my daughter's acting teacher that she'd missed her acting lesson, and was wondering if we were okay.⠀ ⠀ We were.⠀ ⠀ Just on a Tuesday schedule instead. ⠀ ⠀ And then I realized that today would have been the end of co-op and I would have been helping to put last minute plans into place with the kids for their tween and teen dance that was to take place this weekend... and I got all misty-eyed. ⠀ ⠀ I was talking to a friend about feeling totally secure, happy, and motivated one moment to sad, unmotivated, and depressed the next. There are so many "feels" lately, and I know I'm not alone in sometimes feeling them all in a single day, right? ⠀ ⠀ When I recognize my mood shifting, I try to give myself a break -- take a walk, sit on the deck, drink some coffee or a coke (my two faves), or read a book. ⠀ ⠀ What are YOU doing to help yourself adjust in this time of uncertainty so that you *can* be there for your kiddos?
💜 YES!! 💜⠀ ⠀ How do you encourage a life 💜 YES!! 💜⠀ ⠀ How do you encourage a lifelong love of learning in your kids?
The kids are missing their friends so much right n The kids are missing their friends so much right now. It's so weird for us to not see friends 4-5 times each week. And when this cutie is in a play, she's with old and new theater friends 5-6 times each week. (This pic is of my 12yo theater kid and her friend at a roller rink last year.)⠀ ⠀ One of the kids (not the one pictured) broke down today crying... that child shouted, "I just want to go somewhere or see someone other than my family!"⠀ ⠀ That child then cried again, worried they'd offended Daddy as he was the target of said shouting. ⠀ ⠀ Instead, he gave the kiddo a big hug and said, "let's go!" They jumped in the van and went for a drive, stopping by a beloved relative's house to wave from the driveway, and visit from a distance. ⠀ ⠀ Daddy and kiddo both came home smiling and happier, and peace has been restored for the time being in our little home. ⠀ ⠀ How are you all holding up? How are your kiddos? What are you doing to ease hearts and minds?⠀ ⠀ I'm so worried for you, your kids, my kids, and, well, everyone. The mental strain of all of this will last, and I worry about the emotional and social ramifications of these strange and uncertain times. Thinking about you all... 💕
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