Podcast
The Raising Lifelong Learners podcast helps parents — especially homeschooling parents — encourage their differently-wired kids to learn, explore passions, cultivate creativity, and become fascinated by the world around them. Join host Colleen Kessler — educational consultant, gifted specialist, author, and speaker — for interviews, audioblogs, tips, and encouragement to help your differently-wired kiddos become lifelong learners — children who know that they can find the answers to anything they want to know if they can just view their world with play, passion, and fascination.
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Embracing Child-Focused Learning | A Guide for Homeschooling Neurodivergent Children
As homeschooling parents, we’re always looking for ways to better support our children’s unique learning needs. For neurodivergent kids, particularly those who are gifted or twice-exceptional, incorporating self-directed learning can be a game-changer. Self-directed learning is a child-centered approach that allows students to take ownership of their education. The focus is on curiosity, exploration, problem-solving,…
Supporting Neurodivergent Kids in Homeschooling: A Conversation with Amy Bodkin
Tackling the responsibility of homeschooling a neurodivergent child can sometimes feel overwhelming. Many parents face the challenge of figuring out how to tailor education to fit the unique needs and strengths of each child. The good news is that you don’t have to go at it alone, and there are strategies that can make the…
Strengthening Bonds | Building Family Routines and Rituals
Finding ways to connect with our children and create a nurturing environment can sometimes feel daunting. That’s why creating family routines and rituals is so important. These are not just the building blocks for a stable home life, they also foster emotional security, inclusivity, and lifelong learning skills for your children. Routines are the structured,…
Homeschooling Hack: Using Online Book Clubs for Literature with Mary Wilson
One of the greatest perks of modern technology is online learning. Imagine your child connecting with peers from different parts of the world, exploring literature together, all from the comfort of your home or even while on the go! Online book clubs and classes offer incredible advantages. Gone are the days…
The Importance of Happiness in Homeschooling | A Guide for Parents
We often consider our children’s test scores, curriculum, and social interactions. But today, we’re going to explore why happiness is just as crucial, if not more so, in raising lifelong learners. Positive psychology, introduced by the visionary psychologist Martin Seligman in the late 1990s, flips the script on traditional psychology. Instead of zeroing…
Tackling Perfectionism | A Conversation with Lisa Van Gemert
Parenting gifted children comes with its own set of challenges, and perfectionism is often a significant part of the journey. As parents, particularly homeschooling parents, it is important to understand and help our children navigate through their perfectionistic tendencies. Let’s dive into what perfectionism looks like in gifted children and how we can help our…