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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RLL #69: [Audioblog] Seven Tools for Peaceful Parenting that You Can Use Today
Parenting is tough. No matter how rock-solid your discipline strategies are, you probably lose your temper and yell from time to time. Even the most well-meaning of parents may find themselves yelling at their kiddos in a moment of angry frustration. When we strive to parent more gently, we need a toolbox of skills…
RLL #68: Self-Directed Education with Peter Gray, PhD
Today, Colleen speaks with Peter Gray, PhD and author of “Free to Learn: Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life.” Peter and Colleen discuss his journey to understanding how self-directed learning is a most successful model of education, empowering kids to take ownership…
RLL #67: Ideas for Nurturing Our Kids’ Strengths
Research shows that when we encourage our learners to pursue their interests and utilize their strengths in their learning, we can also see gains in areas that they aren’t as strong in. Colleen dives a little deeper into understanding what strength based learning is and how there are simple, practical steps we can take to…
RLL #66: Strength-Based Learning for Differently-Wired Kids with Shawna Wingert
When our differently-wired kids are struggling or seem bored with their studies, often we want to find out why and fix it fast! What if we first became observers of our kids, discovering what they’re great at and interested in, and then turned that around, using it to get them excited about learning again?…
RLL #65: [Audioblog] Navigating Social and Emotional Needs of Gifted Kids
Gifted children have characteristics that can often cause them to struggle socially and emotionally. In today’s episode, Colleen shares an audioblog — an article that first appeared on the site — outlining some common challenges facing gifted kids and offering real guidance to help you help your child manage his or her emotions. …
RLL #64: What to Do When School Doesn’t Work
School choice is extremely personal. It really comes down to what you are most comfortable with, what you can afford and what kinds of sacrifices you are willing to make with regards to this decision for educating your differently-wired kiddos. In today’s solocast, Colleen discusses the different options to best meet your children’s…