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 21 Kaylene George: Embracing Autism
“Autism is NOT the Big Bad Wolf… Your child is going to have joy. Your child is going to have a life…” This inspiring episode challenges all of us to rethink autism and how we interact with autistic friends and family members. Kaylene George is an autism self-advocate, and an amazing mama to a […]
RLL 20: Helping Your Kiddo with Executive Function Skills Struggles | A Listener Question
Gifted and creative kiddos can often struggle with their executive function skills, and we parents are left scratching our heads, and trying to figure out how to get them to be functioning adults who can manage their own lives. In this episode we’ll talk about what executive function skills are, how they’re important, and what […]
RLL 19 Luke Gilkerson: Using Astronomy to Foster an Integrative Approach to Learning
Science — particularly the study of astronomy — can be a great way to integrate your kiddos’ subjects so that they’re incorporating many different areas like literature, writing, and the content areas in one fell swoop… A deep dive into an area for an extended period of time. Today, Colleen talks with Luke Gilkerson about […]
RLL 18: How to Lure the Kids Away From Screens | A Listener Question
Cristy asks how lure her kiddo away from the screens — her sweet daughter just wants to play video games. This is a challenging question that comes up in homeschool circles often. Colleen tackles it from a few different perspectives. What about you? Do you limit screen use in your home? Why or why not? […]
RLL 17 Shawna Wingert: Building on Your Child’s Strengths
Homeschooling special needs children can be really tough. When your child has several special needs and is very asynchronous, too, things get even more challenging. One of our absolute favorite moms of special needs kids is Shawna Wingert from Not the Former Things. She blogs honestly and empowers other moms of special needs kiddos to […]
RLL 16: Homeschooling Gifted Kids on a Budget | A Listener Question
Maleeha is concerned. Following a student-led, self-directed model of homeschooling can definitely add up, cost-wise, and when you’re homeschooling insatiable gifted learners, it can be even more costly. These kids seem to eat programs and materials for breakfast. So, how can a parent get kids involved in their own learning, and fostering their curiosity, […]