A Really Good Read: Creative Homeschooling

In trying to find some resources to deal with the challenges of teaching my kids, I came across a great book in the library: Creative Homeschooling: A Resource Guide for Smart Families by Lisa Rivero. Wow. This is a book I could have used a long time ago--even before I started homeschooling. Now, though, having homeschooled for 5 months, I felt like this book was copying my thoughts word for word and it expresses, in a nutshell, why homeschooling is working so well for us--and I'm only on page 15!

Some of the things that really hit home were the decreasing enthusiasm and interest in learning for the author's intelligent son, trying to help gifted kids fit in with their peers, trying to get resources for gifted kids in schools, concerns about support and resources for gifted kids who are homeschooled, understanding special educational needs of gifted kids and on and on. The list of qualities of gifted kids really hit home with me and sounded all too familiar and highlighted my insecurities about whether I am able to meet the educational needs of my kids.

The difference between "gifted" kids and "smart" kids was outlined, with the advantage given to "smart" kids. Gifted kids see and experience the world differently and oftentimes have a harder time fitting in; 'smart' kids, on the other hand, have 'optimal intelligence' and have the social abilities to more easily fit in with other kids and use their intelligence. So I look at the continuum of where my kids are at and use sensitivity to tailor their education to their needs.

Thus the optimal education for the moment: homeschooling. Right now the kids are getting some great advantages to being homeschooled, and the advantages are outweighing the disadvantages. I am hoping that, being the teacher type, I will continue to refine my skill in providing them with an optimal education situation. My bottom line values, though, are not just of being 'smart' or 'educated', though those are certainly worthy goals. Learning to contribute positively to our human family and the world is vital. Teaching the kids to do things with love and passion is deeply important, and no matter what someone's intelligence level, if they don't do that it seems like life would be an empty shell.