Raising Lifelong Learners

Today we are talking with Ana Lorena Fábrega about interest-led, project based learning.  Ana is an author, edupreneur, and Chief Evangelist at Synthesis. Growing up, she attended ten schools in seven different countries. She then earned her BS in Childhood Education and Special Education from New York University and taught elementary school in New York, Boston, and Panama. Today, Ana Lorena writes online to over 200,000 readers about the promise of alternative education. If you need some encouragement to continue, or even start taking a more interest-based focus in your homeschool, then pop in your earbuds and listen in! Our sponsors for today’s episode are CTC Math and Night Zookeeper Links and Resources from Today’s Show Raising Lifelong Learners Membership Community - The Learners Lab The Learning Game by Ana Lorena Fábrega Raising Resilient Sons by Colleen Kessler, M.Ed. The Power Of Inquiry Based Learning For Gifted Children Interest Led Homeschooling: Helping Your Child Find Their Interests Create a Multimodal Learning Environment Nurturing a Strength-Based Approach to Learning in Homeschooling Project Based Learning And Your Gifted Child: A Guide For Parents RLL #96: Finding Learning Opportunities with Dennis DeNoia RLL #68: Self-Directed Education with Peter Gray, PhD RLL #64: What to Do When School Doesn’t Work Homeschooling Your Gifted Child With Interest-Led Learning Homeschooling High School With Interest-Led Learning Synthesis Review For Gifted Children: Everything You Need To Know Connect with Ana You can find Ana on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube Learn more about The Learning Game at https://afabrega.com/ Connect with Colleen You can find Colleen on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram How does your child learn best? Take the Quiz!

In today's episode, Colleen tackles the important topic of managing worry in your homeschool. She shares the nature of stress, its impact on children and teens, and how it manifests in their behaviors. From emotional outbursts to academic challenges, she covers the signs of stress that parents should watch for. She also shares practical strategies for parents, such as establishing routines, encouraging reengagement, promoting healthy habits, and practicing deep breathing. By fostering a positive and resilient environment, we can empower our kids to tackle challenges and develop lifelong learning skills. Join us as we navigate the intricacies of homeschooling and discover effective ways to support our children through stressful times. Our sponsor for today’s episode is  CTC Math    Links and Resources from Today’s Show Raising Lifelong Learners Membership Community -  The Learners Lab Original Article on Homeschooling Today Magazine Raising Resilient Sons by Colleen Kessler, M.Ed. Masterclass | Helping Your Child Manage Worry  If He’s Really So Smart… Why Gifted Kids Struggle and What to Do About It  Anxiety vs. Stress vs. Perfectionism: Helping Our Children Cope  Prioritizing Self-Care is Important for You and Your Kids The Power of Connecting with Your Kids in Homeschooling Taming the Worry Dragon at GHC  Books to Help Kids Who Worry Helping Our Kids Self-Regulate with Sarah Collins When the World Overwhelms Your Anxious Child | How You Can Help How a Return to Outside Play Will Help Our Kids Thrive with Ginny Yurich Connect with Colleen You can find Colleen on  Twitter,  Facebook,  InstagramHow does your child learn best?  Take the Quiz!

In today’s episode, Colleen has the privilege to talk with Julie Skolnick about raising and providing the best environment for gifted and 2e children.  Julie F. Rosenbaum Skolnick, M.A., J.D., Founder of With Understanding Comes Calm, LLC, passionately guides parents of gifted and distractible children, mentors 2e adults, trains educators and advises professionals on how to bring out the best and raise self-confidence in their 2e students and clients. A prolific writer and beloved speaker, Julie hosts "The Haystack 2e Adult Membership Group" which welcomes all ‘2e adult needles,’ hosts Let’s Talk 2e! Parent Empowerment Groups, produces virtual conferences, and publishes “Gifted & Distractible,” a free weekly newsletter. Her book, Gifted and Distractible: Understanding, Supporting, and Advocating for Your Twice Exceptional Child, was released in October 2023. Located in Maryland, USA, Julie's clients, and audience hale from all four corners of the globe. Our sponsor for today’s episode is CTC Math  Links and Resources from Today’s Show Raising Lifelong Learners Membership Community - The Learners Lab Julie's website: With Understanding Comes Calm Gifted anGifted and Distractible: Understanding, Supporting, and Advocating for Your Twice Exceptional Child by Julie Skolnick Parent Empowerment Group - With Understanding Comes Calm The 2e Toolbox for Parents - With Understanding Comes Calm Raising Resilient Sons by Colleen Kessler, M.Ed. Guide Your Kids on the Path to Self-Discovery Nurturing Authenticity | Supporting Neurodivergent Children in Discovering Their True Selves Twice Exceptional Children And Homeschooling: What It’s Really Like - Raising Lifelong Learners Parenting and Teaching a Twice Exceptional Child Seeking Support for 2e Children and Adults: When Is It Too Early or Too Late? - With Understanding Comes Calm Building Understanding and Trust with Twice Exceptional Loved Ones Homeschooling Twice Exceptional Kids Nurturing a Strength-Based Approach to Learning in Homeschooling Being a Detective Allows Parents and Educators of 2e Children to Identify Triggers and Focus on Strengths - With Understanding Comes Calm Emotional Regulation Free Gift from Julie Skolnick The Different Faces of Giftedness: Understanding Your Child Connect with Julie Julie’s website: https://www.WithUnderstandingComesCalm.com You can find Julie on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn Connect with Colleen You can find Colleen on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram How does your child learn best? Take the Quiz!

Today we are delighted to have Ginny Yurich share with us how spending time outside will help our kids thrive. Ginny is a Michigan homeschooling mother of five and the founder of 1000 Hours Outside, a global movement, media company and lifestyle brand meant to bring back balance between virtual life and real life. She is a thought-leader in the world of nature-based play and its benefits for children, and one of her top priorities is to inspire parents to invest in spending time in God’s creation with their children. Her 1000 Hours Outside Challenge spans the globe and many people from all walks of life look to her for inspiration as well as practical tips on how to put down the screens and get outside. Our sponsor for today’s episode is CTC Math  Links and Resources from Today’s Show Raising Lifelong Learners Membership Community - The Learners Lab 1000 Hours Outside - Prioritize Nature, Reclaim Childhood and Experience A Fuller Life by Ginny Yurich Until The Streetlights Come On by Ginny Yurich 1000 Hours Outside Activity Book by Ginny Yurich Raising Resilient Sons by Colleen Kessler, M.Ed. 100 Backyard Activities That Are the Dirtiest, Coolest, Creepy-Crawliest Ever! by Colleen Kessler, M.Ed. Hands-On Ecology: Authentic Learning Experiences That Engage Students in STEM by Colleen Kessler, M.Ed. Free to Learn  by Peter Gray Balanced and Barefoot: How Unrestricted Outdoor Play Makes for Strong, Confident, and Capable Children by Angela J. Hanscom Ready or Not: Preparing Our Kids to Thrive in an Uncertain and Rapidly Changing World by Madeline Levine, PhD Moms, You Are Doing A Great Job RLL #68: Self-Directed Education with Peter Gray, PhD Surviving Different Weather Conditions | Think Outside Boxes Surviving the Elements | Think Outside Boxes RLL #43: Getting Your Kids Outside with Justin Wren 5 Great Outdoor Activities for Kids Fabulous Outdoor Play Spaces Connect with Ginny You can find Ginny here on Instagram For her blog, podcast, and books check out 1000 Hours Outside Connect with Colleen You can find Colleen on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram How does your child learn best? Take the Quiz!

A strengths-based approach to learning is exactly what our asynchronous kids need.  We may be tempted to focus on remediation in areas where they are “behind,” but remember there is no behind; our kids learn every day.    It is so important to teach our children to use their strengths to help them overcome their weaknesses instead of allowing them to feel behind, always trying to catch up. In today’s episode, Colleen talks specifically about why we should implement a strengths-based approach with our kids, and let go of the traditional, deficit-based model.   Our sponsor for today’s episode is CTC Math  Links and Resources from Today’s Show Raising Lifelong Learners Membership Community - The Learners Lab Masterclass | Raising Resilient Families Bundle | Smart Boy Characters Movie Studies - Raising Lifelong Learners Bundle | Smart Girl Characters Movie Studies - Raising Lifelong Learners Raising Resilient Sons by Colleen Kessler, M.Ed. What’s The Difference Between Interest-Led and Strength Based Learning? RLL #67: Ideas for Nurturing Our Kids’ Strengths RLL #66: Strength-Based Learning for Differently-Wired Kids with Shawna Wingert RLL 17 Shawna Wingert: Building on Your Child’s Strengths Strength Finder Worksheet (free download) The Powerful Relationship Between Confidence And Learning In Our Homeschools Building Self-Esteem in Kids  RLL 30 Andrew Peterson: Being Students of Our Children  RLL #40: Self-Directed Homeschooling High School with Trevor Kessler  Connect with Colleen You can find Colleen on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram How does your child learn best? Take the Quiz!

Building social-emotional skills, nurturing generosity, and increasing confidence in our kids is important all year long, but can be great to focus on during the holiday season. In this episode of Raising Lifelong Learners, host Colleen Kessler discusses teaching kids to be empathetic and to help others, and emphasizes the benefits of nurturing empathy in children, especially those who are neurodivergent. Listen to learn practical tips for fostering a sense of service in kids, along with understanding the emotional and psychological benefits of doing so. The episode also explores age-appropriate ways for children to get involved in serving their communities and encourages parents to prioritize safety and trust when seeking volunteering opportunities for their kids. The episode is a heartfelt reminder of the impact of spreading kindness and its role in raising emotionally intelligent and compassionate adults. Our sponsor for today’s episode is CTC Math    Additional Links and Resources Raising Lifelong Learners Membership Community - The Learners Lab Masterclass | Cultivating a Healthy Mindset Raising Resilient Sons by Colleen Kessler, M.Ed. Teaching Kids to Help Others Random Acts of Kindness: An Advent Tradition The Ultimate Guide to Random Acts of Kindness RLL #93: 7 Tips and Strategies for Boosting Emotional Resilience in Your Kids Random Acts of Kindness for Kids Raising Kind Kids: Acts of Kindness for Kids Books to Inspire Kindness and Thankfulness Connect with Colleen You can find Colleen on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram How does your child learn best? Take the Quiz!

There are so many changes this time of year that affect our intense kiddos.  Our routines are off, there are new or uncomfortable places to visit, we’re managing family members who do not understand our kids, plus all the excitement and anticipation.  Sarah Collins joins Colleen again, this time to talk about ways to meet the sensory needs of our kids and anticipate some of the challenges they may face. Let’s jump in and ready ourselves for the holiday season!   Our sponsors for today’s episode are CTC Math and Reading Eggs Additional Links and Resources Raising Lifelong Learners Membership Community - The Learners LabRaising Lifelong Learners Facebook GroupMasterclass | Building Family Connections - Raising Lifelong LearnersRaising Resilient Sons by Colleen Kessler, M.Ed. Helping Our Kids Self-Regulate with Sarah CollinsStrengthening Executive Function Skills: A Conversation with Sarah CollinsSelf-Care and Co-Regulation | Balancing Parenting and Sensory NeedsManaging Your Child’s Intensity During the HolidaysIntense Children and The Holidays: A Parent’s GuideRLL 33: The Holidays and Your Differently-Wired ChildAutism and the Holidays | Julie’s School Performance Story Connect with Sarah Website: https://www.homeschoolOT.comYou can also find Sarah on Instagram Connect with Colleen You can find Colleen on Twitter, Facebook, InstagramHow does your child learn best? Take the Quiz!

Colleen has a delightful conversation with clinical psychologist, Gail Post, Ph.D. in today’s episode.  Gail has years of personal and professional experience with the gifted community and shares so much regarding the emotional and social needs.  Grab your earbuds and get ready for some practical parenting ideas and lived-in advice on raising our intelligent and intense kiddos.   Gail Post, Ph.D. is a Clinical Psychologist, parenting coach/consultant, workshop leader, writer, parent of two gifted young adults, and Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. In practice for over 35 years, she specializes in intellectual and musical giftedness and twice-exceptionalities. Her writing includes hundreds of articles, several book chapters, a long-standing blog, Gifted Challenges. and her book, The Gifted Parenting Journey.   Our sponsors for today’s episode are CTC Math and Reading Eggs   Links and Resources from Today's Show The Gifted Parenting Journey by Gail Post, Ph.D. Workshop with Gail Post, Ph.D.| Gifted Parenting Journey Raising Lifelong Learners Community - The Learners Lab Raising Resilient Sons by Colleen Kessler, M.Ed. SENG: Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted Supporting The Social and Emotional Needs Of Gifted And Twice-Exceptional Kids Prioritizing Self-Care is Important for You and Your Kids Finding Community: Building a Support System Online and In-Person Smart Kids Still Need Help When You Just Aren’t Comfortable Getting Help for Your Child Episode 319: Dr. Gail Post on the Journey of Parenting Gifted Children Parent Footprint with Dr. Dan: The Gifted Parenting Journey with Gail Post How Do I Parent My Gifted Kid with Dr. Gail Post Parenting from the Inside Out: How a Deeper Self-Understanding Can Help You Raise Children Who Thrive: 10th Anniversary Edition RLL LIVE | Q & A – Parenting Differently-Wired Kiddos Connect with ColleenYou can find Colleen on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram How does your child learn best? Take the Quiz!

We are raising kids who are learning and developing in ways that do not fit in with the typical milestones.  They may be reading at three, yet at ten are still struggling to find meaningful friendships. We, as parents can, often feel isolation when raising neurodivergent children.  They notice that they are outliers, and we feel it, too.  That doesn’t mean making connections is impossible, though! There are steps we can take, to help our family find their tribe and build a community.  In today’s episode, Colleen will be talking about her experiences with co-ops, classes, and helping her neurodivergent family find community. Our sponsors for today’s episode are CTC Math and Reading Eggs Additional Links and Resources Raising Lifelong Learners Membership Community - The Learners LabRaising Lifelong Learners Facebook GroupMasterclass| If He’s Really So Smart… Why Gifted Kids Struggle and What to Do About It Raising Resilient Sons by Collleen Kessler, M.Ed. Find a Place of Belonging for Your Neurodiverse KidsWhy Join a Gifted Parent Group?Why Community Is So Important For Gifted And Twice Exceptional KidsThe Anxiety Toolkit Nurturing Authenticity | Supporting Neurodivergent Children in Discovering Their True SelvesThe Social Emotional Needs Of Gifted And Neurodiverse Children - Raising Lifelong Learners Connect with Colleen You can find Colleen on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram How does your child learn best? Take the Quiz!