My blogging friend Cindy West has published a book at Prufrock Press. It’s called Homeschooling Gifted and Advanced Learners. It’s fantastic! And I have two copies to giveaway.
(I’ll tell you a secret. Homeschooling Gifted and Advanced Learners is $6 cheaper at Amazon
The standard characteristics of gifted children were outlined in a 1971 report to Congress. Cindy lists these same qualities (along with others) in her book. Here they are.
Gifted children demonstrate achievement and/or potential ability in these areas:
- general intellectual ability
- specific academic aptitude
- creative or productive thinking
- leadership ability
- visual or performing arts
- psychomotor ability
Do you see any of those traits in your children? If so, they may be advanced learners. Of course, homeschooling is a great option for gifted children because we moms can tailor their instruction and let them rocket forward in their areas of giftedness.
After reading Cindy’s book, though, I realize that this manual is actually beneficial for any homeschool mom because her advice about homeschooling applies to any situation.
Cindy is intensely practical, and although she discusses educational philosophies, most of the book delves into specifically how to teach children. I love how she sprinkled specific examples from her own children throughout the book. She includes book lists, activity ideas, and lots of hints.
Homeschooling Gifted and Advanced Learners covers all the academic areas, telling how to prod a student who does not excel in that area as well as how to challenge a student who does.
Cindy’s book answers these questions:
- What about children who tend to dawdle?
- What about socialization?
- Should I buy a curriculum or design my own?
- How can I keep my gifted child from becoming prideful about his or her talents?
- What are ways to organize homeschool record keeping?
- What do I need to do in preparation for college?
Giveaway Rules
Cindy sent me three copies of her book. So I have two to giveaway (because I have to keep one for myself). If you would like a copy of Homeschooling Gifted and Advanced Learners, just leave a comment here on this post. I’ll choose the two winners on Tuesday, November 8, 2011.
Comment Suggestion (not required):
Tell me how you think your child may be gifted. For example, I think that my Sprite is gifted in creative thinking. You can look at the list of characteristics of a gifted child or the officially recognized traits of giftedness to stimulate your thinking.
Tweet this post at Twitter for an additional entry. Please leave a 2nd comment with the permalink to the tweet.
I apologize to my international readers, but this contest is limited to residents of the continental USA. You must be 18 to enter. Please leave a valid email address. You will have 48 hours after contact to claim your prize with a mailing address.
Oh man! I received my review and give-away copies the other day and the envelope was empty! Boo! I had to tell Cindy they were gone…I hope someone out there enjoys them.
Waiting for another copy, but now I can look forward to it even more!
Heather W
I would love a copy of this book. I don’t know whether I have advanced learners or not, but I am amazed at how they put things they have learned together, make connections and the questions they ask…certainly far above where I was at at their ages. Sometimes it is hard to be able to demonstrate this, however, with the LD’s they also have. I think perhaps this book could help with both.
My son is extremely gifted in math and science. Since age 8, he has been able to spout off very intricate details of how volcanoes work and the anatomy and behavior of sea animals, just to start. He soaks in scientific details like a sponge. He does all of his math problems completely in his head. He never writes down anything.
Yes please! I’ve homeschooled one advanced learner through to college. I think I did well by him, although I know I could have done more and challenged him more. My last child is also academically advanced for sure, and I am determined to do even better by him.
I would love a copy of this. I would say what trait most defines my son’s giftedness is not his quick learning or high content knowledge, but his unique perspective. He sees answers, connections, relationships in ways that most, including me, don’t think of.
Can I take part in this giveaway form Italy?
My older daughter definitely has an amazing aptitude for reading and her younger sister who is just starting to read seems to be following in her footsteps.
My sons both show signs of giftedness in their aptitude and retention, and putting unique connections together. Thanks for the offer.
Both of my kids are advanced learners in unique ways. One has “special powers” with numbers and has been able to do advanced math at a very young age. The other is a great reader and has amazing language skills. This book would help me really develop their special qualities but also help encourage the other areas of their development. Thanks for the great giveaways.
Would love a copy… I am getting ready to send one with “general academic ability” out into the world next year, and praying for the patience and ability to work with my kindergartener who has very specific abilities in reading and language (taught herself the alphabet before she was 2, recognized letters on signs at 20 months).
I would love to win a copy! My oldest son is an advanced learner and retains massive amounts of information. Since age two he has been in love with all things related to the solar system. He can recall so much information about the solar system it is amazing. This has carried into many other areas, he excells in history, math and science. He amazes me on a daily basis.
I would love to win this. My daughter was actually just tested and she is in the 94th percentile for her IQ, and 96th percentile for her memory.
I think home schooling (Online Interactive Studies) would be good for education, for lowering the physical stress and for saving times. But children should be engaged in social activities as well. They should not be kept in home all day. Outdoor activities like playing games, meeting with other children are also necessary. The most important education they will receive from their parents that will make them a good person first.
My 12 year old son is gifted in math and science. It’s amazing to watch his mind in action. We are homeschooling to keep him challenged. Carnegie Mellon University is a wonderful resource for classes for talented children. I would love to have a copy of the book you are giving away.
Aren’t all children gifted in some way? And aren’t they all normal in so many ways? And aren’t they all wonderful? I see both academic gifts and a lot of normal in my own kids. Either way, the book sounds great–thanks for the going to the trouble of hosting a giveaway!
Yes, Susan! That’s my belief, too. (Which is probably why Jimmie feels like it’s good for every homeschooler.) :o)
How wonderful that God puts giftings into each little human soul…my two younger kids share giftings in the arts arena..Joshua has self-taught on the bass guitar and plays in a Christian band while Sarah creates beautiful things on the sewing machine at age 12…things I cannot do at 43 🙂 haha…I would be so blessed by this book as I really need some direction right now..I am so driven as a former school teacher to overly fuss on the academics when my heartstrings are really being tugged to take advantage of this homeschooling freedom to let my children soar in more creative and relational venues…thanks for the opportunity and blessing me with your thoughtful and creative posts…Blessings
I think my oldest son is gifted in science and he can take recycles and create almost anything he desires. I don’t know what that’s called. Then my youngest son is gifted in drawing. This is a great giveaway!
Our family just started homeschooling this year. My two oldest children were in the gifted program when they attended public school. My oldest is gifted in the area of math. He is talented when it comes to building things as well. My middle child is 8 and she has similar talents, but I think she tends to think a little more outside the “box” with certain subjects. Thanks for offering the giveaway.
I would love any hints and help this book could offer! I’ve have two gifted learners (but….really, I think they would fit in the creative thinker category) in college. Not that the experience gives me any insight how to homeschool our youngest though!! : )
My son is a gifted problem solver. Math story problems are easy for him and he definitely has a creative streak when it comes to building things whether from paper, cardboard and tape or Legos.
All three of my boys tested as gifted and talented in PS befote we started HS. They are all musicians, avid readers and nature lovers. Our youngest would benefit from the ideas in this book.
My 7-yr-old son was recently diagnosed with High-functioning autism so tests tell us his IQ is 119 and his visual spatial skills in particular are approximate to the average 15 yr. old. But test results only validated what we experience daily. A little boy that I scramble to keep challenged. Our biggest blessing is that he reads several grade levels ahead so books are huge for us. I’ve been exploring resources for children gifted in the particular ways mine is and would love to see what this book can offer us. Thanks!
It sounds like a wonderful book. I have five kids who are all very different learners with different skills. The oldest is a classic ‘gifted’ student; quick thinker, excellent memory and problem solving skills, and the youngest appears to be as well. The middle three have gifts in other areas such as art, drama, and language arts. Finding resources to help develop the whole person while keeping up with gifted learning can be a real challenge. Helping kids deal with being labelled ‘the smart ones’ and helping them fit in the world are also important. Academic success isn’t the only goal in life. We want to raise good people.
Thanks for all the great posts.
Thanks for the give-away! My son reads books like there’s NO tomorrow! He loves every genre and author…magazines, etc. I just LOVE how he fills up with so many things…it makes him happy to read. 🙂
I would love a copy of Cindy’s book. I have one child who is an early/avid reader, another child who has a variety of interests, and another who has a vivid imagination.
Thanks for the chance to win!
I would love a copy! My son is gifted in math and my daughter in language art, so this would be great to read!
I have been so blessed to read your review, Jimmie! Thank you for such kind words (and the time you took to read and review my book.)
I have also been blessed to read the comments so far. As I mentioned in reply to Susan’s post above, I truly believe all children are gifted in something. That’s why I worked so hard in the book to focus on finding and nurturing giftedness of all types (as well as figuring out how to manage the “normal” and less-than normal parts at the same time.) It’s also why the book is really appropriate for any homeschooler, as Jimmie said.
I love hearing about your children in the comments and pray the book helps you with your challenges.
I would love to own a copy of this book. My 10 year old son is gifted and I am always looking for information to help me in my quest to keep him challenged. Thank you for the giveaway!
I would love to win this to donate to our church library’s small homeschool section. Thank you for the opportunity!
My older boy started speaking at six months and taught himself to read at three. He’s well beyond his age level in most areas but his sensitivities are so intense it’s often difficult to handle for us as a family.
Thanks for recommending this book and giving us the opportunity to win a copy.