
Supporting and Understanding Levels of Giftedness in Homeschooled Children with Deborah Ruf
09/13/24 • 48 min
In today's episode, Colleen had the pleasure of speaking with the incredible Dr. Deborah Ruf about homeschooling, giftedness, and the evolving landscape of education.
Key Takeaways:- Evolving Homeschooling Landscape: With more resources available, being intentional in selecting activities and groups is crucial.
- Giftedness Beyond Scores: Giftedness is multifaceted, with variations beyond high IQ scores, requiring tailored support.
- Understanding Personality and Interests: Recognizing personality types and allowing children to explore their interests can significantly impact their educational journey.
- Parental Roles: Parents should support their children’s true selves and sometimes ‘get out of the way’ to let them pursue their passions effectively.
Ultimately, this episode reinforced the importance of appreciating and nurturing the unique traits and strengths of gifted children, creating an environment where they can thrive intellectually and emotionally. Recognizing and supporting these unique needs is integral to raising lifelong learners.
Links and Resources from Today’s EpisodeOur sponsors for today’s episode are CTC Math and Lexercise
- RLL 12: What About Relaxed and Interest-Led Homeschooling for Gifted Kids? | A Listener Question
- OUT NOW! – The Homeschool Advantage: A Child-Focused Approach to Raising Lifelong Learners
- Raising Lifelong Learners Membership Community – The Learners Lab
- Raising Resilient Sons by Colleen Kessler, M.Ed.
- Interest Led Homeschooling: Helping Your Child Find Their Interests
- Homeschooling High School With Interest-Led Learning
- Interest-Led Learning In The Early Years: Preschool and Beyond
- Spooky Unit Studies For October Interest-Led Learning
- Homeschooling Your Gifted Child With Interest-Led Learning
- What’s The Difference Between Interest-Led and Strength Based Learning?
- Why Unit Studies are Ideal for Interest-led Learning
- Interest-Led Homeschooling and Your Gifted Child
Connect with Dr. Ruf You can find Deborah Ruf at FiveLevelsOfGifted.com
Connect with Colleen You can find Colleen on Twitter @ColleenKessler, Facebook @RaisingLifelongLearners, Instagram @ColleenKessler How does your child learn best? Take the Quiz ==> https://raisinglifelonglearners.com/quiz/
In today's episode, Colleen had the pleasure of speaking with the incredible Dr. Deborah Ruf about homeschooling, giftedness, and the evolving landscape of education.
Key Takeaways:- Evolving Homeschooling Landscape: With more resources available, being intentional in selecting activities and groups is crucial.
- Giftedness Beyond Scores: Giftedness is multifaceted, with variations beyond high IQ scores, requiring tailored support.
- Understanding Personality and Interests: Recognizing personality types and allowing children to explore their interests can significantly impact their educational journey.
- Parental Roles: Parents should support their children’s true selves and sometimes ‘get out of the way’ to let them pursue their passions effectively.
Ultimately, this episode reinforced the importance of appreciating and nurturing the unique traits and strengths of gifted children, creating an environment where they can thrive intellectually and emotionally. Recognizing and supporting these unique needs is integral to raising lifelong learners.
Links and Resources from Today’s EpisodeOur sponsors for today’s episode are CTC Math and Lexercise
- RLL 12: What About Relaxed and Interest-Led Homeschooling for Gifted Kids? | A Listener Question
- OUT NOW! – The Homeschool Advantage: A Child-Focused Approach to Raising Lifelong Learners
- Raising Lifelong Learners Membership Community – The Learners Lab
- Raising Resilient Sons by Colleen Kessler, M.Ed.
- Interest Led Homeschooling: Helping Your Child Find Their Interests
- Homeschooling High School With Interest-Led Learning
- Interest-Led Learning In The Early Years: Preschool and Beyond
- Spooky Unit Studies For October Interest-Led Learning
- Homeschooling Your Gifted Child With Interest-Led Learning
- What’s The Difference Between Interest-Led and Strength Based Learning?
- Why Unit Studies are Ideal for Interest-led Learning
- Interest-Led Homeschooling and Your Gifted Child
Connect with Dr. Ruf You can find Deborah Ruf at FiveLevelsOfGifted.com
Connect with Colleen You can find Colleen on Twitter @ColleenKessler, Facebook @RaisingLifelongLearners, Instagram @ColleenKessler How does your child learn best? Take the Quiz ==> https://raisinglifelonglearners.com/quiz/
Previous Episode

A Deep Dive into The Homeschool Advantage: A Child-Focused Approach to Raising Lifelong Learners
Today’s episode dives deep into the strengths-based approach to homeschooling, offering valuable insights and practical tips for creating a child-focused learning environment.
Key Takeaways:- Learn how to adapt curricula like math and history to better suit your child's preferences and learning style.
- Gain inspiration from Colleen's personal stories about her brother and daughter, emphasizing the power of focusing on strengths rather than weaknesses.
- Get a sneak peek into Colleen's recently released book The Homeschool Advantage: A Child-Focused Approach to Raising Lifelong Learners, filled with actionable content and conversational style.
Don't miss out on this enlightening episode! Listen now and share your thoughts! And if you love the episode, please leave a review for Colleen's book on Amazon or ask your local library to stock it. Every bit of support helps!
Links and Resources from Today’s EpisodeOur sponsors for today’s episode are CTC Math and Lexercise
- OUT NOW! – The Homeschool Advantage: A Child-Focused Approach to Raising Lifelong Learners
- Raising Lifelong Learners Membership Community – The Learners Lab
- Raising Resilient Sons by Colleen Kessler, M.Ed.
- Interest Led Homeschooling: Helping Your Child Find Their Interests
- Homeschooling High School With Interest-Led Learning
- Interest-Led Learning In The Early Years: Preschool and Beyond
- Spooky Unit Studies For October Interest-Led Learning
- Homeschooling Your Gifted Child With Interest-Led Learning
- What’s The Difference Between Interest-Led and Strength Based Learning?
- Why Unit Studies are Ideal for Interest-led Learning
- Interest-Led Homeschooling and Your Gifted Child
- RLL 12: What About Relaxed and Interest-Led Homeschooling for Gifted Kids? | A Listener Question
Connect with Colleen You can find Colleen on Twitter @ColleenKessler, Facebook @RaisingLifelongLearners, Instagram @ColleenKessler How does your child learn best? Take the Quiz ==> https://raisinglifelonglearners.com/quiz/
Next Episode

When Homeschool Looks Different: Embracing the Chaos and Finding Joy
In the latest episode we dive deep into the evolving and sometimes chaotic world of homeschooling. Join Colleen as she shares her family's "Not Back to School Day" traditions, how they're adapting amid a jam-packed schedule, and the heartfelt challenges of balancing multiple roles.
Key Takeaways:- Homeschools adapt from year to year, and new traditions can be fun.
- The struggle of managing homeschooling alongside numerous activities and professional commitments is challenging for all -- you're not alone.
- It's important to be present and mindful of the mental load carried by homeschooling parents.
From meltdowns to mini victories, this episode is a candid reflection on the beautiful messiness of homeschooling life. Whether you're a seasoned homeschooler or just starting out, you'll find comfort and camaraderie knowing that you're not alone in this journey.
Links and Resources from Today’s EpisodeOur sponsor for today’s episode is CTC Math
- OUT NOW! – The Homeschool Advantage: A Child-Focused Approach to Raising Lifelong Learners
- Raising Lifelong Learners Membership Community – The Learners Lab
- Raising Resilient Sons by Colleen Kessler, M.Ed.
- RLL #52: Overcoming Perfectionism and Finding Joy in Homeschooling
- 5 Ways to Enjoy Homeschooling Your Gifted Child
- Bring Joy Into Your Homeschool Day
- Supporting and Understanding Levels of Giftedness in Homeschooled Children with Deborah Ruf
- A Deep Dive into The Homeschool Advantage: A Child-Focused Approach to Raising Lifelong Learners
- Embracing Interest-Led Homeschooling with Lydia Rosado
- Responding to Homeschool Critics
- Embracing Child-Focused Learning | A Guide for Homeschooling Neurodivergent Children
- Strengthening Bonds | Building Family Routines and Rituals
Connect with Colleen You can find Colleen on Twitter @ColleenKessler, Facebook @RaisingLifelongLearners, Instagram @ColleenKessler How does your child learn best? Take the Quiz ==> https://raisinglifelonglearners.com/quiz/
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