Author, Celi Trépanier, joined us this week to chat about her new book Educating Your Gifted Child How One Public School Teacher Embraced Homeschooling from Gifted Homeschoolers Forum Press. It is part of their Perspectives in Gifted Homeschooling Series. Celi also blogs at Crushing Tall Poppies which chronicles her journey as the parent of three gifted sons and as a new homeschooler.
In her own words, Celi writes, as “a homeschooling mom, and a former public school teacher, I’ve been on both sides of the fence of education, gifted education, homeschooling, and gifted children.” Throughout the chat, it was clear that she is a fierce advocate for the rights of all children to receive an appropriate education that meets their needs and for teachers to be given support to make that happen.
In response to the question – Could traditional schools make any changes to better meet the needs of gifted learners? – Celi said, “Yes. A huge transformation is needed to meet current needs. We need to return education back to our teachers and parents.” Others agreed that much would have to change to address the gifted learner in public schools …
“Yes, but it would require LOTS of training and finding the proper teachers to do so.” ~ @yesteach, an elementary gifted ed teacher and specialist from Texas
“It is time to move out of the industrial age of education.” ~ @MrGelston, math educator from Massachusetts
“Identifying busy work and eliminating it. Making sure what kids do has real meaning.” ~ @Create_Miracles, gifted coach from Colorado
“Take back the classroom. Educate our administrators as well as to needs of gifted learners AND educate our elected officials for the need. Funding is pitiful for the specialist and teacher training.” ~ @teachfine, gifted specialist from Alabama
“I worry that we see education as working for most. I think it works for few. How do we stop conceptualizing reform as for the edges?” ~ @ProfBrandelyn, teacher educator from Ohio
There are signs to look for when traditional school is not working for a gifted children. Among those mentioned included boredom, depression, acting out, fear of failure, refusing to go to school, and unhappiness. Parents should watch for children becoming reticent about sharing news from school and for mood swings.
The decision to homeschool should not be taken lightly. Celi suggested, “Each family likely will have its own unique list of factors to consider like finances, time commitment, state laws, and feasibility.” Mr. Gelston asked, “Can you let go of traditional learning and move to a child centered model based on passion?” Everyone agreed that the child should be a part of the decision with one exception; when a child is in an abusive situation, but too young to know.
Resources for homeschooling today are endless (Celi Trépanier) and can be found practically everywhere. Online, Gifted Homeschoolers Forum has an extensive array on their website. Libraries, museums and science centers all offer classes and chances for homeschoolers to socialize. Many areas have homeschool cooperatives where children can learn subjects from experts. And we appreciated the sentiment shared by GHF Executive Director, Corin Goodwin, ” Actually, I think #gtchat is a pretty darned good resource, too!” A full transcript may be found at Storify. Questions for this chat were posted to our Facebook Page.
Have you decided to homeschool your gifted child? We would love to hear your story and the reasons you made this decision. Please leave a comment below!
Global #gtchat Powered by the Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented is a weekly chat on Twitter. Join us Fridays at 7/6 C & 4 PT in the U.S., midnight in the UK and Saturdays 1 PM NZ/11 AM AEDT to discuss current topics in the gifted community and meet experts in the field. Transcripts of our weekly chats can be found at Storify. Our Facebook Pageprovides information on the chat and news & information regarding the gifted community.
About the author: Lisa Conrad is the Moderator of Global #gtchat Powered by TAGT and Social Media Manager of the Global #gtchat Community. She is a longtime advocate for gifted children and also blogs at Gifted Parenting Support. Lisa can be contacted at: gtchatmod@gmail.com
Links:
Educating Your Gifted Child: How One Public School Teacher Embraced Homeschooling (Amazon)
Educating Your Gifted Child: How One Public School Teacher Embraced Homeschooling
Celi Trépanier’s Author Page at Gifted Homeschoolers Forum
Crushing Tall Poppies (Celi’s Blog)
Crushing Tall Poppies (YouTube)
Crushing Tall Poppies (Facebook)
Educating Your Gifted Child by Celi Trépanier Preview
My Interview with Celi Trépanier
Book Review: Educating Your Gifted Child: How One Public School Teacher Embraced Homeschooling
I Thought Homeschooling My Kids Would Be Simple. I Was Wrong.
TED Talk: How Schools Kill Creativity
Report: # & % Children Ages 5-17 Who Were Homeschooled 2011-12
Learnist For Teachers: 5 Homeschool Resources
The Techies Who Are Hacking Education by Homeschooling Their Kids
The “Horse Story” of Gifted Education
{Book Review} “Educating Your Gifted Child” from Pamela Price
Photos/graphics courtesy of Gifted Homeschoolers Forum.
Global #gtchat 
Thank you for having me as a guest. What an honor! And I’m pretty sure if we had put all the knowledgeable participants on gtchat that night in one room together, we could have easily transformed our entire educational system to work for ALL children, teachers and parents! GTChat is such a vital resource for anyone who teaches, parents, counsels or loves our gifted children! My most sincere appreciation!
Thanks for the marvelous posting! I quite enjoyed reading it, you are a great author.
I will make certain to bookmark your blog and definitely will come back at some point.
I want to encourage that you continue your great writing, have a
nice weekend!