First Day of Homeschool and Links

Calder and I started homeschool today. Let me say, there was good and there was bad. As hard as I tried to banish any unrealistic and precious and disappointment-producing ideals about how homeschool should be this year, I'm still crawling away from this day discouraged, deflated--which is probably not a good time to sit down and blog. But here I am. What frustrates me so much is that he is a gem with other adults in a teaching position. Anyone have any experience with this, words of wisdom?

But I won't dwell any longer on the challenges. He really enjoyed his percentage lesson in math today as we pretended to shop a big sale on toys. We began his three-month weather unit with the hydrologic cycle, debuting with a horrible, horrible video on the subject from Netflix. He drew a beautiful drawing of a dogwood tree in our backyard. There was good today.

For those of you homeschooling, how is it going?

I should have posted these earlier than now, but here are a few Atlanta-area homeschool facilitators. Does anyone have experience with any of these organizations?

Lilburn Academic Classes
Heritage Academy
Dacula Classical Academy
TNT Academy
Heritage Classical Study Center
Artios Academies
Summit Academy
Master's Academy of Fine Arts
Knowledge Tree Center
Veritas Classical Schools
Moving Beyond the Page
Gifted Homeschoolers

I'm ready for a good night's sleep and a new day to start again!

It Is Amazing...

...what happens when the Nintendo DS dies an unfortunate death from a dunk in water: Calder passes time in the car reading Oscar Wilde instead.

But lucky for Calder, Nintendo knows the importance of being earnest in making swift repairs so that Calder and Mario Kart are back in business. Poor Oscar--one day a dandy, the next day a dud.

Saturday School

Has everyone been busy getting ready for school and homeschool like me? I didn't mean to take such a long break here, but I'm squeezing in travel amid school preparations before classes begin on August 24. I'm excited about homeschool this year after my practice run last year.

Does anyone here have experience with the Saturday School for Scholars and Leaders through Georgia State University? Calder attended one of their camps this summer at the Lawrenceville campus, taking the Simple Machines class. I assume he enjoyed it as he described it as "good," his usual one-word answer to "so, how was it?" Sometimes I can't get him to stop talking for a second and other days it is nearly impossible to extract even primal grunts from him!

The classes this fall at Saturday School sound fun. Registration deadline for the first round of fall class is August 21 or 28--I read the two different dates on their website. I'm not sure which is correct; either way, it is soon!

If your child has attended Saturday School in the past, could you share your experience here?

Also, Robin shared in the comments of the last post additional enrichment links: Neag Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development and Renzulli Learning. Check out her comment for more information. Thank you!

Enrichment Links

The Council for Exceptional Children has an extensive list of online programs providing courses for the gifted homeschooler or afterschool enrichment for the gifted child attending traditional school. The list includes Stanford University's Education Program for Gifted Youth (EPGY) and ALEKS for math.

The Malone Family Foundation, which helped fund and develop EPGY Online High School, offers perspectives on different approaches to gifted education, from homeschool to public school to private school.

The Homeschool Science Academy founded by Greg Landry offers several science courses from a Creationist point of view. The program also offers science summer camps in Boone, North Carolina.

And I can't let another day go by without a link to Hoagie's. Hoagie's is one of the first places I read online about gifted children over a year ago when I began to suspect that Calder was just a bit more than a "little advanced." I'm sure you all have spent time at Hoagie's already.

Does anyone have experience with any of these online programs?

And, on a different subject, don't forget that Monet's water lilies at the High Museum in Atlanta leave soon. The last day of the exhibit is August 23.

Fun Math Puzzle

I found this puzzle in the July/August 2008 Family Fun magazine. Calder loved doing it last year. Be prepared to do every friend and family member's phone number you know. Over and over and over again!

1. Multiply the first three digits of your phone number (not your area code) by 80.
2. Add 1.
3. Multiply by 250.
4. Add the number formed by the last four digits of your phone number.
5. Add that four-digit number again.
6. Subtract 250.
7. Divide by 2.

The final answer is...your phone number!

Gifted Blog Links

There is a lot to read out here on the Internet about gifted children and their education. Here are a few links to helpful blogs on the subject.

• Gifted Exchange
• Help! My Kids Are Smarter Than Me!
• Child's Play - unschooling a twice-exceptional child
• Prufrock's Gifted Child Information Blog

Follow David Shenk's blog on The Atlantic's website as he explores genetics, talent, and giftedness.

Finally, I would recommend joining the BrightKids discussion group, if you aren't a member already. It is a parent-to-parent forum for inspiration, advice, and information.

A Proper Introduction

Wow! The response to Georgia's Gifted Child on the first day leaves me speechless! But, really, I'm not so much at a loss for words that I can't talk about myself some. Ha! Thank you so much for stopping by--and those who have commented, many thanks to you. It is thrilling to think that there are people in my own backyard who are experiencing their own version of this journey, too. I figured I should introduce myself properly before we continue.

I am Angela, a thirty-something stay-at-home mom who is trying to find her way. In my dreams I am selling my original paintings while perfectly balancing the joys and responsibilities of motherhood. In reality...do we want to go there? I am a frustrated passionate artist with little studio time and a frustrated passionate mother with little patience. I share this life with my longsuffering and loving husband CG of 13 years.

We have three children: Calder, 6; our daughter Lee, 4; and the bebe Johns, almost 2. So far the younger two don't exhibit the same unique abilities as Calder. Lee and Johns seem to be...normal, whatever that means! But we draw no distinctions here at our house--however, we are not above exploitation when it is to our benefit. Such as, "Calder, read Lee and Johns this book while I finish dinner, please." For the most part we are your normal chaotic family with young children who love to tattle on each other: said Lee today, "Mommy, Calder is chewing with his food full of mouth!" And, that, my friends, is when I love being a mom to a 4-year-old. I've been chuckling about that quotable all day.

Many thanks to Dr. Spomenka Newman, a wonderfully knowledgeable and gentle children's psychologist, for the idea of this blog. My personal experience with her made the difference between desperation and renewed hope and energy for Calder's future. She is a gem.

Now, what about you? There are great comments in the first post--anyone want to share more? And, if you wish to contact me privately, click on my profile on the right for a link to my email.