Content Warning ⚠️ on the Narwhal series. I just finished reading the Super Narwhal and Jelly Jolt book to my kids. There is a use of the term "booby" in reference to how the jelly fish looks. Just wanted to keep you parents informed since I didn't know when I recorded the video.
The Dragonmasters series did that for my son at 6! We started the first one and we took turns reading. And then he realized “wait I can read without you?” And DEVOURED the rest of the series. I had to limit him to one a day because I had just bought the whole series thinking it would take some time.
I have several gifted kids and it is hard to challenge them but also not bore them. We have finally hit a flow where we are all happy. We are combining Layers of Learning with our existing Sonlight cores. We do a history unit for a week, a science unit for a week and a geography unit for a week then move on. It is flexible enough that I can meet every kid where they are at and take them where they want to go. My kids are enjoying the variety and interest led approach as well as hands on approach where we can go as deep as we want but also interweave the rich books Sonlight has chosen. Yesterday all of my kids ages 14 down to 3 watched an hour documentary on the Beduin people and we read half of a chapter book from Sonlight G The Beduin’s Gazelle relating to the topic and they were as happy as clams. They love mapping and creating projects. My gifted kids need to follow interests and answer every question, they can often do it at a significantly higher level and they devour information. Sonlight 4/5 is not enough for my 3 year old because she blows through it in about 15 minutes and wants more 😂😂 So I’m over here doing the same and layering books and programs to balance and feed her mind.
Wow!!! I just checked out Layers of Learning and am in LOVE! I think it may be exactly what I'm looking for on history, so you'll probably be seeing it on my channel in the future. Thank you for the recommendation!!
@@KSLewisLearning You are most welcome! I wish I had found it years ago. Our best learning has always been unit studies or an interest led approach that is supported with solid information. I spent months weaving together plans and programs this summer that were ultimately not a good fit so then two days after we started I chucked all of it. My kids were bored, I was bored and there was no spark of life. We are LOVING this approach and the kids often have far better ideas to extend lessons than a step by step curriculum. You know it’s a win when the school day has ended and while making dinner I hear giggling and realize they are back at the school table, books open and still digging into the topic 😂😂😂 We put Writers Workshop from the same authors in our day as well and it’s been chefs kiss!!
Your talk about building confidence for a perfectionist definitely gave me a lightbulb moment. My 4yo was reading AAMilne at age 2 BUT she lacks confidence in math (even though I know she understands it and has demonstrated the skill already). I think doing more frequent but “easier” exposure will function as that confidence builder for her. Also a gifted Mama here--the perfectionism struggle is real! Thanks!
Always glad to contribute to lightbulb moments! I watched a very interesting video this week on why gifted people think they are unintelligent that gave me my own "aha!" moment. I dropped it onto my "off-channel" giftedness playlist in case you want to check it out too.
This was such a helpful video, thank you! My oldest will be starting kindergarten in the fall and I don’t know if she’s gifted (I’m not!), but she blew thru the curriculum I bought her for last fall, and I ended up having to buy 2 more full curriculum for her! I think seeing how you are adding on tons of extra books and even doing multiple history and science curriculums is really helpful! And I can’t wait to see your planning video on how you piece it altogether, because I’m struggling with that 😅
I'm glad to be an inspiration! It was a learning curve for me, but I took the advice from Rachel at the Seven in All channel to "go deep" rather than speed ahead, and it's paid off! Good luck on your journey figuring out what works for your daughter! 🙂
We're currently using Beast Academy Level 2 - program is definitely intense with the practice problems, but I read it to my 6 year old whose math skills are more advanced than his reading, that's always one way to adapt when all of their skill levels don't quite 'match.' :)
Yes! I'll be reading the program to him for now, especially the comics. In the online version, there is a helpful button in the practice problems for level 1 that has AI read the instructions. The voice isn't the best to listen to, but at least the company put it in there for the kids! Entering the answers via keyboard will also help my developing writer... and he's just really excited to be able to use my computer for the first time. 🙂
I’d love to hear your answer to those that say there is no difference between giftedness and autism. My son was told by one of his professors at college that giftedness is insulting to others and that he should say that he’s autistic instead. He called him prideful and that he was excusing himself from having to be like operate like the other students. He got straight A’s in spite of the negativity he experienced.
Wow! Just wow! I've had some very nasty comments here on UA-cam too, but at least I can "mute" these people so I don't have to interact with them again. Honestly, I really don't try to change people's opinions if they are that belligerent about the topic because no amount of reasoning is going to change their prejudice. However, if I had to interact with the person long-term, then I guess I would not try to have a discussion with him (because again the guy would never be willing to consider what I'd be saying). Instead, I would just politely hand deliver a book by a Phd on gifted psychology, neuroscience, or education OR deliver a print-out from a professional neuroscience journal talking about the scientific facts of why giftedness is real. I'd then leave without comment, trusting the professor to respect the life-long research of the "professionals" to be my best weapon against such blatant hate. On a side-note: I would advise never to ask for accommodations in college or career with giftedness as the cited reason. Too many people have insecurities around intelligence, and they often react defensively or even go out of their way to "put the gifted person in his place." As gifted people, we have the intelligence and capability to adapt to systems or neurotypical people in order to survive in the status quo while finding other safe spaces to be our true selves. I don't know what kind of accommodations your son was asking for, so he could have been perfectly correct to ask for flexibility, but it would have probably been better to use a different reason that is "acceptable" to most professors. In my career as a public accountant, my bosses quickly recognized my quickness and intelligence, capitalizing on it whenever they could, and I was quickly identified by subordinates as the person who could answer any question they had. However, I did have peers in the workplace that felt threatened by my abilities who I had to tip-toe around. I worked within the system to politely request accommodations like adding new projects (which I identified and recommended) in order to challenge myself mentally at work or like asking to shorten my work hours to 32 per week due to "back pain issues" (which I did have slightly). I easily maintained the same workload, but was able to escape boredom at work in the afternoons and instead use the extra time for other intellectual endeavors. Until a different label is adopted for us that doesn't have threatening connotations, I don't think the general public will accept us as we are anytime soon.
@@KSLewisLearning thanks for your thoughtful answer. I agree with everything you said. To clarify, my son wasn’t asking for accommodations. He was asked to dumb it down.
Okay... that professor is just an idiot. I'm not going to mince words. Any good teacher is going to praise insightful work, not punish the student for it. Alternatively, he could simply have pointed out that something didn't quite fit the assignment parameters, so the "extra" could be something they discussed or on worked on together on the side in addition to the assignment. But I'm speaking from not knowing all the details, so I'll just repeat that the professor is incompetent as a teacher. 🤨 I'm glad your son figured out how to succeed anyways! It's a testament to his awesome abilities.
Perhaps you could publish a book list categorizing the books you have for your child by subject (generally). My child is not exceptionally gifted, but I love your content. It would be helpful when looking for some of your recommendations.
An excellent idea! Unfortunately, I don't have a website up and running yet, but I do plan on having things like that available on it once I have a website. That is on my project list for this winter, so stay tuned!
Ok, at least I don't think I have a gifted 5 year old. We could go thru all those books in a month. Especially if she wanted to. If she didn't want to I'm assuming a few every month would be a slow pace. We picked a shelf, about 50 small (very small) chapter books as a read aloud pile for the year. Along with reading other classics like brambly hedge/poetry/treasury of little people/ Thornton burgess Essentially we have so much reading, and we still pick out library books every week! We read anywhere from 3-10 books (parts of books) per day. You keep on going and enjoy it!
I always love finding fellow bookworms! :) That's my problem with most literature based learning curriculums: not big enough booklists. At least I've got several to work from.
So your son sounds like mine but opposite. My 5.5 year old is very gifted in reading and language arts. He picked up reading so fast. We are about to enter level 3 in AAR. Honestly level 1 and 2 were way too easy but it did introduce him to some grammar concepts. He loves that part and the game part because it gives him that confidence. We chose Singapore primary 2022 grade 1. Getty dubay. We finished HWOT kindergarten but he has a huge interest in italics because I myself got their caligraphy book and he loves the way it looks. As a bonus we got the American cursive from Memoria press. Spelling we went with spelling work out. I have a feeling he will fly through that. Where we struggle is content! I can’t decide haha 😂
Content Warning ⚠️ on the Narwhal series. I just finished reading the Super Narwhal and Jelly Jolt book to my kids. There is a use of the term "booby" in reference to how the jelly fish looks. Just wanted to keep you parents informed since I didn't know when I recorded the video.
The Dragonmasters series did that for my son at 6! We started the first one and we took turns reading. And then he realized “wait I can read without you?” And DEVOURED the rest of the series. I had to limit him to one a day because I had just bought the whole series thinking it would take some time.
Beast Academy level 1 actually does have some good challenge problems. We have been loving it!
I have several gifted kids and it is hard to challenge them but also not bore them. We have finally hit a flow where we are all happy. We are combining Layers of Learning with our existing Sonlight cores. We do a history unit for a week, a science unit for a week and a geography unit for a week then move on. It is flexible enough that I can meet every kid where they are at and take them where they want to go. My kids are enjoying the variety and interest led approach as well as hands on approach where we can go as deep as we want but also interweave the rich books Sonlight has chosen. Yesterday all of my kids ages 14 down to 3 watched an hour documentary on the Beduin people and we read half of a chapter book from Sonlight G The Beduin’s Gazelle relating to the topic and they were as happy as clams. They love mapping and creating projects. My gifted kids need to follow interests and answer every question, they can often do it at a significantly higher level and they devour information. Sonlight 4/5 is not enough for my 3 year old because she blows through it in about 15 minutes and wants more 😂😂 So I’m over here doing the same and layering books and programs to balance and feed her mind.
Wow!!! I just checked out Layers of Learning and am in LOVE! I think it may be exactly what I'm looking for on history, so you'll probably be seeing it on my channel in the future. Thank you for the recommendation!!
@@KSLewisLearning You are most welcome! I wish I had found it years ago. Our best learning has always been unit studies or an interest led approach that is supported with solid information. I spent months weaving together plans and programs this summer that were ultimately not a good fit so then two days after we started I chucked all of it. My kids were bored, I was bored and there was no spark of life. We are LOVING this approach and the kids often have far better ideas to extend lessons than a step by step curriculum. You know it’s a win when the school day has ended and while making dinner I hear giggling and realize they are back at the school table, books open and still digging into the topic 😂😂😂 We put Writers Workshop from the same authors in our day as well and it’s been chefs kiss!!
Your talk about building confidence for a perfectionist definitely gave me a lightbulb moment. My 4yo was reading AAMilne at age 2 BUT she lacks confidence in math (even though I know she understands it and has demonstrated the skill already). I think doing more frequent but “easier” exposure will function as that confidence builder for her. Also a gifted Mama here--the perfectionism struggle is real! Thanks!
Always glad to contribute to lightbulb moments! I watched a very interesting video this week on why gifted people think they are unintelligent that gave me my own "aha!" moment. I dropped it onto my "off-channel" giftedness playlist in case you want to check it out too.
Looks like a great year!
This was such a helpful video, thank you! My oldest will be starting kindergarten in the fall and I don’t know if she’s gifted (I’m not!), but she blew thru the curriculum I bought her for last fall, and I ended up having to buy 2 more full curriculum for her! I think seeing how you are adding on tons of extra books and even doing multiple history and science curriculums is really helpful! And I can’t wait to see your planning video on how you piece it altogether, because I’m struggling with that 😅
I'm glad to be an inspiration! It was a learning curve for me, but I took the advice from Rachel at the Seven in All channel to "go deep" rather than speed ahead, and it's paid off! Good luck on your journey figuring out what works for your daughter! 🙂
We're currently using Beast Academy Level 2 - program is definitely intense with the practice problems, but I read it to my 6 year old whose math skills are more advanced than his reading, that's always one way to adapt when all of their skill levels don't quite 'match.' :)
Yes! I'll be reading the program to him for now, especially the comics. In the online version, there is a helpful button in the practice problems for level 1 that has AI read the instructions. The voice isn't the best to listen to, but at least the company put it in there for the kids! Entering the answers via keyboard will also help my developing writer... and he's just really excited to be able to use my computer for the first time. 🙂
I’d love to hear your answer to those that say there is no difference between giftedness and autism. My son was told by one of his professors at college that giftedness is insulting to others and that he should say that he’s autistic instead. He called him prideful and that he was excusing himself from having to be like operate like the other students. He got straight A’s in spite of the negativity he experienced.
Wow! Just wow! I've had some very nasty comments here on UA-cam too, but at least I can "mute" these people so I don't have to interact with them again.
Honestly, I really don't try to change people's opinions if they are that belligerent about the topic because no amount of reasoning is going to change their prejudice. However, if I had to interact with the person long-term, then I guess I would not try to have a discussion with him (because again the guy would never be willing to consider what I'd be saying). Instead, I would just politely hand deliver a book by a Phd on gifted psychology, neuroscience, or education OR deliver a print-out from a professional neuroscience journal talking about the scientific facts of why giftedness is real. I'd then leave without comment, trusting the professor to respect the life-long research of the "professionals" to be my best weapon against such blatant hate.
On a side-note: I would advise never to ask for accommodations in college or career with giftedness as the cited reason. Too many people have insecurities around intelligence, and they often react defensively or even go out of their way to "put the gifted person in his place." As gifted people, we have the intelligence and capability to adapt to systems or neurotypical people in order to survive in the status quo while finding other safe spaces to be our true selves. I don't know what kind of accommodations your son was asking for, so he could have been perfectly correct to ask for flexibility, but it would have probably been better to use a different reason that is "acceptable" to most professors. In my career as a public accountant, my bosses quickly recognized my quickness and intelligence, capitalizing on it whenever they could, and I was quickly identified by subordinates as the person who could answer any question they had. However, I did have peers in the workplace that felt threatened by my abilities who I had to tip-toe around. I worked within the system to politely request accommodations like adding new projects (which I identified and recommended) in order to challenge myself mentally at work or like asking to shorten my work hours to 32 per week due to "back pain issues" (which I did have slightly). I easily maintained the same workload, but was able to escape boredom at work in the afternoons and instead use the extra time for other intellectual endeavors.
Until a different label is adopted for us that doesn't have threatening connotations, I don't think the general public will accept us as we are anytime soon.
@@KSLewisLearning thanks for your thoughtful answer. I agree with everything you said.
To clarify, my son wasn’t asking for accommodations. He was asked to dumb it down.
Okay... that professor is just an idiot. I'm not going to mince words. Any good teacher is going to praise insightful work, not punish the student for it. Alternatively, he could simply have pointed out that something didn't quite fit the assignment parameters, so the "extra" could be something they discussed or on worked on together on the side in addition to the assignment. But I'm speaking from not knowing all the details, so I'll just repeat that the professor is incompetent as a teacher. 🤨
I'm glad your son figured out how to succeed anyways! It's a testament to his awesome abilities.
Perhaps you could publish a book list categorizing the books you have for your child by subject (generally). My child is not exceptionally gifted, but I love your content. It would be helpful when looking for some of your recommendations.
An excellent idea! Unfortunately, I don't have a website up and running yet, but I do plan on having things like that available on it once I have a website. That is on my project list for this winter, so stay tuned!
Ok, at least I don't think I have a gifted 5 year old. We could go thru all those books in a month. Especially if she wanted to. If she didn't want to I'm assuming a few every month would be a slow pace. We picked a shelf, about 50 small (very small) chapter books as a read aloud pile for the year. Along with reading other classics like brambly hedge/poetry/treasury of little people/ Thornton burgess
Essentially we have so much reading, and we still pick out library books every week!
We read anywhere from 3-10 books (parts of books) per day. You keep on going and enjoy it!
I always love finding fellow bookworms! :) That's my problem with most literature based learning curriculums: not big enough booklists. At least I've got several to work from.
So your son sounds like mine but opposite. My 5.5 year old is very gifted in reading and language arts. He picked up reading so fast. We are about to enter level 3 in AAR. Honestly level 1 and 2 were way too easy but it did introduce him to some grammar concepts. He loves that part and the game part because it gives him that confidence.
We chose Singapore primary 2022 grade 1.
Getty dubay. We finished HWOT kindergarten but he has a huge interest in italics because I myself got their caligraphy book and he loves the way it looks. As a bonus we got the American cursive from Memoria press.
Spelling we went with spelling work out. I have a feeling he will fly through that.
Where we struggle is content! I can’t decide haha 😂
LOL. Yes, decisions are so hard! At least with our gifted kids we get to try a lot more content than other moms. :)