I've been homeschooling our PG DY6 for the past year now, and am starting to make plans to preschool-homeschool DS2, who also appears to be HG/PG.

Our local homeschool charter and resource ideas from the YS homeschooling network have really helped with curriculum choices. We also have two weekly co-ops (one of them has a preschool class too), and I'm starting a third one soon, which aare all wonderful for the non-core activities that bring out our creative side.

I've read Rivero's book and many others on homeschooling gifted children. I think the basic ideas are great, but for us it would be much too time consuming to create our own curriculum from these broad ideas. I do tend to like to pick and choose my own curriculum. This site and WTM do have a lot of great reviews for things like EPGY, MCT, SOTW, science materials, and other resources that are popular in the GT homeschooling crowd. If you have a homeschool charter, they will usually pay for the materials you choose through public funding.

Having started homeschooling with a 20 month old, i can tell you that it can be REALLY crazy with little ones in tow. We're very busy all the time, and there is absolutely no time for Mom except for the gym. I've had a hard time coming to grips with all the one-on-one time I've had to give up with my littlest one, 'though that is getting better now that he's 2 1/2 and can participate more. I also used to loathe tv, and now my little one sits in front of Mickey Mouse Playhouse or Baby Tad at least an hour every morning. Even though DS6 is a fluent reader and an independent learner, I still end up spending hours managing, discussing, planning new lessons, and hiking all over town (not to mention co-planning all the co-op activities). By the time I try to get a shower, pick up the house, and throw in a load of laundry once in a while, the day is booked solid!

Nonetheless, it is hands-down the best educational AND social choice for our (extroverted) family, and we love this time together!


HS Mom to DYS6 and DS2