If you're a longtime fan of this blog, you know that our family had a lot of school struggles. While I encourage everyone to at least try their public schools, I know they aren't always a fit. We moved our boys to a private school after it became clear that our public school could not meet my son's needs. That's why I put together this Chicago private school guide. It originally appeared on STEM Kids Chicago, and I thought it made sense to share ... [ Read More ]
Back to School Gifted Education Quiz
This was first published in 2009 on a dusty old blog of mine. Oh, yes; it's that time of year. One wrought with anxiety and maybe a few tears--and not just for us parents of highly gifted children. When I said to one of my boys with the best of intentions, "Who knows maybe this will be an exciting year?" we looked at each other and started laughing. But we're all off to a decent start. My 11-year-old came home excited on two occasions: one ... [ Read More ]
Choosing a Private School for Gifted Kids: That Time I Gave up on Public Education
This was originally published with the title Giving up on Public Education: Private school provides a haven for gifted kids—and their parents in Chicago Parent circa 2005. I did not choose the headline, which I found to be cringeworthy. I believe in public education. It's the backbone of our democracy. But it doesn't always work out as parents might hope. And, in fact, on a nationwide basis, public schools generally do a poor job of educating our ... [ Read More ]
Books Make Great Gifts
I don't have to convince Maker Mom readers that books make great gifts. I want to share a handful of books that have passed through my office lately. I purchased some of these, picked up others at my local library and a few were sent to me for review. I hope to share projects from the Maker books in the coming weeks. This post contains affiliate links. Breakthrough: How one Teen Innovator is Changing the World By Jack Andraka and Matthew ... [ Read More ]
I Stand with Ahmed. Um, Can My Kid Get a Scholarship to Space Camp Too?
A few years ago the Young Maker Teen happened upon Nootropic Design's defusable clock and asked to get the kit. In our post-Columbine, post-9/11/01 era, I was wary of a clock that looks like a bomb. I warned him that even if I did buy the kit, he'd never be able to take the completed fake clock bomb out of the house for fear of it being mistaken for a dangerous device. I always suck the fun out of things. In the end, he did not pursue the ... [ Read More ]
Advice for Parents of a Gifted Kindergartener
Here's what happens when someone asks me to share advice about her gifted kindergartner, a child who is not quite fitting in with his classmates. I can't just share five great tips, even though that would be a lot more friendly to search traffic. I carry so much educational baggage that I have a long, rambling response. Here goes. Advice for parents of a gifted kindergartener With my oldest in his senior year of high school, I’ve been doing a ... [ Read More ]
Middle School Scholarship Challenge from EdX and Jack Kent Cooke Foundation
Though I pride myself on creating original content, I'm pressed for time, so forgive me for simply cutting and pasting from a press release. I wanted to share this information about a promising scholarship opportunity for middle school students from EdX and Jack Kent Cooke Foundation more broadly than a quick post on Facebook allows. (Which, by the way, have you liked The Maker Mom? I share at least one interesting item a day starting at 10 AM ... [ Read More ]