Unschooling or Homeschooling Questions

Directions:   Use the space provided to answer questions. Please answer questions as fully as possible, using 3 or more sentences if you can.  It is best to answer a few questions fully, rather than giving short responses to all the questions. If you don’t want to respond to a question, skip it and go on. You can come back and answer later if you want. Try to answer some or all questions from each category to paint a vivid picture of your experiences. Once you hit the SUBMIT button, the information you provide is collected.

You can print out the questions to think about and then answer them later, if you wish. A mailing address, fax number and email address are listed at the end of this set of questions for you to use to send in your responses.

 

[A]    Homeschooling has become a growing educational option across the United States for families of gifted children. How do you explain this educational trend from your perspective?

[B]    Some parents describe the event of homeschooling as "unschooling" their gifted child(ren). How do you react to this description? What does it mean from your perspective?

[C]   What events led you to unschool/homeschool your gifted child?

[D]   What benefits do you see from a unschooling/homeschooling option for your gifted child? Have there been any drawbacks? Please provide examples from your experience.

[E]    Was the choice to unschool/homeschool an overwhelming one for your family? Was it a "choice of last resort"? Explain.

[F]    Mark Twain once said, "I never let schooling get in the way of my education." How does this remark reflect on you or your gifted child's experiences?

[G]   In many states in America, homeschooling is an "all or none" affair, that is, gifted children either attend the public school full-time or are homeschooled full-time. How does this regulation operate in your situation? What thoughts do you have about this "all or none" situation? Explain.

[H]   If a school designed especially for gifted children were available in your area, would you want your child to attend it? What circumstances would cause you to say "yes" and which ones would cause you to say "no"?

[I]     Is grade skipping an option you would or have used with your gifted child? What factors would/did you consider in making the decision to grade skip?

[J]     What organizations, publications or resources have been most helpful to you in homeschooling and/or raising your gifted child(ren)?

[K]   What advice would you give to other families considering unschooling/homeschooling as an option for their gifted children?

[L]    What didn't we ask about that we should have? Explain.

[M]   Please provide a family surname (either real or fictitious) in the space that follows so we can track your responses in our database:

Open Narrative

The questions above might not give you enough space to fully share your family story. If this is the case, please include your story in the space below. (You can, if you prefer, send your story as an attachment to the e-mail address at the bottom of this form.)

Demographic Information

Which choice best describes the make-up of your local community:

Would your family be identified as a minority by federal definition?



In what state, territory or country does your family reside?

Please describe the members of your family (e.g., number of children, ages/grades and which are gifted; are parents gifted?; grandparents gifted?; total number of family living in household; etc.):

Describe your family make up (e.g., one biological parent, one step-parent, two step-children, one grandparent, three pets (two dogs, one parrot), etc.):

Has anyone in your family been identified as Highly/Profoundly gifted?



If yes, please describe any unique qualities this has added to your family life.

 

 

Additional Contact/Interview Consent Statement:

If you'd like to be contacted about your responses and/or are willing to take part in an interview, please place your e-mail address in the space provided. An attachment containing additional information will be forwarded to you. If you are a family member under the age of 18, parent/guardian consent must also be received.

E-mail address:  

My contact information:                     

Robert Arthur Schultz, Ph.D.
The University of Toledo
Gifted Education and Curriculum Studies
2801 W. Bancroft St.
Mailstop 924
Toledo, OH  43606
(419) 530-2466 FAX

learninglatitudes@giftedkidspeak.com

 

updated 4 January 08