When we first began homeschooling, I hadn’t yet considered that this would be the perfect platform through which I could discover each of my children’s passions. We had simply embarked on a journey that I felt somewhat prepared for because of my teacher education and experience in the classroom. I didn’t realize how drastically my educational paradigms would change and that I would begin to see education in a completely different light than I had as a former public school teacher.
Initially, we began homeschooling with many of the public school paradigms in place: the main subjects were highlighted and focused upon; all curriculum executed and directed by me; subject areas not part of the core program (like, art and music, for example) were considered fringe subject areas and we would get to those when we completed the ‘more important’ subject areas. I shudder to think that I might have continued on in that same frame of mind, pushing my children to spend most of their days doing things they dislike and are not naturally good at, while saving the ‘extras’ for afterwards, and only if time allowed. How freeing it has been to see and value each of our children as individuals with unique gift mixes and interests, to help them develop as much skill as possible in their areas of deepest interest, hiring the best mentors we can afford to help move them toward excellence.
I have been inspired by Resa Steindel Brown’s experience as shared in her book, The Call to Brilliance. Having to let go of her public school teacher paradigm as I did, she formed an astoundingly successful homeschool co-operative which saw the majority of their children head to college when most children are beginning Middle School. Her approach goes beyond simply allowing your children to be free to be who they are. She, very purposefully, found ways to nurture her children’s (and other children’s) gifts so that they could perform to the very best of their ability. Below is an excerpt from Resa’s son’s site (http://passionorientededucation.com/guildabout.php) aiming to help others find and nurture their children’s innate brilliance.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to see communities of learners beginning to form, and to see our children grow deeply in their God-given areas of brilliance, mentored by the best in that field and passionate about learning and growing in excellence?
The program created by Resa Steindel Brown, author of The Call to Brilliance (www.thecalltobrilliance.com)
Passion Oriented Education (TM) Guild Overview:
Description: POE (TM) is a passion-oriented education. A POE (TM) Guild is a co-operative activity group for parents & children designed to execute and support the philosophies and methodology of a Passion Oriented EducationTM.
PHILOSOPHY: All children are born with the seeds of their own brilliance and will thrive in an environment that helps them find, nurture and sustain the passion that leads to that brilliance.
WHY PASSION: Passion propels us forward, summoning our innate drive to explore, discover hidden interests, talents, gifts, and create. A passionate environment is supportive, contagious and engaging, sweeping up adults and children alike.
STRUCTURE: A POE (TM) Guild consists of a motivated director and a group of enthusiastic, hands-on parents. While the director organizes and facilitates the group, it is everyone’s job to work together to implement the ideas, methodologies and activities of a Passion Oriented Education TM. Families meet twice a month for official meetings. Children meet weekly for activities and sub-groups meet as needed.
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Identify Interest |
Fuel Interest into Passion |
Ignite Passion into Brilliance |
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Expose |
To a Wide Range of Experiences |
To a Specialized Set of Experiences and Activities |
To Appropriate Mentors and a Larger Community |
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Monitor |
To Identify Interest |
To Identify and Facilitate Passionate Absorption |
To Identify More Specific Types of Passion. |
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Assess |
How to Fuel That Interest |
How to Fuel That Passion Into Tangible Results |
How to Reach Sustained Passion and Bring Brilliance Out into the World |
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Provide |
The Next Step towards Passion |
The Next Step to Brilliance: Booster Activities |
Expansive Set of Opportunities |
POE (TM) Guild – parent generated activities include:
- Workshop Classes: designed to help children find their interests, talents and passions.
- Guest speakers: role models ( for children and adults alike) who are living their passions.
- Fieldtrips: to broaden a wide range of experiences.
- Playgroups, social groups and events: to help children who are finding their passions connect to each other and interact with other families who have similar values, goals and experiences.

