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Screens, tablets, phones... Growing up digital isn't easy on young eyes. When Krystle's daughter was 10, she read at a first-grade level despite trying everything - including year-round schooling and every recommended program. Today, that same daughter reads 800 words per minute at college level. How? Krystle learned her daughter had been misdiagnosed. Her reading struggles weren’t a result of learning disabilities - they were the result of eye muscle coordination. This is why we believe in open education. Because you can’t expect any system to care more than you will. p.s. listen to the full episode to hear more

When traditional methods aren't working, that's not a signal to push harder - it's an invitation to get creative. Real story: One open education student couldn't focus on math... until their parent moved math lessons to the roof. Yes, the roof. Why? Because sometimes a change in environment is all it takes to engage a different kind of learner. Your child's unique learning style isn't a problem to fix - it's a path to discover. This is why we believe education should be as unique as your child. What unconventional learning methods have worked for your family?

Am I teaching them well enough?' If this question keeps you up at night, you're probably doing better than you think. The parents who worry most about this are usually the ones going above and beyond. Why? Because they care enough to question. But here's what we've learned from 15+ years of working with 25,000+ students: Success doesn't look like filling out every workbook. It looks like: ? A child who knows how to find answers ? A teenager who can manage their time ? A student who loves learning ? A kid who can think critically ? A person who knows their strengths The best gift you can give your children isn't perfect lessons - it's showing them how to navigate their own learning journey. You're not just teaching subjects. You're teaching life.

When your child says 'I want to quit,' here's what they might really be saying: 'This is harder than I expected' 'Something happened with a friend' 'I'm scared of failing' Or sometimes... 'This really isn't for me' The tricky part? Knowing which one it is. Here's our simple test: Do they get themselves ready for it? If you're dragging them out of bed for baseball practice, maybe baseball isn't their thing. But if they were passionate last week and suddenly want to quit, there's usually more to the story. Try this: 'How about we stick with it for two more weeks, then decide?' Often, they'll either: Rediscover their love for it Or confirm it's truly not their path And both answers are perfectly okay. Teaching persistence doesn't mean forcing them to stick with everything. It means helping them learn when to push through and when to pivot. That's what real resilience looks like.

Education involves agency, a willingness to learn, and conscious participation. Conditioning, however, is imposed, shaping behavior through rewards and punishments without true understanding. Humans are born learners. From the moment we enter this world, we're absorbing, experimenting, and innovating. A toddler turning a footstool into a step is a tiny scientist at work. But traditional schooling often stifles this innate drive, replacing curiosity with compliance. Your paper certificate shows your level of conditioning, not your level of education. True education empowers. It teaches you how to think, not just what to think. It nurtures your ability to solve problems, not just regurgitate facts. Choose education over conditioning. Your child's future depends on it.

Your child's behavior tells a story. What is it telling you? A mother noticed her twin 6-year-olds returning to toddler-like tantrums after starting first grade. Instead of dismissing it as 'adjustment,' she started paying even more attention: ? Set up a baby monitor to observe play patterns ? Watched for changes in artwork ? Noted emotional shifts at home After she had seen enough signs, she decided to switch to personalized learning. In only 3 weeks the tantrums stopped completely. She realized, her daughters weren't resisting out of defiance. They were trying to communicate. Listen to the full podcast (link below) with Ela Richmond and Cassie Shepherd.

"Should I force them to learn algebra if they hate it?" Parents ask us this, and here's the truth: Reading, writing, and basic math? Yes. These are your non-negotiables. They're like learning to brush your teeth - life just works better when you can do them. But everything else? That's where education gets interesting. Your child who hates traditional math might love coding. Your reluctant writer might be a brilliant storyteller through video. Your 'distracted' reader might devour books about their passion project. The secret isn't forcing - it's finding their path. This is why we believe in open education. It's not about skipping subjects - it's about finding better ways to learn them. p.s. Hear how other families are personalizing their kids' education on the OpenEd podcast!

After 30+ years in education Matt Bowman noticed something strange. Schools don't teach the one skill that matters most: Learning how to learn. Master this, and everything else becomes easier — from school subjects to everyday life. Yet we cling to textbooks, force memorization, and reduce children to test scores. Makes you wonder how we could miss something so fundamental. p.s. Join 15,000+ OpenEd Daily readers for tips, tricks, and news in education: https://lnkd.in/gXvMFkpu

The greatest teachers don't just teach the subject—they teach you how to think. G.K. Chesterton recognized this years ago: "Education is not a subject, and it does not deal in subjects. It is instead the transfer of a way of life." While modern education fragments into disconnected facts and isolated skills, true education doesn't just change what you know. It changes how you live. Listen to the full podcast with Matt Beaudreau and Ela Richmond: https://lnkd.in/gbHrFF9b

7 Free(ish) Resources for Teaching Your Kids A Foreign Language 1. A Library Card – Most libraries offer free Mango Languages access. That's $100+ of premium learning... free. 2. The Disney+ Hack - Switch familiar shows to Spanish, French, or Mandarin. When kids know the story, understanding follows. 3. 5-Minute YouTube Playlists - Short attention spans need short videos. Make a playlist of ["[Language] for Kids"] content. 4. Duolingo - Still free. Still awesome. Still works. 5. PBS Power - Salsa (Spanish) and other free PBS language shows are gold for young learners. 6. Drops App - 5 free minutes daily of picture-based vocabulary. Perfect for kids. 7. Native Speaker Playdates - Local parenting groups often have families seeking language exchange. Win-win! Who needs expensive tutors when you have all of these! Did we miss anything? If so, drop us a line!