#063 - Math (without the misery)

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💡 THOUGHT

The Perfectionism Paradox

The more you chase the perfect day, the fewer productive learning days you have.

The real transformation comes from understanding:

• Consistency > Perfection

• Progress > Plans

• Showing up > Giving up

Pam Barnhill’s latest podcast offers a formula for what she calls the “Minimum Viable Day”:

1. Define non-negotiable subjects for YOUR family

2. Create flexible time blocks (not rigid schedules)

3. Build in buffer time for real life

4. Focus on learning momentum, not daily completion

A consistently "good enough" routine accomplishes more than the occasional perfect day.

📊 TREND

Learning Centers Find Their Groove

It looks like in-person "learning centers" for homeschool families weren’t just a pandemic phenomenon. The 74 reports that they're still growing in 2024. And they're getting creative with space.

Empty karate dojos, art studios, and church buildings – spaces often vacant during school hours – are being transformed into vibrant learning environments. The GROW Christian Learning Center in Worcester, MA, started with just six students in 2022. They now serve 84 students, with 40 more on the waitlist. Annual tuition? Just $2,400.

Erika Serrano saw her daughter struggling with peer pressure and behavioral changes during her freshman year of high school. Since switching to a learning center, "She has flourished into such a beautiful, kind young woman... "

This mirrors what we're seeing across the country: Parents aren't looking to replace traditional schools – they're looking to find the right fit for their kids. Whether that's public school, private school, homeschool, or hybrid models, the key is having options.

Read the full story at The 74

🛠️ TOOL

Math Without the Misery: Math Inspirations

Is math a daily battleground in your household? Math Inspirations takes a refreshing approach:

Instead of: "Here's how to solve it"

They teach: "Let's discover how to solve it"

It's a curriculum built around thinking, not calculating; discovery, not memorization. But what caught our eye was the 24/7 support.

Parents report their kids getting excited about math (no, really!). As one mom in Alberta put it: "We discovered the music and artistry, the elegance and playfulness... that can be REAL math!"

Want to test it out? They offer a free starter kit to see if their discovery method matches your teaching style.

👉 Check out the free starter kit

(WORD/MEME) OF THE DAY

orthogonal (or·thog·o·nal)

From Greek orthogōnios: orthos (straight, upright) + gōnia (angle), orthogonal usually refers to things that are independent, and uncorrelated – “of different or unrelated natures.”

Oh yeah, it can also be a fancy way of saying “two lines at right angles.”

That’s all for today!

– Charlie (the OpenEd newsletter guy)

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