#067 - The perfect day is the enemy (plus: a 12-year-old built what?)

Welcome back to the weekly edition of OpenEd Daily!

If you enjoy this edition, forward this email to a friend! First time reading? Subscribe and learn more at OpenEd.co. If you'd prefer to receive this weekly digest (and not the daily emails), update your subscription preferences here.

💡 THOUGHTS

Don't Smother the Spark 🌟 
“Flexibility is one of the greatest gifts you can give both yourself and your child," says Colleen Kessler of Raising Lifelong Learners. Curriculum should be a springboard, not a straightjacket. The magic of open education comes from molding lessons around your child's unique spark.

From Outsiders to Innovators 🚀 Fifteen years ago, homeschoolers got weird looks. Today everyone wants to imitate them. The most common response now to telling people you homeschool is 'I wish I could do that.'"

The "Right" Curriculum Myth 📚 Here's a radical idea from Matt Beaudreau: You don't need to find the "perfect" curriculum. Instead, ask yourself what life you want to build and what the best version of each family member looks like. Then surround yourself with people and pursuits that keep you consistent in that build.

The ROI of Personalized Ed 💰 Think personalized education is too expensive? Think again. Jonathan Chizik of SmartPath runs the numbers:

• Traditional private schools: $12,000-30,000/year

• Customized learning at home: $500-2,500/year Plus, better results and more flexibility.

(Of course, there’s still the opportunity cost of parents’ time.)

📊 TRENDS

The Great Trade Revolution - 🔧 Mike Rowe of Dirty Jobs fame dropped this bombshell: "For every five tradespeople who retire this year, two will replace them." One company needs 100,000 skilled workers in nine years. Where are these workers? "They're in the 8th grade," says Rowe.

Helicopter Parents: Now with Extended Range 🚁 The latest in surveillance technology isn't from Silicon Valley—it's from Mom and Dad's smartphones. 44% of parents interact daily with their college kids, and parent support groups are booming (24,000 members and counting!)

Single Parent Superheroes 🦸‍♀️ They're redefining what's possible in education while earning a living. From virtual charters to family businesses as classrooms, these educational jugglers somehow manage to keep all the balls in the air.

🔨 TOOLS

SmartPath Beta: AI Meets Curriculum Planning 🤖 This new AI-powered tool helps find the right mix of resources for your child. Answer a few questions, get customized recommendations. Want to be among the first to try it? Join the waitlist!

Outschool - Your Digital Learning Buffet 🌐 100,000+ classes connecting learners from 174 countries. From app-making to pet training, there's something for every curious mind. Because parents don't have to be experts at everything!

That's all for this week, folks! Have a great weekend.

– Charlie (the OpenEd newsletter guy)