5 Ways to Raise Vibrant Homeschoolers in an AI World

This week, I sat down with Lisa Thorsen, a homeschool mom of three children and the co-founder of Better School. Better School is an online platform where homeschooling families can post events and find them. It connects homeschooling families with homeschooling events. Lisa Thorsen and her husband, Mark, founded the Better School website to host a hub of homeschooling events with easy access. In addition to the website, homeschoolers can utilize Better School Facebook groups for all 50 states. 

Throughout the conversation, Ms. Thorsen supplied excellent ideas to inspire homeschooling parents. We also talked about how states view homeschooling differently. She also highlighted her upcoming book release, Experiential Education. Parents can view Experiential Education by Lisa Thorsen | BetterSchool to sign up for an email when the book releases. 

• Practice real-world learning and cover the basic subjects.
• Release industrialized and credentialed learning mindsets. 
• Develop the whole child. 
• Don’t save them from everything. 
• Encourage boredom and creativity. Let life be the teacher. 

Life Lessons

Firstly, practice real-world learning and cover the basic subjects. Explore the world around you. Ms. Thorsen recommends covering basic subjects, such as English and Mathematics, and letting life experiences teach the rest. Her family enjoys visiting museums, parks, and beaches. She also explained that everyone can share a lesson with us. Therefore, your child can learn the basics and then discover life lessons out there!

Secondly, release the industrialization mindset of education. The public school system trains obedient factory workers. Real learning should come from learning through the world and experiences. 

Also, Ms. Thorsen explained that many people believe in credentialed education where students need to achieve a credential. Ms. Thorsen explained that this mindset limits our children, and in the age of AI, those credentialed jobs won’t last forever. Set these mindsets down and shift to viewing education as a lifelong pursuit. 

Thirdly, develop the whole child. As AI continues to grow, Ms. Thorsen encourages traits such as creativity, adaptability, self-directed learning capabilities, and grit. These skills will help homeschoolers perform well in adulthood and live in an AI world. 

Fourthly, don’t save them from everything. Let them make mistakes and learn from life. This will help them grow and learn from failure. Ms. Thorsen explained that learning from failure at a young age is important. This will help them become adaptable adults. 

Lastly, encourage boredom. Creativity and adaptability need boredom to thrive. Allow your children downtime to explore their creative senses and adapt to new ideas. This will unleash confidence and create a vibrant inner life. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, Ms. Thorsen offered insights into raising successful, vibrant homeschoolers in an AI world. AI will continue to grow, as Ms. Thorsen explained. Our children need the mental skills to show up in ways that differ from AI’s capabilities. Our children can be set apart. Now is the time to raise vibrant homeschoolers!

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- NxtEra

Written by Bethany (@thebookwormgirl_bethany)