As a homeschooler, you are an original and non-conformist ready to move the world! Instead of your kids attending conventional schools like 96% of the K-12 population in the USA, you have demonstrated the mettle to provide your children a different experience and opportunity.
“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.”–George Bernard Shaw
I love to read a wide array of books, synthesize the information, and apply the lessons to education and homeschooling. I will share many of these synapses with you on my blog with hopes you will have take-aways for your homeschool. Today, I will discuss the #1 New York Times bestseller, Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World by Adam Grant.
According to the book: “Conformity means following the crowd down conventional paths and maintaining the status quo. Originality is taking the road less traveled, championing a set of novel ideas that go against the grain but ultimately make things better.”
“Originals are people who take the initiative to make their visions a reality….When we become curious about the dissatisfying defaults in our world, we begin to recognize that most of them have social origins. Rules and systems were created by people.”
As homeschoolers, we have not followed the conventional path but have taken the road less traveled and created a better education and lifestyle for our children than the status quo. By demonstrating this vision and initiative, we have modeled for our children not to conform and to think critically.
I hope my kids will move the world with their passion and ideas. As we have embraced a lifestyle with plenty of time for learning out in the world in a variety of ways as well as a home rich in literature and discussion, they are learning to be original and not follow the crowd or a set of codified rules in a classroom.
Ron Paul aptly pointed out in The School Revolution, “The most meaningful way to improve the world is to free up the creativity of individuals.”
Homeschoolers, if you are not bogging down your kids with hours of school work each day and re-creating school at your home, then you are setting up a fertile condition to free your child’s creativity. This does not mean hanging around the house on screens. Rather, it is exploring passions and experiencing a wide variety of learning out in the world with family, friends, and people knowledgeable in their fields.
I am proud to be part of this grass-roots movement. Homeschoolers are creating innovative and smart ways for kids to learn in both their homes and as a community. We are identifying the skills and values we want to develop in our kids and customizing opportunities to achieve those goals. We are not waiting for approval from a bureaucracy or hierarchy. We have not conformed to a system that stands in the way of creativity and customization.
Some Other Findings in This Book Include:
- Birth Order–Last-born children are usually the most rebellious and creative. It is well-known that the oldest child is often the “responsible achiever” and tends to be more “dominant, conscientious, and ambitious.” Later-borns are typically “more open to taking risks and embracing original ideas.” Read the book for some reasons why.
- Character Praise–Character praise is more effective than behavior praise. For instance, instead of “Please don’t cheat,” change it to “Please don’t be a cheater.”
- Mentors–Mentors are very effective role models, and they can effectively be found in the studies of great originals throughout human history and even fictional story characters.
- Child Prodigies–Child prodigies rarely go on to change the world. They typically follow established rules and strive to earn the approval of their parents and admiration of their teachers. The most creative children are least likely to be the teacher’s pet, made up their own rules and labeled as troublemakers. “In response, many children quickly learn to get with the program, keeping their original ideas to themselves.” In other words, “they become the world’s most excellent sheep.”
I will continue to review many more books helpful to homeschoolers. Join my Facebook page to receive every update and post from The Contemporary Homeschooler. I post many articles and thoughts to the Facebook page that are not on my blog.
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You may also enjoy:
Open Letter to U.S. Education Secretary Who Says Homeschoolers Would be Better off in Public School
Homeschooling is the Smartest Way to Teach Kids in the 21st-Century According to Business Insider
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