When I first started homeschooling, there was a very negative word floating around: unschooling.
People assumed it meant no structure, no learning, and no future.
Fast forward 20+ years, and suddenly the same idea has a shiny new name: personalized learning.
Now it’s praised… but mostly “for adults.”
To that I say: bah humbug. 😉
What parents are calling “personalized learning” today is the same powerful concept many of us used decades ago—and it worked beautifully.
What Is a Personalized Curriculum?
A personalized curriculum means:
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Learning starts with your child’s interests
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Subjects are integrated naturally
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Skills grow through real-world projects
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Curiosity leads, not a boxed curriculum
Instead of asking “What should my child learn?”
You ask:
👉 “What does my child care about right now—and how can we learn through it?”
That’s it. That’s the magic.
My Real-Life Example: Learning French (No Curriculum Required)
One of my kids fell in love with the idea of learning French.
Not because it was assigned—but because she wanted to go to France.
Here’s how her personalized curriculum unfolded:
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She downloaded language apps like Babbel and Duolingo
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She changed her phone language to French
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She watched movies in French with English subtitles
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She made her own vocabulary lists
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She found an online language buddy to practice speaking
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Six months later, she tested at Level 2 proficiency
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She planned a trip—and traveled through Europe solo for three months
No worksheets.
No grades.
Just purpose-driven learning.
When They Were Younger: The Cookie Lesson That Taught Everything 🍪
Personalized learning doesn’t have to be big or international.
Sometimes it starts with… cookies.
We’d begin by baking:
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Math – measurements, fractions, doubling recipes
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Science – heat, chemical reactions, why cookies rise
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English – reading recipes, writing notes
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History – where cookies originated
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Geography – learning about Persia and early trade routes
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Culture – watching documentaries or movies about food traditions
One simple activity turned into every subject—naturally.
That’s personalized learning.
“But I Don’t Know How to Plan All That…”
Here’s the good news: you don’t have to anymore.
✨ AI can help you do this—without overwhelm.
Chat AI doesn’t replace learning.
It helps you connect ideas, generate projects, and organize curiosity.
AI Prompts Parents Can Copy & Use
🔹 Start with an Interest
Prompt:
“My child is interested in ___ and is ___ years old. Can you create a personalized learning plan that includes math, reading, science, and real-life activities?”
🔹 Turn Any Topic into a Mini Curriculum
Prompt:
“Create a project-based learning plan around ___ that covers multiple school subjects.”
🔹 Make It Hands-On
Prompt:
“Give me hands-on activities and experiments related to ___ that a child can do at home.”
🔹 Add Life Skills
Prompt:
“How can learning ___ also teach problem-solving, communication, and independence?”
🔹 Adapt as You Go
Prompt:
“My child is losing interest in ___. How can I pivot this topic into something new while still learning the same skills?”
Personalized Learning Ideas by Subject
Reading & Writing
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Write letters, scripts, blog posts, or travel plans
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Create a mini book or comic on their favorite topic
Math
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Budget a trip
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Price ingredients
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Track progress or stats
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Build or design something real
Science
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Cook, garden, test, observe
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Ask “why” and research together
History & Geography
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Follow the history of an invention
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Study countries through food, music, and stories
Technology
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Use AI as a research partner
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Create presentations, plans, or journals
Why This Works (Then and Now)
My kids are adults now—and they still love learning.
Not because they were forced to memorize facts.
But because learning was connected to life.
Personalized learning:
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Builds confidence
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Encourages independence
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Teaches kids how to learn
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Works for every age
And now—with AI—you don’t have to do it all alone.
Final Encouragement for Parents 💛
You don’t need:
❌ an expensive curriculum
❌ a teaching degree
❌ perfect plans
You need:
✅ curiosity
✅ flexibility
✅ tools that support your child, not control them
Personalized learning isn’t new.
It’s just finally getting the credit it deserves.
And yes—you absolutely can do it with a little help from AI.
