.svg)
Prisma is the world’s most engaging virtual school that combines a fun, real-world curriculum with powerful mentorship from experienced coaches and a supportive peer community
“What do you want to be when you grow up?”
The answer to that question might take more imagination than you’d think.
According to the British Council, 65% of today’s students will one day work in jobs that don’t currently exist. In the face of that bewildering statistic, how can parents help their children consider — and prepare for — potential careers? What does success look like when the future of any given specific career is so unstable? How can you engage in career planning for a dream job that hasn’t yet been dreamed?
At Prisma, we believe that a child’s career path starts with core skills that will allow them to flourish in the 21st century economy. We designed our curriculum by asking ourselves, “What skill sets and mindsets will kids need to thrive in a world of unprecedented change?”
Part of our project-based approach means honing those skill sets and mindsets — in a relevant, real-world context that helps them connect to the things they love. That means career exploration is a part of their everyday educational experience, not in a heavy-handed way, but as part of the rationale behind everything they do.
A foundation anchored in mindsets and skill sets, rather than connect-the-dots career planning, will set your child up for countless career options. That’s a great start.
Here’s what else you can do to support your child as they look ahead to their future career.
“Oh, you don’t like blood, you’d never be a good doctor.”
“You’re so argumentative, you should be a lawyer.”
“You sleep too much, you’ll never be on time for an office job.”
“I thought you said you want to be an astronaut; why are you rushing your science homework?”
Know it or not, we are constantly inserting subtle messages about careers into our everyday conversation. We give kids ideas about which careers we value, and which we dismiss; which careers seem ‘fun’ and meaningful, and which seem like a slog; which careers we expect them to pursue and which seem out of their reach (or beneath them).
Watch yourself as you talk about different career fields, and try to replace judgmental language with more factual descriptions. Kids often ask about abstract financial markers (“Do doctors make a lot of money...?” “Are engineers rich?”), when really, what they need to know is whether they are interested in solving the kinds of problems that a certain field tackles, or serving the kinds of people that a certain profession serves.
Then, as they work to brainstorm around those kinds of problems, they’ll start trying on those careers for size. We see this in our classrooms all the time; give kids real problems to solve, and they’ll start to see themselves in the role of the person who solves them. As one parent recently told us, “My son now starts sentences with, ‘As a scientist, I...”
Certain careers have very specific markers: an aspiring doctor starts off in pre-med, goes to medical school, does a residency. There are scheduled exams and boxes to check, on the way to earning the title.
But even within a more regimented field, there’s so much room for tangents, detours and complete 180s. A doctor might end up as a university professor, a corporate consultant, a best-selling author and podcast host, a fieldworker in a remote location — or all of the above.
As your child heads off on a journey of their own, the thing that will serve them best is a North Star: their values. What does it mean for them to live a satisfying life?
Rather than looking to set them on the right career path, encourage them to think about their must-haves and their non-negotiables. (And remind them that these may shift over time, and that’s totally normal.)
Questions to ask:
One thing is for certain: no one finds their true career passion by filling out worksheets.
Instead, when kids get the opportunity to explore in a flexible-yet-structured environment, they end up discovering the unique combination of topics, problems and skills that add up to their passion.
Rooted in interdisciplinary explorations of real-world problems, project-based learning allows kids to try out various career options, without getting too caught up in the nitty gritty of job titles. Prismarians build a business, design a city, or invent a new device. Then, looking back through a portfolio of those self-directed accomplishments, it becomes easy to see patterns: themes they’re passionate about, skills they are excited to hone, and approaches they enjoy exploring.
Young people can only reach for what they can imagine, and so much of that career-related dreaming will center around the adults who are closest to them. It’s great if your child wants to follow in your footsteps, but to paint a more nuanced picture, you need to expose them to plenty of different adults at different phases of their careers.
Careers are also more flexible than ever. Stereotypes like the overworked lawyer, the underpaid teacher and the starving artist are best challenged when they hear it from someone who has been through the experience.
Not all doctors do back-to-back night shifts in crowded hospitals, so if the only doctors they see are the ones on TV, it can be eye-opening to sit down and talk to various medical professionals who have made their own way, teaching, researching, consulting, or going into private practice.
Get curious about the people around you: We bring in guest speakers with interesting careers for workshops, but we also recommend making connections in the community: Ask your dentist if you can have 15 minutes to interview them about their experience, speak to a local business owner you admire, or reach out to someone with a linkedin profile that makes you want to know more.
One of the best ways for young people to understand the ins and outs of different careers is by experiencing various work environments first-hand. We encourage Prisma high school students to take on jobs and internships, and even provide them with credit accordingly.
Summer internships and part time jobs can help you experiment with different industries and kinds of roles (client-facing jobs, desk jobs, sales jobs). Even something you might think of as more of a “fun” job, like a camp counselor, can be an occasion to learn more about how you feel working with younger kids, holding a leadership role, and spending time in nature. The same goes for extracurricular activities: your child may not be headed to a career as a prima ballerina, but maybe they can assist the teacher and discover their passion for working with children.
Whatever areas they end up exploring, if they step out of their comfort zone and work to develop a growth mindset, they’ll be well equipped to take the next step towards finding a meaningful career.
Want to learn more about how Prisma can empower your child to thrive?
Talk with usTalk with usHow kids can design projects that solve real-world problems
Falling in Love with Science
There are plenty of ways that homeschoolers make friends and engage with their peers, while still reaping the benefits of a homeschool education.
Tools to build self-awareness and resilience
The real world isn’t divided into school subjects. Learn how we design our interdisciplinary curriculum.
Explore the importance of education for children’s overall development and get practical tips for convincing your kids of its importance.
The Superpower that Turns Kids into Lifelong Learners
What would it look like if school prepared us for life?
Why is it that in a world of unprecedented technological advances and time-saving innovations, we seem to be busier than ever before?
Imaginative play isn’t just for preschoolers. Here’s how to spark your child’s imagination.
Engaging kids in the kitchen goes beyond food preparation. Here’s how to incorporate cooking into your weekly lesson plans.
If your child has doubts, here’s how to help them get to a “yes.”
With adolescent mental health in crisis, here’s how to support your high school student’s well-being.
At its core, creativity is the expression of our most essential human qualities: our curiosity, our inventiveness, and our desire to explore the unknown.
The concept of critical thinking can seem vast and abstract. But one of the most meaningful ways you can start to tackle it is by rethinking the role of the teacher.
Imagine your child exploring new countries, meeting people from different cultures, and gaining a deep understanding of the world in a way that simply isn't possible in traditional education.
Unstick your child’s creativity, stretch their thinking, and improve their writing skills with topics that tap into their passions.
I never expected to find a family within my child’s school, but the leadership, teachers, parents and kids have become friends for life
Homeschooling can be overwhelming for parents. Here's how to recognize the signs of burnout & concrete solutions.
What’s behind your child’s complaint — and what to do about it.
If building social skills has been a bumpy road for your kid, here’s how to help them form healthy friendships.
The homeschool day can be quite efficient, compared to a typical public school day. Then, their school work completed, kids have plenty of time for extracurriculars, hobbies, unstructured play and generally... fun.
Possibly. But here’s what to do first.
To instill life-long healthy eating habits, take a hands-on approach
.png)
Distance learning doesn’t have to be a drag. Here’s how Prisma creates a community-centered online learning environment.
Distance learning is gaining popularity. Here’s what you need to know about online learning for high school students.
A bridge into high school, middle school is the time to prepare for independent learning. Here’s how to set the stage.
ADHD is only one reason for a short attention span. Find the cause, then try these tips for helping your child focus.
There’s no roadmap to develop a true passion — but here are ways to make the journey more fruitful.
Kristen Shroff is an experienced educational leader who has been with Prisma from the very beginning, first as a Founding Curriculum Designer & then as Head of School. Now, as CEO, she will lead Prisma into its next stage of growth.
Meet Claire Cummings, our Head of Middle School. Claire started out as a beloved Learning Coach in our middle school program before transitioning to the Head of School role in January 2023! She is based in Detroit, Michigan.
From making a meal to balancing a budget, here’s how to help teens learn to thrive in the real world.
In our Meet the Team blog series, you’ll get to read more about the innovative thinkers behind Prisma. Next up is Emily Veno, one of Prisma's Founding Curriculum Designers. After two years focused on building Prisma's middle school curriculum, in her new role as Head of Learning Innovation she works across both the middle & high school programs.
In our Meet the Team blog series, you’ll get to read more about the innovative thinkers behind Prisma. Next up is Leena Williams, the Lead Coach & Curriculum Designer in our new high school program.
Get to the bottom of your child’s apathy and help them find their ‘why.’
At Prisma, we believe the families and learners who like to call themselves Prismarians—are our ‘secret sauce’! Here we highlight one of our favorite stories from the Prisma community
.png)
From national parks to beach vacations, design an in-the-field learning experience the whole family will enjoy
Online learning takes many forms. Decide why you want to go remote — and the rest will fall into place.
Here’s how parents of ADHD children can set themselves up for successful learning at home.
Online learning doesn’t have to be distracting. These tips can prime your child to thrive at home.
From early childhood through high school, homeschooling provides the ideal setting to facilitate a gifted child’s learning. Here’s how.
And how can you support them in the classroom?
From fostering a love of learning to developing problem-solving skills, child-initiated learning is a pillar of a successful homeschooling journey. Here’s how to get started.
Focus on number sense and you’ll help your child add math skills to their toolkit.
Combine fun with a pinch of self-discipline, and you’ll be well on your way to a wellness routine your child wants to follow.
Kids need to develop their own world as they mature. But the stereotype of the zip-lipped pre-teen doesn’t have to be your reality.
It’s not easy to juggle full-time work and homeschooling — but it is possible. Here’s what we’ve learned about how to thrive.
Learning languages opens doors, offers connections and inspires new ways of thinking. Here’s some advice about which one(s) to pick.
Critical thinking matters for academics, work and relationships. Here’s how to lay the foundations at home.
Read about the hands-on learning opportunities one Prisma high schooler tackled in the Secrets of the Biosphere theme
Creative thinking is the key to problem-solving. Here’s how to foster creativity at home.
Traditional four-year college is only one option. Here’s how to inform your decision.
The Montessori approach focuses on early childhood. Here’s how the popular pedagogical method can lend itself to home-based learning for all ages.
Here’s what parents need to know about the popular social media network.
Here’s what every parent should know about facilitating a routine that works for the whole family.
Hands-on learning benefits all students. Here’s how to incorporate it into your homeschooling.
There’s no evidence to confirm the validity of these popular labels. But here’s how auditory learning strategies can benefit everyone.
Although no studies link these popular labels to academic achievement, here’s how visual learning helps everyone.
Here’s what parents need to know about the free, popular chat app.
Incorporate these reading tips into your routine, and you’ll be on your way to fostering a love of reading in your child.
Ready to Deck the Halls? Here are projects to engage kids of all ages—and tackle your seasonal shopping with DIY keepsakes.
More than just asking questions in the classroom, the Socratic Method helps learners test their own ideas in a real-life context.
Here are some guidelines to help sift through the infinite options.
When students set the conditions of their learning experience, they show more creativity, passion and sticktuitiveness.
With built-in lesson plans, educational tools, and endless problem-solving opportunities, Minecraft: Education Edition can help motivate kids in coding, science, language arts, and more.
Get into the spirit of gratitude with these easy Thanksgiving crafts for kids.
Teach children gratitude and they’ll experience better mental health, well being and social connection.
8 tips to ensure learning disabilities don’t get in the way of building reading skills.
Why does your child dread Mondays? Once you know, take these steps to help them (re)discover their spark.
To stop bullying behavior, educate yourselves and your children.
Bullying is about a power dynamic between peers. To interrupt it, first understand why it happens.
Children’s Mental Health is in Crisis. Here’s How to Help Develop Your Child’s Self-Esteem.
To reach their high potential, twice-exceptional children benefit from a flexible learning environment.
The holiday season is the time to get your hands dirty with these Halloween craft ideas - candy corn optional.
Dyslexic kids often lose their love of learning. Here’s how parents can help them rediscover it.
The challenges of adolescence can be magnified for LGBTQ kids. Here’s how to help them thrive.
From bullying to finding a safe bathroom, LGBTQ students navigate a tough landscape at school.
What we know about the relationship between ‘hard fun’ and learning. (Hint: It’s not about playing games in between worksheets.)
Here’s what we mean by ‘success’ at Prisma - and how we use it to help kids thrive.
What parents need to know about socialization in—and out of—the classroom to help your homeschooler thrive.
Child entrepreneurship is trending. Here are three steps to developing an innovative business that stands out from the crowd.
A hands-on approach to develop real-world skills, resiliency and a love of learning — here’s how we practice it at Prisma.
A Shared Name and Diverse Strengths Led Two Bens to Build an AI Writing Business.
When traditional public school isn’t the best option, consider these alternatives.
Five ways parents can help their kids see themselves as a work in progress.
Gifted kids face unique challenges when it comes to burnout. Here’s how parents can help.
For travel-hungry families dreaming of school vacation, there’s much to celebrate about shifts in the way we live, work and educate our children.
To create a customized education for your child takes more than a checklist. This three-stage framework can help you get started.
If you’re homeschool-curious, here’s what 100 families have to say about the biggest advantages and disadvantages of homeschooling.
With homeschooling, the sky’s the limit – and there’s a lot on your plate. Learn about how to make this growing trend work for your family.
Learning how to use the internet safely, smartly, and creatively is one of the most essential skills for success in our hyper-connected world. Prisma learners just wrapped up their Cyber Citizens learning
A live learning platform purpose-built for kids. It's a new, fun and engaging way for kids to learn and collaborate together virtually.
Technology has completely revolutionized how we shop, communicate, entertain ourselves, and even how we work, but no such revolution has happened in education.
We’ve officially wrapped up our first ever fall session at Prisma and are excited to share our learnings and observations with you.
Starting today, families can apply to join Prisma from anywhere in the USA. Here’s how it will work. You can still apply to any of our five founding cohort hubs (Chicago, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, or Tampa) if you live nearby.
Over the past week, as millions of parents have realized that traditional in-person schooling may not be safe or available come September, a new twist on an old phenomenon has emerged.
We're excited to announce the rollout of Prisma cohorts in 5 US cities: San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Tampa and Salt Lake City.
