Learning at Prisma is organized into interdisciplinary themes. Our world-class curriculum team has designed a set of themes that cover all academic subjects—differentiated to match each learner's interests and needs—while growing the skills researchers identify as essential to future success. Each theme contains:
At the end of each 6-week theme, kids celebrate their creations together as a cohort on Expo Day, where they present their projects to their peers and families. Beyond developing key skills, our themes ignite kids' enthusiasm about learning. 96% of our learners agree that Prisma themes are 'hard fun.'
Instead of having multiple teachers who each have hundreds of students, Prisma lower & middle schoolers are matched with a tight-knit cohort of intentionally-matched peers and one Mentor Coach who they can stay with for multiple years. Coaches meet 1:1 with each learner in their cohort, provide personalized academic feedback, and facilitate engaging live workshops. 97% of Prisma parents are happy with their child's Mentor Coach.
Of the 200+ applications we receive for each coach we hire, we handpick the most kind, supportive, and brilliant educators who are exceptionally talented at building beneficial, motivating relationships with kids. Fun fact! 100% of coaches are returning to Prisma for the 2nd year in a row!
What is your favorite aspect of being a Learning Coach at Prisma?
"Without question, my favorite part of being a coach at Prisma is the two-way mutual learning I experience with the learners. I can not think of a single day where I have turned my laptop off and haven’t gleaned something from the life, knowledge, or insight of one of our Prismarians—from sailing, to repairing motorcycles, or Irish dancing, or simply a unique perspective on a topic we’re discussing. Our learners have had such diverse experiences. They’re risk-takers, adventurers, technically-capable, empathetic listeners, and respectful debaters. At Prisma, it’s a guarantee that I’ll grow and stretch as a person and coach alongside my learners."
What sets Prisma’s approach to math apart from traditional schools?
"Our math lessons (known as Numbers Labs) are thoughtfully designed to be fun and engaging. We believe that when students enjoy the learning process, they become more motivated and eager to dive deep into different math concepts - which is exactly what we want. Additionally, Prisma puts a strong emphasis on nurturing a growth mindset in our learners. We understand the value of encouraging students to embrace challenges and develop a positive attitude towards math. Understanding the underlying processes and reasoning behind mathematical concepts leads to deeper comprehension and application of math in real-life situations."
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How does the curriculum team collaborate with coaches?
"This is one of my favorite parts of my job! I love that I get to have relationships with the coaches that I design for. The coaching team provides feedback on all curriculum components during the design process, and at the end of a cycle. I meet with all coaches before the cycle to ensure the content meets the needs of their learners. Additionally, throughout the theme, curriculum designers make it a point to attend workshops and check out learner work! This helps us get a sense of each cohort’s vibe and see what is working well for coaches. Our curriculum would not be what it is today without their input!"
You’re well-known for your ability to lead a great live workshop! What are your top strategies for engaging virtual facilitation?
"Honestly, my strategy is to have fun! Kind, positive energy is infectious. When you’re having fun and inviting others to do the same, it makes everyone more comfortable and confident. Kids (and anyone, really) are more likely to engage if they feel heard and welcomed. When you’re more confident, you’re more likely to participate, take risks, and trust yourself and your capabilities. As a coach, it’s also important to read the room and meet kids where they’re at. Let kids be who they are and they’ll open up on their own terms."
What is your approach to supporting learners?
"As a teacher, I’ve always prioritized fostering the social and emotional aspects of student growth. The best coaches support folks as they work towards their own goals while helping them evolve their efforts to align with their best interests. I’m most excited about my role as a learning coach affording me the opportunity to meet each learner where they’re at and helping them get to where they want to be. There is so much value in highly individualized, interdisciplinary, project-based learning with lots of intentional support and communal growth—and that is what Prisma is all about!"
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Tell us a little bit about your background in education prior to joining Prisma.
"I have more than sixteen years of experience as an educator. I have a PhD in mathematics, which allowed me to develop and teach mathematics and computer science courses at the university as well as middle and high school level. I’ve been a middle and high school educator, and was in charge of founding and developing the Innovation Sciences Department at my previous school. I am also a Neuroinclusive Coach and Consultant, which means I support and coach neurodivergent (ADHD, autistic, dyslexic, etc.) kids, adults, and their support systems, and I offer workshops to schools and organizations."
How has your work in your PhD program inspired your approach to design at Prisma?
"Teaching at an IB school, I was both a teacher and a curriculum designer. I started to realize that it didn’t require huge investments in materials to make school more engaging, equitable, and educative: asking better questions doesn’t cost any more than asking rote ones! I spent the five years of my PhD program designing and studying interdisciplinary project-based learning experiences that meaningfully integrated literacy learning with science and engineering: the same approach that we use at Prisma!"
If you had to choose ONE skill that you believe is most important for learners to master to be prepared for the future, what would it be and why?
"I’d say the most important skill is trusting who you are and the unique abilities you bring to the table. In a world that’s constantly changing, the one constant is you. When you are confident in your own voice, strengths, and creativity, you can navigate any situation with resilience and adaptability. It’s not about fitting into a mould, but about embracing what makes you, YOU. That self-trust fuels curiosity, innovation, and problem-solving because you're not afraid to take risks, ask questions, or offer a different perspective."
What would be most helpful right now?
When considering online learning, the most common concern we hear from parents is that their child will have limited social interactions. We believe how connected kids feel to their peers and mentors impacts how they feel about learning, so we laser focus on building a safe, dynamic community where every learner feels seen and loved. Whether bonding through learner-led Clubs (Art Club, Chess Club, Prisma News), coach-led Enrichments (Songwriting, Cooking, STEM Extravaganza), or simply hanging out together in virtual gaming or social Lounges, we put tremendous emphasis on ensuring that every learner makes at least one close friend and finds an ongoing social experience they enjoy.
Every child and family is different and has unique routines, schedules and priorities. Our schedule allows ample opportunities for learners to interact ad swith their peers, while maintaining flexibility.
Some workshops (like Standup) happen every day, and others once per week. What's listed here is a sample of what a day might look like.
Exact times vary by time zone and cohort placement.
From late August through early June, Prisma learners experience three Sessions, with breaks in between. Each session is divided into two 6-week cycles centered around a real-world theme. The first and last cycles of each year are slightly shorter. In the first cycle of the year, learners build a foundation of self-directed learning skills to set them up for success. The last cycle of the year is our annual Changemakers theme, focused on Service Learning.
The annual calendar differs slightly from January to June to better align with major Asia and Oceania holidays and breaks while making Prisma globally accessible for worldschooling and nomadic families.
"Prior to enrolling our son, Major at Prisma, we struggled with his behavior at public school. He was getting into fights, was called a "distraction" because he learned at a different pace, and he was struggling with the one-size curriculum. His spirit was broken, because he felt like a failure. He said “Mom, please don’t make me go back to that school.”
Since starting Prisma, Major has matured in his course work and at home. We don’t fight about chores or getting his work done, he is highly motivated to engage with his coach and peers, and he feels understood and supported. Hearing him laugh with his peers as I work in my office makes me smile. His engagement and motivation since joining Prisma is at levels we have NEVER seen when he attended public school. He never wanted to join any extracurricular activities, now he is in the cooking enrichment and taking Japanese!
Prisma has reignited the spark and joy in Major and has brought back the amazing human we knew was there all along."
-Latasha Harris, Prisma Parent
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"Prior to enrolling our son, Major, at Prisma, he was called a "distraction" because he learned at a different pace, and he was struggling with the one-size curriculum.
Since starting Prisma, Major has matured in his course work and at home. His engagement and motivation since joining Prisma is at levels we have NEVER seen when he attended public school. He never wanted to join any extracurricular activities, now he is in the cooking enrichment and taking Japanese!
Prisma has reignited the spark and joy in Major and has brought back the amazing human we knew was there all along."
-Latasha Harris, Prisma Parent
See full story
Parents at Prisma get the best of both worlds: the joy of being involved with their child’s learning without having to tackle teaching and curriculum design by themselves.
You'll get to be involved by seeing your child present at Expo Day, receiving feedback from their coach through regular progress updates and Parent:Coach:Learner conferences every 12 weeks, participating in our vibrant parent community, and by providing us with feedback. Our leadership team loves connecting with parents!
Families gather at virtual events, from Theme Previews to Family Game Nights. Many Prisma families choose to organize in-person regional meetups, parties, and even trips. We love helping families connect with one another!
Some experienced homeschool families opt for our Parent Coach program, which included everything our full program offers, except that the parent serves as their child's mentor coach.
Shows kids themselves what Prisma is like, including an inside view into 2 sample themes, with lots of concrete examples of projects and workshops
Illustrates how Prisma's innovative, interdisciplinary, project-based curriculum maps to a comprehensive set of competencies and standards
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