What happens when standardized education doesn't fit your child's unique learning style? For Lauri Muse, watching her son struggle in traditional school settings despite wonderful teachers sparked a journey that would ultimately benefit many Northern Kentucky families.
Muse shares the heartbreaking moment that catalyzed her educational revolution: hearing her young son declare "I'm really dumb" and "I'm not smart." After years of successfully homeschooling six of her seven children, she knew her active, group-oriented son needed something different—but full-time public or private schooling wasn't the answer either. Her research into micro-schooling led to the creation of World of Wonder, a hybrid educational program that combines the flexibility of homeschooling with structured, hands-on learning experiences.
World of Wonder operates three days weekly (Tuesday-Thursday, 8:30-3:00 pm), with students officially registered as homeschoolers. The program emphasizes outdoor learning, with children spending 90 minutes outside daily across different segments. Small class sizes—approximately one teacher to 8-12 students—allow educators to truly know each child and customize learning to their interests and needs. This arrangement proves particularly valuable for working parents who want homeschooling benefits without managing full-time home education.
The micro-schooling movement represents a significant shift in educational approaches. Rather than working within standardized systems where teachers face mounting mandates and restrictions, micro-schools like World of Wonder create environments where educators can fully utilize their training and creativity. Many experienced teachers are leaving traditional systems for these settings where they can differentiate instruction and truly connect with students as individuals.
Located at Union Presbyterian Church near Ryle High School in Union, Kentucky, World of Wonder is currently accepting new students (especially ages 8-12) for their program. Muse invites interested parents to reach out through their website (worldofwondernky.com) or email (lauri@worldofwondernky.com) to learn how this educational alternative might help "keep the wonder in your child's eyes" or recultivate that natural spark of curiosity that makes learning joyful and meaningful.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Mike Murphy.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Thanks, charlie.
I am Mike Murphy, host of theGood Neighbor Podcast, and our
podcast is intended to help thelocal residents of Northern
Kentucky get to know localbusiness owners and influencers
and, in this case, members ofthe educational community at
large, to help you get to knowthem as people and not just a
(00:33):
logo on a business card.
So today with me is somebodythat I'm meeting for the first
time with you most of youanyways Lori Mews, and Lori is
with World of Wonder, nky, isthat correct?
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Sure, that's part of our website.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Yes, Okay, yeah, because, yeah, the website I
went to is worldofwondernkycom.
We'll get to that, but the nameof the business is officially
is it World of Wonder?
Yes, sir, okay.
So, lori, please let theresidents listening in on the
conversation know who you areand what World of Wonder is.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
Well, sure, I'm Laurie Mews.
I started as a homeschoolmother of seven many years ago.
Our children range from 33 downto nine years old, and a few
years ago we realized our sonwas not going to be a good fit
for homeschooling.
He was very busy, very active,he thrived in groups, and so we
(01:32):
knew he needed something else,and we didn't know what that was
going to be.
But we tried local preschooland that was super successful.
He enjoyed that.
But obviously after preschool,which is part-time, the only
alternative you have isfull-time public schooling or
private schooling, which isstill full-time.
And so we opted to try thepublic school experience for him
(01:58):
.
And that was while our teacherswere wonderful and just bright
and encouraging and lovingteachers, the program itself,
the standardization, just wasnot fitting his learning needs,
and so I started to study amovement in the education world
(02:19):
called micro-schooling, and soit took me a few years of
studying this to actually getcourage to say I'm going to
start one, which is a bigundertaking.
But we knew that when my sonstarted to make comments like
I'm really dumb, I'm not reallysmart, when we knew that this
(02:40):
was not going to be aneducational experience that we
wanted for him.
So I jumped in and we startedinterviewing teachers and we
began what we have now calledWorld of Wonder Microschool for
ages 5 through 12.
And we're a hybrid program,which means we're a part-time
program.
All of our students areregistered homeschooling
(03:02):
students, registered with thestate as a homeschooling family,
and then we partner withfamilies and help them educate
their children.
So we have a three day programTuesday, wednesday, thursday,
not 830 to 3 pm, and then wealso this year are starting a
(03:23):
new one-day experience becausemany public or, I'm sorry, many
homeschool students approachedus and they wanted to be a part
of World of Wonder, but theyjust wanted one day.
So now we're going to offeranother day.
So that's kind of how I gotstarted with this.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Okay, so… it's been about a year since you, since
you, started the program.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
Fall last year.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Okay.
So I liked the fact that youknow, when you recognize that
your son just kind of haddifferent needs in terms of how
he learned and how he wouldthrive, I liked that you rescued
him in that moment.
So good on you for that.
You know, kudos, every child isunique and different, certainly
(04:12):
so I think you know a casecould be made for just about any
kid to be in any sort ofprogram.
Potentially, who, what othertypes of children are part of
the program thus far?
Speaker 3 (04:26):
Oh yes, so we're a hands-on program and we have
flexible seating, we move aroundand we spend.
Another key part of our programis we spend 90 minutes outdoors
every day in a few differentsections of the day.
That was another part that heneeded.
He needed to be outdoors.
Children really thrive when theyhave access to the outdoors and
(04:49):
we knew we wanted that to be apart of our program.
So I would say we have childrenwhose families want more time
with them than maybe thetraditional five day a week
school because they get thoseextra days at home.
We have children who definitelythrive in group settings.
So, as traditional independenthomeschooling is where it might
(05:11):
be, mom usually and the childrenat home out in the community,
maybe one day a week or more,but as traditional homeschooling
is mother doing all of theeducational part, even if she
pulls in resources, she doesthat, but what we do is we
partner with parents and weprovide those days of education.
(05:32):
So a lot of our parents work,so they maybe cannot do
full-time homeschooling, butthey still want the
homeschooling life for theirchild.
So those would be some of theother types of parents that
reach us.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Okay, so what are the age ranges or grade ranges that
you serve?
Speaker 3 (05:51):
Yeah, we serve five to 12 years old right now and we
look to move up as our studentsmove up, and I don't have a
timeframe on.
That Could be next year and itcould be an additional one more
year, but we will grow.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
Okay, so there's an evolution, a development that's
just going to kind of come asyou grow and as you gain
traction.
I wonder, like in situationslike this you know you mentioned
that this was something thatyou did out of necessity for
your child, and so you startedlooking into starting this
(06:29):
program, this school.
What sort of training did youhave to go through?
Or is there credentialing?
Is there certifications?
What did you have to do?
Speaker 3 (06:40):
Oh well, that's a great question.
So, as a homeschool mother ofmany years, I have studied and
studied educational philosophiesand techniques for dozens of
years.
When you have seven differentchildren, you have many
different ways they learn.
Plus, I've taught in co-ops I'mnot sure if you're familiar.
(07:01):
Your guest mates it's a termthat people use a lot.
Your guest mates it's a termthat people use a lot.
Homeschool co-ops are generallyonce a week and they're on many
, many different topics art,science and so forth.
So I've taught in those realms.
But in Kentucky we have a lot offreedom and we can start
homeschooling co-ops or microschools, hybrid micro schools
(07:24):
just with who you are, you know,as a parent in charge of your
child's education.
And while what?
But I do hire teachers withexcellent experience and
credentials.
So our teachers are eithercertified or experienced in,
maybe, art education and STEMeducation, or they have many
(07:47):
years of experiencehomeschooling themselves or, you
know, their children.
So there is the you know,intense interview process and
trying to get the right teacherswho really have a heart for
flexible and personal education.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
Okay, so you're building the village.
That's kind of raising thechildren from the educational
perspective at least yes.
So at the top of thatparticular food chain, as it
relates to World of Wonder andmicro school, you're at the top.
I mean, are you running thewell?
Speaker 3 (08:23):
I guess, yeah, I'm the director.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Okay, all right.
So there are going to be peoplethat are listening to this for
the first time and maybe they'resaying to themselves oh my gosh
, I need to know more.
I think this is something thatmy child needs to be a part of.
How do they reach out to you?
(08:45):
What's the best next step forthem?
Speaker 3 (08:47):
First off, definitely our website,
worldofwondernkycom.
We have a professional Facebookpage.
Probably if you Google World ofWonder, if you're on Facebook
and look World of WonderMicroschool, hopefully you would
find it world of wonder microschool, hopefully you would find
(09:09):
it.
And then I give my email out.
Pretty laurie at world ofwonder nkycom people can reach
me there.
Um, I don't hesitate to talk toanyone.
We do have a parent uh infosession coming up.
I think it's the 28th.
It's an event in facebook.
You could probably find itthere, but I would love to talk
(09:29):
with parents.
I love to parents to know theyhave options, whether they
choose traditional homeschooling, which is great for many
families, or that these microschools are actually popping up
quite often.
In Indiana, in fact I havefriends there it has risen
6,000% in 18 months.
(09:52):
It's just there's individualswho care.
Most of them are started byteachers, public school teachers
who know how to teach children,but are stopped or prevented
because of the standardizationand the mandates from the top
(10:13):
down that pile up on a teacher'sdesk or in a teacher's life and
they can't reach the individualneeds of the child and so they
start micro-schooling in thesevery small environments, which
we will have like one to 12 orone to 10, we'll have one
teacher to like 10 or eightchildren, depending what our
(10:33):
enrollment looks like.
So you can meet thoseindividual needs of what the
child, their interest and thenalso their skill set.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
Okay, you mentioned earlier or at least alluded to
the fact that Kentucky is wasn'tyour word, but I guess it's my
word homeschool friendly, youknow in terms of you know.
I just wonder, like aboutIndiana and Ohio, those
(11:05):
particular you know, since we're, so we're 10 minutes from each
of those states, you know.
So how does Kentucky rankcompared to Indiana and Ohio in
terms of being homeschoolfriendly?
Speaker 3 (11:17):
Well, I would say pretty equal.
I mean all 50 states are.
It is free and easy tohomeschool.
It's I don't know the exactdate but around 1993 or 94, we'd
have to research that that'swhen it became legal in all 50
states to homeschool yourchildren.
So it's pretty easy to to usein alternative education spaces.
(11:52):
So the EdChoice movement is alittle bit larger in those
states and obviously in Kentuckyit's not grown that movement
for dollars to follow studentsand parents to get to choose
where their educational dollarsgo.
We don't really have that here.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
But as far as homeschooling it's probably
similar in all of those threestates of homeschooling as it
relates to, say, maybe childrenthat are on the spectrum, is
(12:35):
that a whole different ballgamein terms of what states will or
will not allow or is it up tothe parents?
Speaker 3 (12:38):
Oh yeah, actually, one of my children we have
special needs my 19 year olddaughter.
There's many, many specialneeds children do really well
with homeschooling because ofthe less pressured environment
and it's less stimulating.
Maybe they can move at theirown pace.
(12:59):
But at the same time, parentsreally could use resources like
specialized tutoring for thesechildren or other things like
that.
So in Indiana, for example,there are state funds that go to
families who need specialtutoring for it, like dyslexia
(13:21):
or autism.
They need differentenvironments for their child to
learn in.
So they do have funding forparents to use for those
services, which is wonderful forthose families.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
Okay, well, you mentioned seven children before.
So let's transition, let'spivot to talk about your family.
You've got a husband, you'vegot children.
What does that hectic life looklike with seven kids and also
(14:01):
trying to run this program?
Do you guys have time to justdecompress and get away and go
do fun things?
Speaker 3 (14:08):
To breathe?
No, we do not.
No, I don't.
My friend posted a book thatshe said she's a fellow micro
school founder and she said I'mgoing to read this book before
summer.
And I posted and said you havetime to read?
How do you read?
I do not have time to read.
Good question, I justpersonally I do try to have an
(14:31):
hour of devotional timepersonally for myself and I try
to at least exercise one hour aday, taking walks out in nature,
walking our dog.
So, yes, it is challenging.
Any business owner out thereI'm sure would say, especially
startup, which is where we are.
We're in the startup phase.
(14:52):
Yes, it's challenging, we arebusy.
We have two boys that playbaseball.
One just got finished withtravel ball.
So any travel ball play momsout there know that that is
hectic.
So I'm doing we have to getthere an hour early.
I'm doing business while I'mwaiting for the ball game to
start.
So, yes, that it is.
(15:14):
And we have 11 grandchildrenactually too, and most of seven
of them live close.
So we are busy.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
Yes, All right.
Well, yeah, I mean, just whenyou say travel ball, just you
know, knowing what goes intothat, that alone leaves you very
little time.
It's true leaves you verylittle time.
So it's true, and I alwaysthink too, you know, if you've
got children being homeschooledby mom, I've always wondered,
(15:47):
like how blurry that line can bebetween mom and teacher.
Do you ever turn one fully offversus the other?
That's got to be tough to do.
Speaker 3 (15:56):
I think when you first became a new homeschooling
parent, you do feel really oddabout it and you, you, you're
developing your relationshipwith your young children and I
think over time it just becomesmore blended where you are an
educating parent.
So, just as like dad mightteach, come out to the car and
(16:22):
let's learn to, you know, changethe oil or the tires.
Or just a mother saying, cometo the kitchen, let's learn to
bake bread or cook cookies orsomething, so I think that you
just become a teaching parent.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
Okay, that's a great explanation.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
Yes, I think that you just become a teaching parent.
Okay, that's a greatexplanation yes, I think you do.
And then you're alwaysmentoring your children.
You're always guiding them asfar as what their interests are,
what books they're interestedin, what classes, so you just
become more comfortable at it,okay.
Speaker 2 (16:55):
I was always amazed when I was in my young adult
years how many of my friendsdidn't know how to iron a shirt,
certainly, or change a tire orwhatever.
So that's a you know a teachingparent, you know an educating
parent.
That's a great.
That's a great way to look atit, because in traditional
(17:18):
schools you're doing yourstudies and then you come home
and I don't know, maybe you justplay an Xbox or whatever.
But if you're kind of immersedin the homeschool type of
mindset, I love that, thatyou're actually being able to
build into this non-traditionalcurriculum some of the things
(17:38):
that not enough kids today knowhow to do, whatever that might
be.
Speaker 3 (17:42):
Yeah, exactly, and that is that is what most
homeschooling families do, andthat is actually what the, the
micro school movement, is abouttoo, is looking at that child
holistically and building in alot of the practical skills,
soft skills, that people need inbusiness.
A lot of those skills are builtinto the program, especially
(18:05):
because many micro-schoolingcenters are following a
project-based learning mode andmodel now, mode model now.
So the children or the studentsare doing projects that
incorporate collaboration,building, planning,
(18:25):
presentations and then aresearch all in one.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
Okay, so you've been at this for a year-ish, you know
like you're kind of in thestartup phase, as you mentioned.
Is there anything, since youknow we're here right now and
this podcast is going to go outand you know we'll put it out
there as best we can to get asmany ears on it as possible, is
there anything that you want thecommunity to know or any help
(18:51):
that you would like?
Or just in terms of buildingawareness?
What is your message to thecommunity that's listening to
this?
Speaker 3 (18:59):
Oh, that's a great question.
So well, that's a lot.
So I would say the message isthat we are in Union, Kentucky,
we are open, this very specialchildhood for your child that
(19:19):
incorporates the core subjectsof math and reading that we all
want our children to progress in, but also so much more.
We say that we want to keep thewonder in your child's eyes and
we also consider ourselves alove of learning center.
So we want children to come tous with the spark that all
(19:40):
children have and we either wantto keep that spark of curiosity
or recultivate that spark inthose children who have lost it.
So we have spots available.
We will have two teachers.
We're especially looking forages eight to 12, but we still
are accepting all ages and wewould just be excited to talk to
(20:03):
parents and share more of ourvision of what we do offer the
community and then what otherpeople offer, if those families
are looking for othereducational environments for
their family.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
So you said there are chairs available in the program
in the classroom.
How many, like I guess?
Where I'm going is, can aprogram max out, or do you just
keep accommodating you just kindof?
You know, grow as necessary.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
Well, micro-school schooling is very organic.
It's very interesting becausecart before the forest type of
thing we can go find reallyawesome teachers.
But we need students because weare private pay.
We are not government funded,we are not church funded.
We, we are paid.
It's like the parents cometogether and the parents, all of
(20:59):
us together, pay these teachersto do this service for us.
So what if I go find a bunch ofstudents with no teacher?
That couldn't work.
And if I go find severalteachers but no students?
That couldn't work.
So we're just gently going backand forth with finding the
teachers, finding the students.
So, yeah, we would max outbecause we want to keep the
(21:22):
student-teacher ratio.
We want it to be small, so it'sintimate and cozy and the
teachers really get to know thestudents and they can do
projects and topics based onthose students' interests.
So we are keeping right nowlike a 12 student to one teacher
(21:42):
max.
We do actually have classroomspace though.
So it's exciting to know thatwhen more families find us and
know that this is an option, wedo have some extra space to
start more classes, or somepeople call them pods for those
families.
(22:02):
So it's kind of exciting toknow that we can expand.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
There are, say, former educators out there, or
current or just parents that canappreciate what you're trying
to do with this program.
They may not have kids thatthey're wanting to place in the
program, but are there ways thatthey can help?
I mean, do you need supplies?
What type of things?
Yes, since you asked.
Speaker 3 (22:27):
We are starting a fundraiser right now because
last year we were so blessed tohave a few nice donations that
really outfitted one of ourclassrooms with, like some
shelving and some rugs just thebasic things you need to open a
classroom space.
Like I said, we're just parentswho are funding this for our
(22:50):
children, so we would lovedonations.
We are not a nonprofit at thistime, so that just to clarify
that, but we do love donations.
We are not a nonprofit at thistime.
So just to clarify that.
But we do love donations.
People can donate items.
We have wishlists.
They can certainly donate cash.
That will be every dollar spent.
We have these new classroomsthat we're just opening up, this
(23:13):
space, this new space, and wedefinitely need to outfit them
so that we can have delightfulspaces for the children.
So, yes, we would lovedonations and, as far as other
teachers, I do also teachteachers about micro schooling.
In fact, one of our newteachers that is new to us just
(23:34):
left a local school system of 22years and she never knew about
micro schooling until she foundus and she's super excited
because she can individualizeinstruction like she wants and
differentiate instruction likeshe's trained in.
So she's really excited to bewith us Other teachers in the
(23:55):
future.
I do have a few more teachersthat would love to be with us
Other teachers in the future.
I do have a few more teachersthat would love to teach with us
.
I'm sure that more and moreteachers, when they know that we
have freedom, they get to usetheir creativity.
They get to do all the training, all the fun things that
they're trained to do asteachers.
They get to use that in a microschool setting, there's very
(24:18):
few restrictions.
The world is their limit.
They can teach anything.
Speaker 2 (24:25):
Well, you're very full of knowledge, full of
passion on the subject.
I want to make sure that peopleknow when you say we're in
Union, where is thatspecifically?
Speaker 3 (24:38):
Certainly, I don't even have the address memorized,
which I should, but we meet atUnion Presbyterian Church.
We rent space there.
They had an old preschoolthat's unused right now, so we
are going to be moving into thatspace.
We're excited about that.
That's where we are, acrossfrom St Tim's Catholic Church,
(24:59):
next to Ryle High School peopleknow exactly where that is.
Speaker 2 (25:02):
You don't need the address.
Yeah, we'll make sure they know.
Oh oh, you mentioned your emailaddress earlier and you know
laureat worldofwonderingnkycom.
Speaker 3 (25:17):
yes.
Speaker 2 (25:18):
I want to make sure people know how to spell your
name your first name.
Speaker 3 (25:21):
Okay, L-A-U-R-I.
Speaker 2 (25:24):
L-A-U-R-I.
Speaker 3 (25:25):
That's a good question.
People do get that wrong.
It's no big deal, but yes,that's a good question and I'd
love to talk with anyoneinterested in learning about
micro-schooling whether theywant to start one or be a part
(25:45):
of ours.
Speaker 2 (25:46):
Okay, well, that's a great message to end on.
I mean people.
You've given them a lot of foodfor thought, a lot of knowledge
.
I'm sure a lot of people aregoing to be chomping at the bit
to reach out to you.
You've given them many ways todo that, and so let's see if the
community can't get moreinvolved and help you grow, grow
, grow and help those out.
Cool, all right.
Well, that's the end of it.
(26:07):
We've talked for about a halfhour now, and I know it doesn't
seem like it, but when you're aspassionate as you are, time
flies.
Speaker 3 (26:15):
It does.
Yes, and you can have me backif people want to know more.
I would love to come back, soit'd be so fun.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
Anytime you want to come back, you just give me a
call and we'll do it again.
Speaker 3 (26:24):
All right, thank you.
Speaker 2 (26:26):
So that does it for this episode of the Good
Neighbor Podcast.
I'll always tell you be good toyour neighbor Until next time.
See you soon, everybody.
Bye-bye.
Speaker 1 (26:38):
Thanks for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast
Union.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on
the show, go to gnpunioncom.
That's gnpunioncom, or call usat 859-651-8330.
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Mike Murphy.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Thanks, charlie.
I am Mike Murphy, host of theGood Neighbor Podcast, and our
podcast is intended to help thelocal residents of Northern
Kentucky get to know localbusiness owners and influencers
and, in this case, members ofthe educational community at
large, to help you get to knowthem as people and not just a
(00:33):
logo on a business card.
So today with me is somebodythat I'm meeting for the first
time with you most of youanyways Lori Mews, and Lori is
with World of Wonder, nky, isthat correct?
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Sure, that's part of our website.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Yes, Okay, yeah, because, yeah, the website I
went to is worldofwondernkycom.
We'll get to that, but the nameof the business is officially
is it World of Wonder?
Yes, sir, okay.
So, lori, please let theresidents listening in on the
conversation know who you areand what World of Wonder is.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
Well, sure, I'm Laurie Mews.
I started as a homeschoolmother of seven many years ago.
Our children range from 33 downto nine years old, and a few
years ago we realized our sonwas not going to be a good fit
for homeschooling.
He was very busy, very active,he thrived in groups, and so we
(01:32):
knew he needed something else,and we didn't know what that was
going to be.
But we tried local preschooland that was super successful.
He enjoyed that.
But obviously after preschool,which is part-time, the only
alternative you have isfull-time public schooling or
private schooling, which isstill full-time.
And so we opted to try thepublic school experience for him
(01:58):
.
And that was while our teacherswere wonderful and just bright
and encouraging and lovingteachers, the program itself,
the standardization, just wasnot fitting his learning needs,
and so I started to study amovement in the education world
(02:19):
called micro-schooling, and soit took me a few years of
studying this to actually getcourage to say I'm going to
start one, which is a bigundertaking.
But we knew that when my sonstarted to make comments like
I'm really dumb, I'm not reallysmart, when we knew that this
(02:40):
was not going to be aneducational experience that we
wanted for him.
So I jumped in and we startedinterviewing teachers and we
began what we have now calledWorld of Wonder Microschool for
ages 5 through 12.
And we're a hybrid program,which means we're a part-time
program.
All of our students areregistered homeschooling
(03:02):
students, registered with thestate as a homeschooling family,
and then we partner withfamilies and help them educate
their children.
So we have a three day programTuesday, wednesday, thursday,
not 830 to 3 pm, and then wealso this year are starting a
(03:23):
new one-day experience becausemany public or, I'm sorry, many
homeschool students approachedus and they wanted to be a part
of World of Wonder, but theyjust wanted one day.
So now we're going to offeranother day.
So that's kind of how I gotstarted with this.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Okay, so… it's been about a year since you, since
you, started the program.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
Fall last year.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Okay.
So I liked the fact that youknow, when you recognize that
your son just kind of haddifferent needs in terms of how
he learned and how he wouldthrive, I liked that you rescued
him in that moment.
So good on you for that.
You know, kudos, every child isunique and different, certainly
(04:12):
so I think you know a casecould be made for just about any
kid to be in any sort ofprogram.
Potentially, who, what othertypes of children are part of
the program thus far?
Speaker 3 (04:26):
Oh yes, so we're a hands-on program and we have
flexible seating, we move aroundand we spend.
Another key part of our programis we spend 90 minutes outdoors
every day in a few differentsections of the day.
That was another part that heneeded.
He needed to be outdoors.
Children really thrive when theyhave access to the outdoors and
(04:49):
we knew we wanted that to be apart of our program.
So I would say we have childrenwhose families want more time
with them than maybe thetraditional five day a week
school because they get thoseextra days at home.
We have children who definitelythrive in group settings.
So, as traditional independenthomeschooling is where it might
(05:11):
be, mom usually and the childrenat home out in the community,
maybe one day a week or more,but as traditional homeschooling
is mother doing all of theeducational part, even if she
pulls in resources, she doesthat, but what we do is we
partner with parents and weprovide those days of education.
(05:32):
So a lot of our parents work,so they maybe cannot do
full-time homeschooling, butthey still want the
homeschooling life for theirchild.
So those would be some of theother types of parents that
reach us.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Okay, so what are the age ranges or grade ranges that
you serve?
Speaker 3 (05:51):
Yeah, we serve five to 12 years old right now and we
look to move up as our studentsmove up, and I don't have a
timeframe on.
That Could be next year and itcould be an additional one more
year, but we will grow.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
Okay, so there's an evolution, a development that's
just going to kind of come asyou grow and as you gain
traction.
I wonder, like in situationslike this you know you mentioned
that this was something thatyou did out of necessity for
your child, and so you startedlooking into starting this
(06:29):
program, this school.
What sort of training did youhave to go through?
Or is there credentialing?
Is there certifications?
What did you have to do?
Speaker 3 (06:40):
Oh well, that's a great question.
So, as a homeschool mother ofmany years, I have studied and
studied educational philosophiesand techniques for dozens of
years.
When you have seven differentchildren, you have many
different ways they learn.
Plus, I've taught in co-ops I'mnot sure if you're familiar.
(07:01):
Your guest mates it's a termthat people use a lot.
Your guest mates it's a termthat people use a lot.
Homeschool co-ops are generallyonce a week and they're on many
, many different topics art,science and so forth.
So I've taught in those realms.
But in Kentucky we have a lot offreedom and we can start
homeschooling co-ops or microschools, hybrid micro schools
(07:24):
just with who you are, you know,as a parent in charge of your
child's education.
And while what?
But I do hire teachers withexcellent experience and
credentials.
So our teachers are eithercertified or experienced in,
maybe, art education and STEMeducation, or they have many
(07:47):
years of experiencehomeschooling themselves or, you
know, their children.
So there is the you know,intense interview process and
trying to get the right teacherswho really have a heart for
flexible and personal education.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
Okay, so you're building the village.
That's kind of raising thechildren from the educational
perspective at least yes.
So at the top of thatparticular food chain, as it
relates to World of Wonder andmicro school, you're at the top.
I mean, are you running thewell?
Speaker 3 (08:23):
I guess, yeah, I'm the director.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Okay, all right.
So there are going to be peoplethat are listening to this for
the first time and maybe they'resaying to themselves oh my gosh
, I need to know more.
I think this is something thatmy child needs to be a part of.
How do they reach out to you?
(08:45):
What's the best next step forthem?
Speaker 3 (08:47):
First off, definitely our website,
worldofwondernkycom.
We have a professional Facebookpage.
Probably if you Google World ofWonder, if you're on Facebook
and look World of WonderMicroschool, hopefully you would
find it world of wonder microschool, hopefully you would find
(09:09):
it.
And then I give my email out.
Pretty laurie at world ofwonder nkycom people can reach
me there.
Um, I don't hesitate to talk toanyone.
We do have a parent uh infosession coming up.
I think it's the 28th.
It's an event in facebook.
You could probably find itthere, but I would love to talk
(09:29):
with parents.
I love to parents to know theyhave options, whether they
choose traditional homeschooling, which is great for many
families, or that these microschools are actually popping up
quite often.
In Indiana, in fact I havefriends there it has risen
6,000% in 18 months.
(09:52):
It's just there's individualswho care.
Most of them are started byteachers, public school teachers
who know how to teach children,but are stopped or prevented
because of the standardizationand the mandates from the top
(10:13):
down that pile up on a teacher'sdesk or in a teacher's life and
they can't reach the individualneeds of the child and so they
start micro-schooling in thesevery small environments, which
we will have like one to 12 orone to 10, we'll have one
teacher to like 10 or eightchildren, depending what our
(10:33):
enrollment looks like.
So you can meet thoseindividual needs of what the
child, their interest and thenalso their skill set.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
Okay, you mentioned earlier or at least alluded to
the fact that Kentucky is wasn'tyour word, but I guess it's my
word homeschool friendly, youknow in terms of you know.
I just wonder, like aboutIndiana and Ohio, those
(11:05):
particular you know, since we're, so we're 10 minutes from each
of those states, you know.
So how does Kentucky rankcompared to Indiana and Ohio in
terms of being homeschoolfriendly?
Speaker 3 (11:17):
Well, I would say pretty equal.
I mean all 50 states are.
It is free and easy tohomeschool.
It's I don't know the exactdate but around 1993 or 94, we'd
have to research that that'swhen it became legal in all 50
states to homeschool yourchildren.
So it's pretty easy to to usein alternative education spaces.
(11:52):
So the EdChoice movement is alittle bit larger in those
states and obviously in Kentuckyit's not grown that movement
for dollars to follow studentsand parents to get to choose
where their educational dollarsgo.
We don't really have that here.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
But as far as homeschooling it's probably
similar in all of those threestates of homeschooling as it
relates to, say, maybe childrenthat are on the spectrum, is
(12:35):
that a whole different ballgamein terms of what states will or
will not allow or is it up tothe parents?
Speaker 3 (12:38):
Oh yeah, actually, one of my children we have
special needs my 19 year olddaughter.
There's many, many specialneeds children do really well
with homeschooling because ofthe less pressured environment
and it's less stimulating.
Maybe they can move at theirown pace.
(12:59):
But at the same time, parentsreally could use resources like
specialized tutoring for thesechildren or other things like
that.
So in Indiana, for example,there are state funds that go to
families who need specialtutoring for it, like dyslexia
(13:21):
or autism.
They need differentenvironments for their child to
learn in.
So they do have funding forparents to use for those
services, which is wonderful forthose families.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
Okay, well, you mentioned seven children before.
So let's transition, let'spivot to talk about your family.
You've got a husband, you'vegot children.
What does that hectic life looklike with seven kids and also
(14:01):
trying to run this program?
Do you guys have time to justdecompress and get away and go
do fun things?
Speaker 3 (14:08):
To breathe?
No, we do not.
No, I don't.
My friend posted a book thatshe said she's a fellow micro
school founder and she said I'mgoing to read this book before
summer.
And I posted and said you havetime to read?
How do you read?
I do not have time to read.
Good question, I justpersonally I do try to have an
(14:31):
hour of devotional timepersonally for myself and I try
to at least exercise one hour aday, taking walks out in nature,
walking our dog.
So, yes, it is challenging.
Any business owner out thereI'm sure would say, especially
startup, which is where we are.
We're in the startup phase.
(14:52):
Yes, it's challenging, we arebusy.
We have two boys that playbaseball.
One just got finished withtravel ball.
So any travel ball play momsout there know that that is
hectic.
So I'm doing we have to getthere an hour early.
I'm doing business while I'mwaiting for the ball game to
start.
So, yes, that it is.
(15:14):
And we have 11 grandchildrenactually too, and most of seven
of them live close.
So we are busy.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
Yes, All right.
Well, yeah, I mean, just whenyou say travel ball, just you
know, knowing what goes intothat, that alone leaves you very
little time.
It's true leaves you verylittle time.
So it's true, and I alwaysthink too, you know, if you've
got children being homeschooledby mom, I've always wondered,
(15:47):
like how blurry that line can bebetween mom and teacher.
Do you ever turn one fully offversus the other?
That's got to be tough to do.
Speaker 3 (15:56):
I think when you first became a new homeschooling
parent, you do feel really oddabout it and you, you, you're
developing your relationshipwith your young children and I
think over time it just becomesmore blended where you are an
educating parent.
So, just as like dad mightteach, come out to the car and
(16:22):
let's learn to, you know, changethe oil or the tires.
Or just a mother saying, cometo the kitchen, let's learn to
bake bread or cook cookies orsomething, so I think that you
just become a teaching parent.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
Okay, that's a great explanation.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
Yes, I think that you just become a teaching parent.
Okay, that's a greatexplanation yes, I think you do.
And then you're alwaysmentoring your children.
You're always guiding them asfar as what their interests are,
what books they're interestedin, what classes, so you just
become more comfortable at it,okay.
Speaker 2 (16:55):
I was always amazed when I was in my young adult
years how many of my friendsdidn't know how to iron a shirt,
certainly, or change a tire orwhatever.
So that's a you know a teachingparent, you know an educating
parent.
That's a great.
That's a great way to look atit, because in traditional
(17:18):
schools you're doing yourstudies and then you come home
and I don't know, maybe you justplay an Xbox or whatever.
But if you're kind of immersedin the homeschool type of
mindset, I love that, thatyou're actually being able to
build into this non-traditionalcurriculum some of the things
(17:38):
that not enough kids today knowhow to do, whatever that might
be.
Speaker 3 (17:42):
Yeah, exactly, and that is that is what most
homeschooling families do, andthat is actually what the, the
micro school movement, is abouttoo, is looking at that child
holistically and building in alot of the practical skills,
soft skills, that people need inbusiness.
A lot of those skills are builtinto the program, especially
(18:05):
because many micro-schoolingcenters are following a
project-based learning mode andmodel now, mode model now.
So the children or the studentsare doing projects that
incorporate collaboration,building, planning,
(18:25):
presentations and then aresearch all in one.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
Okay, so you've been at this for a year-ish, you know
like you're kind of in thestartup phase, as you mentioned.
Is there anything, since youknow we're here right now and
this podcast is going to go outand you know we'll put it out
there as best we can to get asmany ears on it as possible, is
there anything that you want thecommunity to know or any help
(18:51):
that you would like?
Or just in terms of buildingawareness?
What is your message to thecommunity that's listening to
this?
Speaker 3 (18:59):
Oh, that's a great question.
So well, that's a lot.
So I would say the message isthat we are in Union, Kentucky,
we are open, this very specialchildhood for your child that
(19:19):
incorporates the core subjectsof math and reading that we all
want our children to progress in, but also so much more.
We say that we want to keep thewonder in your child's eyes and
we also consider ourselves alove of learning center.
So we want children to come tous with the spark that all
(19:40):
children have and we either wantto keep that spark of curiosity
or recultivate that spark inthose children who have lost it.
So we have spots available.
We will have two teachers.
We're especially looking forages eight to 12, but we still
are accepting all ages and wewould just be excited to talk to
(20:03):
parents and share more of ourvision of what we do offer the
community and then what otherpeople offer, if those families
are looking for othereducational environments for
their family.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
So you said there are chairs available in the program
in the classroom.
How many, like I guess?
Where I'm going is, can aprogram max out, or do you just
keep accommodating you just kindof?
You know, grow as necessary.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
Well, micro-school schooling is very organic.
It's very interesting becausecart before the forest type of
thing we can go find reallyawesome teachers.
But we need students because weare private pay.
We are not government funded,we are not church funded.
We, we are paid.
It's like the parents cometogether and the parents, all of
(20:59):
us together, pay these teachersto do this service for us.
So what if I go find a bunch ofstudents with no teacher?
That couldn't work.
And if I go find severalteachers but no students?
That couldn't work.
So we're just gently going backand forth with finding the
teachers, finding the students.
So, yeah, we would max outbecause we want to keep the
(21:22):
student-teacher ratio.
We want it to be small, so it'sintimate and cozy and the
teachers really get to know thestudents and they can do
projects and topics based onthose students' interests.
So we are keeping right nowlike a 12 student to one teacher
(21:42):
max.
We do actually have classroomspace though.
So it's exciting to know thatwhen more families find us and
know that this is an option, wedo have some extra space to
start more classes, or somepeople call them pods for those
families.
(22:02):
So it's kind of exciting toknow that we can expand.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
There are, say, former educators out there, or
current or just parents that canappreciate what you're trying
to do with this program.
They may not have kids thatthey're wanting to place in the
program, but are there ways thatthey can help?
I mean, do you need supplies?
What type of things?
Yes, since you asked.
Speaker 3 (22:27):
We are starting a fundraiser right now because
last year we were so blessed tohave a few nice donations that
really outfitted one of ourclassrooms with, like some
shelving and some rugs just thebasic things you need to open a
classroom space.
Like I said, we're just parentswho are funding this for our
(22:50):
children, so we would lovedonations.
We are not a nonprofit at thistime, so that just to clarify
that, but we do love donations.
We are not a nonprofit at thistime.
So just to clarify that.
But we do love donations.
People can donate items.
We have wishlists.
They can certainly donate cash.
That will be every dollar spent.
We have these new classroomsthat we're just opening up, this
(23:13):
space, this new space, and wedefinitely need to outfit them
so that we can have delightfulspaces for the children.
So, yes, we would lovedonations and, as far as other
teachers, I do also teachteachers about micro schooling.
In fact, one of our newteachers that is new to us just
(23:34):
left a local school system of 22years and she never knew about
micro schooling until she foundus and she's super excited
because she can individualizeinstruction like she wants and
differentiate instruction likeshe's trained in.
So she's really excited to bewith us Other teachers in the
(23:55):
future.
I do have a few more teachersthat would love to be with us
Other teachers in the future.
I do have a few more teachersthat would love to teach with us
.
I'm sure that more and moreteachers, when they know that we
have freedom, they get to usetheir creativity.
They get to do all the training, all the fun things that
they're trained to do asteachers.
They get to use that in a microschool setting, there's very
(24:18):
few restrictions.
The world is their limit.
They can teach anything.
Speaker 2 (24:25):
Well, you're very full of knowledge, full of
passion on the subject.
I want to make sure that peopleknow when you say we're in
Union, where is thatspecifically?
Speaker 3 (24:38):
Certainly, I don't even have the address memorized,
which I should, but we meet atUnion Presbyterian Church.
We rent space there.
They had an old preschoolthat's unused right now, so we
are going to be moving into thatspace.
We're excited about that.
That's where we are, acrossfrom St Tim's Catholic Church,
(24:59):
next to Ryle High School peopleknow exactly where that is.
Speaker 2 (25:02):
You don't need the address.
Yeah, we'll make sure they know.
Oh oh, you mentioned your emailaddress earlier and you know
laureat worldofwonderingnkycom.
Speaker 3 (25:17):
yes.
Speaker 2 (25:18):
I want to make sure people know how to spell your
name your first name.
Speaker 3 (25:21):
Okay, L-A-U-R-I.
Speaker 2 (25:24):
L-A-U-R-I.
Speaker 3 (25:25):
That's a good question.
People do get that wrong.
It's no big deal, but yes,that's a good question and I'd
love to talk with anyoneinterested in learning about
micro-schooling whether theywant to start one or be a part
(25:45):
of ours.
Speaker 2 (25:46):
Okay, well, that's a great message to end on.
I mean people.
You've given them a lot of foodfor thought, a lot of knowledge
.
I'm sure a lot of people aregoing to be chomping at the bit
to reach out to you.
You've given them many ways todo that, and so let's see if the
community can't get moreinvolved and help you grow, grow
, grow and help those out.
Cool, all right.
Well, that's the end of it.
(26:07):
We've talked for about a halfhour now, and I know it doesn't
seem like it, but when you're aspassionate as you are, time
flies.
Speaker 3 (26:15):
It does.
Yes, and you can have me backif people want to know more.
I would love to come back, soit'd be so fun.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
Anytime you want to come back, you just give me a
call and we'll do it again.
Speaker 3 (26:24):
All right, thank you.
Speaker 2 (26:26):
So that does it for this episode of the Good
Neighbor Podcast.
I'll always tell you be good toyour neighbor Until next time.
See you soon, everybody.
Bye-bye.
Speaker 1 (26:38):
Thanks for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast
Union.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on
the show, go to gnpunioncom.
That's gnpunioncom, or call usat 859-651-8330.
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