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What if the secret to great minds wasn’t found in textbooks, but in questions?

What Do Great Thinkers Have in Common?

Temple Grandin – A world-renowned scientist in animal behavior, she learned best through visual thinking and hands-on problem solving. She often says, “I think in pictures,” and believes we need more “doers” who tinker, fix, and explore.

Neil deGrasse Tyson – He was given a telescope at a young age and the freedom to explore the sky. He emphasizes passion-based learning: “Let kids explore what they’re curious about and they’ll learn naturally.”

Marie Curie– grew up in Poland where girls weren’t allowed to attend university, so she joined a secret underground school and studied science with passion and persistence. Her curiosity, encouraged by her father and fueled by self-directed learning, led her to become the first person to win two Nobel Prizes.

Steve Wozniak (co-founder of Apple) – Grew up dismantling and building electronics. He often talked about how play with tech was his real education.

Henry Ford– He didn’t invent the car, but he revolutionized how cars were made by creating the moving assembly line. His genius was in breaking big problems into simple steps and always asking how to make things better.

These minds didn’t come from strict curriculums—they came from curiosity, questions, mistakes, and experimentation.

Our Learning Doesn’t Follow a Script—It Follows a Question

We didn’t plan to learn about circuits. We just got a new thermostat.

It Started With a Thermostat

We didn’t plan to learn about electronics.

We were just replacing an old thermostat. My husband pulled it off the wall, and there it was—this little square of wires, metal, and mystery. My kids immediately gathered around like it was a treasure chest.

“Can we take it apart?”

That one question led us down a weeks-long rabbit hole of discovery. We carefully opened it up, examined every piece, and wondered what each part did. Then came the next question: “What is a circuit board?” Which turned into: “How do circuits work?” And: “Can we build one ourselves?”

So, we got a soldering kit.

We started tinkering—carefully melting tiny dots of metal, learning through trial and (lots of) error. Then one day, my six-year-old found a broken light-up toy gun and asked, “Can we fix it?” We opened it up, traced the circuit, and to both our surprise and delight—we brought it back to life.

That’s when they asked, “What else could we fix?” And just like that, we were learning not just about electronics, but about persistence, problem-solving and confidence.

No workbook. No unit study. Just a broken thermostat and a question.

This is powerful: it shows that learning isn’t linear—it spirals, deepens, and builds naturally when it comes from within.

What If This Is the Best Education?

This way of homeschooling might feel a little “off the beaten path,” but it’s actually how some of the most brilliant minds have always learned—by exploring, experimenting, and following their questions. It may not look traditional, but it builds something far deeper than memorization:

Curiosity, the root of innovation.

Critical thinking, the heart of problem-solving.

Confidence, to try, fail, and try again.

Creativity, to see new connections.

Real understanding, not just the right answers.

It’s not about checking boxes—it’s about raising thinkers who know how to learn for life.

How to Encourage Great Thinking at Home

Say yes to questions. Let curiosity derail your plan for the day.

Make time to tinker. Don’t rush the learning process—it might take weeks.

Find the library section for the topic you are researching- you will stumble upon countless unexpected surprises.

Celebrate failure—it means they’re trying hard things. Talk through what you’ve learned as a family.

The Secret Is You’re Already Doing It

If you’re letting your child lead, chase curiosity, and tinker freely—you’re not just teaching, you’re cultivating greatness.

How are you cultivating curiosity and genius in your home? Share one small way your child explored, asked questions, or lit up while learning this week—I’d love to hear!