Getting started with Modular Learning

Written By Manisha Snoyer (co-founder of Modulo)

Modular Learning can be a supplement or a replacement to school. When a family does Modular Learning, it means they have decided to take ownership over their child’s education, choosing from a variety of modules (curriculum, teachers, classes, social groups) to design or enrich their child’s education. A module can include school if that is of benefit to their child’s education and social, emotional and intellectual well-being. Or school can be replaced with other modules such as trips to the library, a well-designed curriculum led by a teacher, parent or childcare provider a learning pod or a compilation of classes.

It may feel like modular learning can take a lot of work, but it is quite simple in practice. There are many different ways to do modular learning, but what I’ve observed most parents start with is 1) a core curriculum or learning experience 2) a math supplement 3) a supportive group of families. 4) lots of time and space for children to direct their own learning. Then, they layer on electives as they discover more about their child’s interest and what learning resources best support and inspire them.

Step 1. Familiarize yourself a little bit with modular learning.

Listening to a podcast or a great book about modular learning is a helpful way to understand concretely how it works, how it fits into developmental psychology and learning theories and get you clear on what you want to get out of this experience.

Here are two we like to get started.

Podcast: Adventures in Free Range Learning by Laura Grace Wheldon
Book: Free to Learn by Peter Gray

Step 2. Choose a core learning resource

Many families (whether or not their children are in school) want to make sure their children are staying up to speed in core subject areas (science, social studies, arts, mathematics, language arts). While it’s not required to follow standard school curriculum, choosing a core learning resource

Step 3. Choose a math supplement
Math is a somewhat specialized subject and we’ve found that resources that cover all subjects don’t necessary cover math well. It’s best to get a tool that was specifically designed to help children with math.

Step 4. If you child doesn’t know how to read, choose a literacy supplement.
Many families just teach their children to read. From there on out, they are completely independent with their learning. If there is one major area that will free up your child’s capacity to learn, it’s knowing how to read. Fortunately, there are a lot of great literacy apps and textbooks to fit any learning style.

Step 5. Find a group

Especially if you’re using modular learning as a replacement to traditional school, it’s very important that you find a community to be part of. Social learning is vital to healthy academic, social and emotional development. It’s easy to make friends for meetups, hangouts, field trips and skill shares if you’re part of a group. If you need help finding a group in your area, we are happy to assist.

Step 6. Create a schedule

Part of the beautiful of Modular learning is you can create your own schedule. However, since so many families ask us what their schedule should be, this is what we’ve seen work with most families.

  • 8-9am: family time. Walk around the neighborhood, read the NY times together, meditate, dance, whatever floats your boat for together time! This period can also be at the end of the day before bedtime if that works better.

  • 9-11am: 1-2 hours of table time working on core knowledge skills when the child is most fresh. This can also be 1-3pm in the afternoon or whenever you feel your child can stay concentrated for a 2 hour block. If the child is under 6, one hour is adequate. For younger children 1 hour is more than adequate and can also include practice with early literacy.

  • 11-11:15: snack break

  • 11:15-12pm: Math practice

  • 12-1pm: Lunch

  • 1-4pm: Free time (electives, classes, community gatherings, mentorships). hangouts, playdates,

  • 4pm onward: Dinner time, family time or something else! It can be fun once a week to watch a documentary together as a family, for example.

Step 7. Leave lots of time for self-directed learning and free play

It’s extremely important, especially in the beginning to give your child space to play, tinker, read or even be bored. It’s through this empty space that they discover their interests and learn to direct their own learning. It they have parents constantly hovering around or planning their schedule, they will miss out on this fundamentally vital part of learning and not develop the skills they need to thrive in a workplace that is increasingly favoring self-reliant individuals, entrepreneurs, self-starters and pioneering thinkers.

Step 8. Choose electives

After your child has had a significant period of uninterrupted free time, it will become clear what their interests are and how they best learn. Now you can have fun connecting them with mentors, choosing classes, apprenticeships, nature days or letting them read alone with a book.

If you’d like help setting this up, finding curriculum, teachers and learning support, the team at Modulo is happy to help! We can guide you every step of the way from learning to read through your child’s high school graduation. Reach out any time and say hello!



Manisha Snoyer (co-founder of Modulo)

For the last 20 years, I’ve taught over 2000 children in 3 countries (of all socio-economic backgrounds). I pioneered an English language program in a conflict region in the Middle East. I’ve worked as a bilingual public school teacher at some of the highest and lowest performing public schools and in all five boroughs of NYC. I’ve tutored 18 subjects in three languages to some of the wealthiest families in NYC, San Francisco and Paris to make up for shortcomings in private schools they were paying up to $60,000 a year to attend.

Since 2015, I’ve helped hundreds of parents start microschools (way before this was a household buzzword). I founded CottageClass, the first marketplace for microschools and learning pods that was part of the Techstars 2018 class. In 2019, I created a virtual learning program to help families through the pandemic, a free online math tutoring program (masteryhour.org), and schoolclosures.org, a hotline developed in collaboration with Twilio and 80 other partners including Khan Academy, Revolution Foods and the Crisis Text Line, that served 100,000 families impacted by school closures.

I’ve climbed trees with children in forest schools in San Francisco, and tested new digital apps with kids in seven countries.

I’ve also coached dozens of families at different stages in their homeschooling journey. Most recently, I founded Modulo with homeschooling dad, best-selling author and tech entrepreneur Eric Ries, to help families curate their children’s education, social and childcare experiences drawing from a diverse array of in-person and online resources.


During the last three years, I’ve devoted much of my time to reviewing and testing secular homeschooling curriculum and other resource. I’ve spent the last three years talking to thousands of secular homeschooling families, and poring over tens of thousands of secular curriculum reviews and testing physical curriculum and digital apps for with hundreds of students to find the highest quality, most engaging, personalized learning materials for every type of learner.

I’ve spoken about homeschooling and modular learning at multiple venues including SXSW EDU, NY Tech Meetup, and on the LiberatedEd podcast.

In 2022, Modulo was one of 8 organizations who were awarded the Bridge Grant from the Vela Education Fund to expand access to homeschooling and modular learning to under-resourced communities.

My experience in education and homeschooling has led me to believe that there is no perfect education for every child, but families have an extraordinary amount of wisdom they can apply to building the perfect education for their individual child.

My goal with Modulo is to make it possible for any family to easily build a customized education that their child will love, and that will empower the whole family to thrive, taking into account, social, emotional and academic needs.

I love to answer questions from parents and receive feedback on how we can improve Modulo, so feel free to reach out anytime! I personally answer all the questions and comments readers leave on my blogs.

In my free time, I like hiking, traveling the world, tasting ceremonial grade matcha, enjoying dark chocolate.

I graduated Summa Cum Laude from Brandeis University with highest honors, with a double degree in French Literature and American Studies and minors in Environmental Studies and Peace & Conflict Studies.

And I love to learn!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/manisha-snoyer-5042298/
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