School

Matt Hobbs is a science teacher in the District of Colombia. We discussed what inspired Matt to study and teach science; the importance of keeping kids engaged; the sequence of learning sub-topics within science; recommended science books, podcasts, and museums; and the challenges of navigating a politicized science landscape. To see Matt’s comprehensive list of science ideas/resources/lessons for homeschoolers and after-schoolers, send an email with SCIENCE in the subject line to: [email protected].

Science podcasts:

Huberman Lab

Bret Weinstein’s Dark Horse Podcast

Science podcasts for kids:

Wow in the World

Brains On!

Recommended science books:

Why Science? by James Trefil

Varieties of Scientific Experience by Carl Sagan

When Plague Strikes by James Cross Giblin

Small Steps: The Year I Got Polio by Peg Kehret

Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond

The Story of Science by Joy Hakim

Books that address the changing political/science landscape:

Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt

The Righteous Mind by Johnathan Haidt

The Illusion of Evidence-Based Medicine by Jon Jureidini and Leemon B. McHenry

Anatomy of an Epidemic by Robert Whitaker

Science Museums in the greater D.C. area:

Maryland Science Center in Baltimore, MD

National Air and Space Museum - Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA

National Air and Space Museum in D.C.

National Museum of Natural History

Science documentaries on PBS:

NOVA

Plastic Wars

The Polio Crusade

Vaccines: A Short History of Living Longer

Ken Burns Presents: The Gene

Sinking Cities

The Fabric of the Cosmos

Cancer: The Emperor of all Maladies

COVID-19 related resources:

Latest VAERS data

Panel of 14 experts discuss COVID-19

Dr. Tess Lawrie discusses the data on COVID-19 vaccines and treatments

Nick Grenier is a homeschooling parent and founder of Natural Leaders, an outdoor education program with several locations in Virginia and Maryland, where children build leadership and survival skills alongside their peers, with the help of a trained mentor. We discussed the details of Natural Leaders programs; how children can overcome common challenges by spending more time in nature; recent research showing the quantifiable benefits of being outdoors; mitigating the risks we may face in nature; books to inspire parents and kids to get outside; and how to access nature during extended periods of uncomfortable weather. More information on Natural Leaders is available at naturalleaders.com.

Non-fiction books on outdoor education:

Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv

Vitamin N: The Essential Guide to a Nature-Rich Life by Richard Louv

The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative by Florence Williams

The Lost Art of Reading Nature’s Signs by Tristan Gooley

Play the Forest School Way by Jane Worroll and Peter Houghton

Sharing Nature: Nature Awareness Activities for All Ages by Joseph Cornell

How to Raise a Wild Child by Scott D. Sampson

Survivor Kid: A Practical Guide to Wilderness Survival by Denise Long

The Tracker: The True Story of Tom Brown Jr. by Tom Brown Jr.

Tom Brown’s Field Guide: Nature Observation and Tracking by Tom Brown Jr.

The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben

Fiction books to inspire the love of nature:

The Hatchet by Gary Paulson

My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George

On the Far Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George

Frightful’s Mountain by Jean Craighead George

Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White and Fred Marcellino

Other resources on the great outdoors:

Wilderness Awareness School

Forest Schools in Finland

Tom Brown Jr’s Tracker School

Connecting Today’s Kids With Nature: A Policy Action Plan

Research on the benefits of nature immersion:

Why Nature Is Great For The Brain, From A Neuroscientist

NASA - Schumann Resonance

Improvements in ADHD from time in nature

Relationship between time in nature and children’s cognitive/behavioral development and inattention-hyperactivity symptoms

Access to nature is essential to human health

A potential natural treatment for ADHD

Children with ADHD concentrate better after a walk in the park

Negar Nahidian is a mother, artist, and faculty of art at Georgetown University. We discussed Negar’s inspirations as a child; how to foster creativity and aesthetic awareness; inspiring reads; how Negar deepened her study of watercolor and calligraphy; channeling grief into beauty; being patient while creating art; and not being attached to outcomes, instead focusing on the process. Admire or acquire Negar’s exceptional artwork on her website (n2dezign.net) or on Instagram (n2dezign).

Resources to inspire creativity and aesthetic awareness:

Skillshare

Procreate for the iPad with Apple Pencil

Go: A Kidd’s Guide to Graphic Design by Chip Kidd

The Secret Lives of Color by Kassia St. Clair

Marian Bantjes: Pretty Pictures by Marian Bantjes

I Wonder by Marian Bantjes

Design Matters with Debbie Millman

Negar’s favorite art museums in D.C. and New York:

Hirshhorn Museum

National Gallery of Art

MoMA

Museum of Arts and Design

Kathryn Bean is a reading specialist certified in the Barton Reading and Spelling System with over 20 years of teaching experience. We discussed resources to help individuals with different reading abilities. Please email [email protected] if you are interested in contacting Kathryn Bean directly for more information. 

Susan Barton websites:

https://www.dys-add.com

https://bartonreading.com

Websites for young readers with different abilities:

https://www.starfall.com/h/

https://www.readingrockets.org/

http://www.ldonline.org/

https://www.bookshare.org

Audible

Website to determine an individual’s likelihood for dyslexia:

https://neurolearning.com/

Books for families of children with different reading abilities:

The Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease

The Dyslexic Advantage: Unlocking the Hidden Potential of the Dyslexic Brain by Brock L. Eide, M.D., M.A. and Fernette F. Eide, M.D.

The Gift of Dyslexia: Why Some of the Smartest People Can't Read...and How They Can Learn by Ronald D. Davis, Eldon M. Braun

Mindy Cabrera discusses her family's approach to homeschooling. We discussed assessing options as homeschoolers; classical education; kanban boards and calendars to help keep track of daily/weekly tasks and activities; math resources; helpful parenting books; and the importance of instilling life skills.

Classical education resources:

Classical Conversations 

The Well-Trained Mind

Michael Clay Thompson

Story of the World 

Jim Weiss 

Organizational tools:

Kanban boards

Reuasable Sticky Notes

White boards

Math resources:

Khan Academy 

Saxon Math 

Singapore Math 

Institute for Math and Computer Science (IMACS) - Mention this podcast (School: Conversations on Learning) to receive a $50 discount on enrollment.

Art of Problem Solving (AoPS)

Beast Academy

Elements of Mathematics Foundations (EMF)

G is for Googol

The Adventures of Penrose the Mathematical Cat

Sir Cumference

Montessori math beads

Critical Thinking Company Mathematical Reasoning

Critical Thinking Company Balance Benders

Critical Thinking Company Mind Benders

Critical Thinking Company Pattern Explorer

Perplexors

Parenting Books:

The Collapse of Parenting by Leonard Sax

The Self-Driven Child by William Stixrud, PhD & Ned Johnson

Raising Human Beings by Ross W. Greene, PhD

Raising a Secure Child by Kent Hoffman, Glen Cooper, & Bert Powell

Getting kids involved in cooking:

Y shaped peelers

Le Creuset skillet - non-toxic pans to replace Teflon (don’t skimp on the oil!)

Kid-safe knives