School: Recent Episodes
Conversations on Learning
Conversations with parents, educators, and thought leaders on how and what our children should learn.
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: schoolconversations@gmail.com.
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 schoolconversations@gmail.com 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
