“The leaves are all dead on the ground, / Save those that the oak is keeping / To ravel them one by one / And let them go scraping and creeping / Out over the crusted snow, / When others are sleeping.” (Our homeschool poem-of-the-week, from Robert Frost, for the end of fall.)
Archives for 2020
📚 BOOKS & LIBRARIES: The Library That Dolly Built
Here’s a happy homeschool books-and-libraries story for the end of the year: this is the 25th anniversary of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program. Since its inception in 1995, the Imagination Library has given more than 150 million books to children around the world.
🔎 HOMESCHOOL RESEARCH & NEWS – December 2020
A December 2020 roundup of some recent academic research and news about home education in the United States and around the world, with links to sources. We have three items this month: Maigida (2020), Rochovská et al. (2020), and Roesminingsih et al. (2020).
🎵 🎄 HOLIDAY MUSIC MONTH: O Little Town of Bethlehem
Invite your students to listen to a number of different performances of this popular carol in a variety of different styles this week, and help them think through their preferences — that’s a great way to encourage their intellectual and artistic development.
🗓 QUICK FRESHES for Homeschool Families – Week of 13 December 2020
Great homeschool teaching ideas and little lessons for the week ahead, including: Geminid meteors, holiday music, polar explorers, seasonal endings, halcyon days, Beethovian birthdays, Ethiopian rivers, a toast to freedom, and more!
🌎 🇺🇸 SUNDAY STATES: Kentucky, Eswatini, Finland, and More
Take a homeschool tour of the U.S. states and the countries of the world with the River Houses. This week: Kentucky, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, and Finland.
🎵 🎄 HOLIDAY MUSIC MONTH: Walla Walla, Wash., an’ Kalamazoo!
“Antelope cantaloupe, ’lope with you!” (A happy homeschool family sing-a-long for Holiday Music Month.)
🌟 STAR BRIGHT: Aldebaran for December
Make the acquaintance of the ancient red giant Aldebaran in the constellation Taurus the Bull this month — one of the brightest stars in the northern hemisphere sky — and make it your homeschool friend for life.
🦅 FRIDAY BIRD FAMILIES: Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers (I)
Come along on our homeschool tour of North American bird families and pick up some great science and natural history teaching ideas along the way. This week: the Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers (Part I).
🎵 🎄 HOLIDAY MUSIC MONTH: Introducing Vince Guaraldi
The American jazz musician Vince Guaraldi (1928–1976) wrote some of the best-loved Christmas music of our time. Why not introduce your students to his wonderful work this month.
🌍 🇪🇷 WEEKLY WORLD HERITAGE: The Modernist City of Asmara in Eritrea
Pay a visit to a World Heritage Site from one of our countries-of-the-week and learn some great homeschool history and geography along the way. This week: the Modernist African City of Asmara in Eritrea.
📚 HOMESCHOOL BOOKS: A New World Almanac for the New 2021 Year
The 2021 edition of the World Almanac and Book of Facts is a one-volume desk encyclopedia that every homeschooling family should have.
🖋 📖 WONDERFUL WORDS: Happy Birthday to Emily Dickinson!
“He ate and drank the precious Words — / His Spirit grew robust.” (Our homeschool poem-of-the-week, from Emily Dickinson, for her birthday.)
🎵 🎄 HOLIDAY MUSIC MONTH: The Holiday Channel from WQXR
If you’d like to fill your homeschool with some beautiful background sounds this season, why not tune in to the 24-hour Holiday Channel from WQXR, the famous classical music radio station in New York City.
🎵 🎄 HOLIDAY MUSIC MONTH: What Sweeter Music
“Dark and dull night, fly hence away, / And give the honor to this day, / That sees December turned to May.” (A modern Christmas masterpiece, with ancient words by Robert Herrick and new music by John Rutter, for Homeschool Holiday Music Month.)
🗓 QUICK FRESHES for Homeschool Families – Week of 6 December 2020
Great homeschool teaching ideas and little lessons for the week ahead, including: Nobel laureates, jazzy tunes, precious words, Geminid meteors, transatlantic transmissions, equatorial rivers, a toast to brave hearts, and more!
🌎 🇺🇸 SUNDAY STATES: Vermont, El Salvador, Estonia, and More
Take a homeschool tour of the U.S. states and the countries of the world with the River Houses. This week: Vermont, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, and Estonia.
🎵 🎄 HOLIDAY MUSIC MONTH: Introducing John Rutter and His Carols
“How do you capture the wind on the water? / How do you count all the stars in the sky? / How can you measure the love of a mother? / Or how can you write down a baby’s first cry?” (Introducing the work of the great modern carol-composer John Rutter, for Homeschool Holiday Music Month.)
🔭 WATCHERS OF THE SKIES – December 2020
A homeschool review of educational wonders to watch for in the northern hemisphere night sky during the month of December 2020.
🦅 FRIDAY BIRD FAMILIES: Skuas, Jaegers, Auks, Murres, and Puffins
Come along on our homeschool tour of North American bird families and pick up some great science and natural history teaching ideas along the way. This week: the Skuas and Jaegers, and the Auks, Murres, and Puffins, two widespread groups of oceanic birds.
📸 PHOTO CHALLENGE – December 2020: “Demolition” and “Allées and Avenues”
Calling all homeschool photographers! The Wikimedia Commons Photo Challenge is a great way for serious homeschool photography students to develop their talents and gain some recognition. This month’s themes are “Demolition” and “Allées and Avenues.” Take a look!
🎵 🎄 HOLIDAY MUSIC MONTH: All Those Christmas Clichés
“I want the tree full of toys and tinsel, / I want the wreath on the red front door, / I want the elves in the yard and each sentimental card / Dripping glitter on the floor.” (The great Nancy LaMott wishes you a Merry Christmas.)
🌎 🇩🇴 WEEKLY WORLD HERITAGE: Colonial Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic
Pay a visit to a World Heritage Site from one of our countries-of-the-week and learn some great homeschool history and geography along the way. This week: the Colonial City of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.
🖋 🗡 WONDERFUL WORDS: The Hunter Home From the Hill
“’Tis evening on the moorland free, / The starlit wave is still: / Home is the sailor from the sea, / The hunter from the hill.” (Our homeschool poem-of-the-week, from A.E. Housman, for the beginning of Orion Term.)
🎵 🎄 HOLIDAY MUSIC MONTH IS HERE! Good Morrow, Masters All!
“Past three o’clock, / And a cold frosty morning, / Past three o’clock; / Good morrow, masters all!” (Welcome to Homeschool Holiday Music Month! Enjoy a sprightly late-night carol, and learn the traditional call of the winter watchmen.)
📚 LEARNING THE LIBRARY: The Religious 200s
Explore your local library and the whole universe of knowledge with our annual homeschool tour of the Dewey Decimal System. This month: The Religious 200s.
🗓 🎅 🎄 HAPPY HOMESCHOOL DECEMBER from the River Houses!
It’s the first day of December 2020! Here are some little lessons, educational opportunities, and teaching traditions to look for in the homeschool month ahead.