Welcome to the American School Blog!
Since 2006, the American School Blog has kept students, parents and school officials up to date on what’s happening at American School. Below are our most recent blog posts. Visit the American School Blog Archive to read noteworthy blogs from over the years.
Today’s Anniversary: The California Gold Rush
It’s January 24, and the California Gold Rush began on this date in 1848. James Marshall found gold at Sutter’s Mill in Coloma, California and soon thereafter more than 300,000 people traveled west to see if they could strike gold of their own. Today’s anniversary...
Today’s Birthday: John Hancock
It’s January 23, and John Hancock was born on this date in 1737. His signature is the most prominent on the Declaration of Independence and so today’s blog is going to talk about handwriting. We know that many students take our online middle school courses or online...
American School Selected As Best Homeschool Curriculum and Resources Award Winner
American School was recently earned a spot on HowToHomeschool.com’s Best Homeschool Curriculum and Resources List for 2025-2026. We are grateful for this honor which proves that many people believe we offer outstanding homeschool courses which students may take to...
Today’s Birthday: Karl Wallenda
It’s January 21, and circus performer Karl Wallenda was born on this date in 1905. He founded a group of high-wire artists that came to be known as the Flying Wallendas, and many members of the Flying Wallendas were American School students. American School has a...
American School Closed Monday, January 20, 2025
American School will be closed on Monday, January 20. We will reopen with regular business hours on Tuesday, January 21, and look forward to assisting you with your accredited middle school program, accredited high school program or independent study program at that...
Presidential Inauguration Set For January 20
It’s January 16, and four days from now the 47th President of the United States will be inaugurated on the west front of the United States Capitol. American School remains neutral on all political matters but chose to discuss the inauguration in today’s blog because...
Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
It’s January 15, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on this date in 1929. He was assassinated in 1968 but left behind a legacy of civil rights that continues today. A visit to the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Park and Preservation District’s...
Today’s Birthday: Mark Antony
It’s January 14, and ancient Roman statesman Mark Antony was born on this date in 83 B.C. In William Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar, Mark Antony utters the famous line, “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears,” and so today’s blog is going to talk about...
Today’s Anniversary: The National Geographic Society
It’s January 13, and the National Geographic Society was founded on this date in 1888. As you might imagine, today seems like a great day to talk about American School’s geography courses. Social Studies 6 is one of our accredited middle school courses and is...
Today’s Anniversary: Common Sense
It’s January 10, and Thomas Paine published his famous pamphlet Common Sense on this date in 1776. The pamphlet promoted American independence from Great Britain and is one of the most famous documents of the Revolutionary War era. Today’s blog is going to offer...
Today’s Anniversary: Connecticut
It’s January 9, and Connecticut became a state on this date in 1788. Connecticut has a few nicknames but one of them is The Land of Steady Habits. That unusual nickname got us thinking about steady habits and study habits, and it’s important for American School...
Remembering Jimmy Carter
Today our blog pauses to remember Jimmy Carter on the day before his state funeral. To learn more about the 39th President of the United States, we invite you to visit the Jimmy Carter Tribute web site, the Carter Center web site, the Jimmy Carter Presidential...
Today’s Birthday: Zora Neale Hurston
It’s January 7, and African-American author Zora Neale Hurston was born on this date in 1891. When our self-published Writing 1 and Writing 2 courses were in production, the author wanted to include examples of excellent writing by authors of diverse backgrounds. ...
Today’s Anniversary: New Mexico
It’s January 6, and New Mexico became a state on this date in 1912. New Mexico’s motto is It Grows as It Goes, and that motto seems to fit perfectly with American School’s mission of educating students in grades 6-12. Our homeschool courses allow students to grow in...
Today’s Anniversary: Alaska
It’s January 3, and Alaska became a state on this date in 1959. American School serves many students in Alaska, and many of them choose to homeschool with us because they live in remote places and would have to travel long distances to attend a traditional school. ...
Today’s Anniversary: Georgia
It’s January 2, and Georgia became a state on this date in 1788. Today is our first blog of 2025 and you’re correct in thinking we have Georgia on our mind since the state is celebrating an anniversary today. Each year Georgia rings in the new year with a ceremonial...
American School Closed Monday, December 23, 2024 through Wednesday, January 1, 2025
American School will be closed Monday, December 23, 2024, through Wednesday, January 1, 2025. Phone calls and emails received after today will not receive replies until we reopen with regular business hours on Thursday, January 2. We look forward to assisting you...
Today’s Anniversary: Valley Forge
It’s December 19, and on this date in 1777, George Washington and his American Revolution soldiers went into winter encampment at Valley Forge in Pennsylvania. Today’s anniversary got us thinking about the first day of winter, which occurs this Saturday. Winter is a...
Today’s Anniversary: New Jersey
It’s December 18, and New Jersey became a state on this date in 1787. The motto of New Jersey is Liberty and Prosperity and since we talked about liberty and freedom in our blog about Pennsylvania last week, today’s blog is going to focus on prosperity. Studies have...
American School Celebrates 127th Anniversary
It’s December 17, and today American School is celebrating its 127th anniversary as a leading distance education middle school and distance education high school. On days like today we think of our founder, R.T. Miller, and the people who were American School’s first...
American School Closing Early Tuesday, December 17, 2024
American School will be closing at 12 noon on Tuesday, December 17, for a staff event. We will reopen with regular business hours on Wednesday, December 18, and look forward to assisting you with your accredited middle school program, accredited high school program...
Online Courses Log-In Issues
Today's blog announces that issues with logging in to online middle school courses and online high school courses have been solved. American School apologizes for any frustration this situation caused students in our accredited middle school program, accredited high...
Today’s Anniversary: Pennsylvania
It’s December 12, and Pennsylvania became a state on this date in 1787. Pennsylvania is known for many things including the Liberty Bell in downtown Philadelphia. The concept of liberty got us thinking about the liberty and freedom that students have after they...
Today’s Anniversary: Indiana
It’s December 11, and Indiana became a state on this date in 1816. Indiana is an important state to those of us who work at American School because many of us call the Hoosier State home. American School is located in Lansing, Illinois, a far south suburb of Chicago...
Today’s Anniversary: Mississippi
It’s December 10, and Mississippi became a state on this date in 1817. Mississippi’s best-known nickname is the Magnolia State because a large number of those trees are native to the state, but sometimes Mississippi is known as the Hospitality State. It’s this...