The Classical Homeschool

After this episode's discussion about our favorite poetry, The Classical Homeschool Podcast will be ending for both the season and as a whole.  It has been a wild ride and we are so grateful to all you who have listened and connected with us over the last 4 years.

We had the pleasure of chatting with this accomplished guest about poetry and the moral imagination. It was an exciting conversation that leaves the listener with much to consider about how poetry is being read and even where we are not engaging poetry in our lives.

This was an exciting episode for me, Ashley, personally. I love this amazing guest, mostly because we can really dig into the classical tradition and challenge each other with our differing knowledge bases. I hope that you enjoy this interview as much as I did. Erin makes me laugh and brings my heart to Jesus in every conversation. She is sharing her love of Dante with us, so put your ear buds in and get ready to laugh. Side note: It was Melrose Place...not 90210...LOL ... that I was thinking of!

The last chapter of Tending the Heart of Virtue by Vigen Guroian is upon us. Join us for a lively conversation about the horror genre and what redemption means for the broken world. 

Join us as we chat how the elements of literature impact our reading and understanding. How does this form the moral imagination? Listen to find out!

Taking a side street off of the topic of moral imagination, we are discussing Ashley's thesis concerning the idea of a canon of humanity. In the current Classical homeschooling climate, the focus has been on the advancement of Western Culture. However, Classical Education is not tied to an earthly structure but is based on more lofty ideals. Join us while we explore the topic! 

In this chapter of Tending the Heart of Virtue, the focus comes to two of the most universal themes found in literature: love and immortality. Through the classic childhood tales: The Velveteen Rabbit, and The Little Mermaid, Guroian dives into the heart with the topics of love and immortality with a reminder to rest in our Creator's love and mercy. 

Brandy Vencel is the thinker behind the Afterthoughts Blog and host of the Scholé Sisters podcast. She pretty crazy about educational philosophy in general and Charlotte Mason in particular. She wishes she could spend more time studying but her vocation as wife and homeschooling mom of four children ages 10-16 dictates otherwise.  

We got to chat with Cindy Rollins about her take on the moral imagination. Her years as a homeschooling mother, writer, speaker, and reader offer unique insights into the topic of our season: the moral imagination. 

In chapter four of Tending the Heart of Virtue, the focus comes to companions and those that offer us formation. Through the classic childhood tales: The Wind in the Willows, Charlotte's Web, and Bambi, Guroian unpacks the differences between those we call friends and those that mentor us.

Join us and our guest, Heidi White, for a conversation on reading the Bible as literature. Exploring an ancient concept from the Desert Fathers up to the current Classical Education movement, this episode focuses on the need for metaphor in our lives.

In this episode, Jennifer and Ashley discuss the hero's journey and how allegory effects our parenting and internal narrative. 

A discussion straight from the horse's mouth! Join us and Dr. Guroian for a talk on his book, Tending the Heart of Virtue, and the moral imagination. 

We're back and super excited to be bringing you another a year of The Classical Homeschool! In this episode, we discuss the timeline and common references concerning the moral imagination as well as catch up on what has been keeping us busy!  

 It's finally time to dive into the deep end with C.S. Lewis! The introductory episode is being offered for free to all our listeners as a thank you for your support and for your grace. So, grab your copies of The Four Loves and Till We Have Faces and, perhaps, even an adult beverage. We are ending the registration on May 18th, snap up the opportunity to hang with us and the big deal, Lewis, this summer! Also, feel free to join our discussion group on Facebook to talk about the works with others that are reading.

This is our last episode of the season, and we get to wrap up with John Hodges from The Center of Western Studies . The Center of Western Studies also has a podcast, From the Center! If you would like to hear more of John Hodges talk check out the Circe Institute and Paideia Fellowship.  In this episode, we start the journey towards the moral imagination which will be the topic for season four. If you have any questions or topics you want covered concerning the moral imagination, drop us a line!

Join us for a lively interview on Erasmus and his contribution to the Great Tradition. 

Welcome to Season 3 of The Classical Homeschool Podcast. At the Classical Homeschool Podcast, our heart is to take on the work of wrestling through the, sometimes difficult and philosophical, ideas presented throughout the classical education movement and bring them down to earth, specifically and practically for the classical homeschooling mom. This season we are cross referencing Norms and Nobility (by David Hicks) with The Great Tradition (by Richard Gamble). Hopefully, this journey will be fruitful in understanding the references made by Hicks bringing all of us deeper into the Classical Tradition.

We're back! Thank you for bearing with us through the long unintentional break. Over the holidays, we needed to catch up and recalibrate for the season. We normally air this type episode at the end of the season, but we are bringing it to you today! We are talking about the living books that we love to use in our homeschools. So, leave us a comment here or in the Facebook book group, The Classical Homeschool Podcast Discussion Group with your favorite living books.

If you're looking for some inspiration for your Black Friday, look no further! Cicero and the Great Tradition are here to save the day! Slow down and treat yourself to a conversation about reading good books, living in community, and how self-knowledge can be a necessary part of growing towards God. 

Delve into the works of Aristotle with us in the this episode. Jennifer and I are wrestling through some deeper concepts that govern leisure, music, the tripartite man, and much more. If you are interested, head over to Facebook for The Classical Homeschool Discussion Group. We would love to hear your thoughts and explore these texts deeper with you.

In this episode, we explore a new option for high school students: The Classical Learning Test

Exploring the idea of knowing the Truth and doing the Good, we focus this episode on the great rhetorician, Isocrates. Isocrates frames the student/teacher relationship in terms of forming an adult. We also talk about the differences in approaches between Plato and Isocrates and why they are both valuable. 

This season we are cross referencing Norms and Nobility (by David Hicks) with The Great Tradition (by Richard Gamble). Hopefully, this journey will be fruitful in understanding the references made by Hicks bringing all of us deeper into the Classical Tradition. The name of Plato and Socrates are linked not only to one another but to the classical tradition. In this episode, we explore how virtue is awakened in the soul while comparing and contrasting the primary source (The Great Tradition) and the references (Norms and Nobility).  The name of Plato and Socrates are linked not only to one another but to the classical tradition. In this episode, we explore how virtue is awakened in the soul while comparing and contrasting the primary source (The Great Tradition) and the references (Norms and Nobility). 

Welcome to Season 3 of The Classical Homeschool Podcast. At the Classical Homeschool Podcast, our heart is to take on the work of wrestling through the, sometimes difficult and philosophical, ideas presented throughout the classical education movement and bring them down to earth, specifically and practically for the classical homeschooling mom. This season we are cross referencing Norms and Nobility (by David Hicks) with The Great Tradition (by Richard Gamble). Hopefully, this journey will be fruitful in understanding the references made by Hicks bringing all of us deeper into the Classical Tradition. Richard M. Gamble is Professor of History and Anna Margaret Ross Alexander Professor of History and Politics at Hillsdale College. In addition to The Great Tradition, his publications focus on American religion, war, and culture. He serves on the editorial boards of Modern Age, Humanitas, and the American Conservative. You can learn more about Richard Gamble and his works on is Amazon author page and his Hillsdale College page.

This episode focuses on Jennifer and I's journey with literature. This list is not exhaustive or indicative of any one way to enter into the habit of reading. The books mentioned in the episode have inspired us over time and threw our souls into the perception of Truth.  

Matt Bianco is the director of The Lost Tools of Writing for the CiRCE Institute, where he also serves as a mentor in the CiRCE apprenticeship program. A homeschooling father of three, he graduated his oldest two sons, the eldest of which is attending St. John’s College in Annapolis, MD. His second child is attending Belmont Abbey College in Charlotte, NC, and his youngest (and only daughter) is a high school junior. He is married to his altogether lovely, high school sweetheart, Patty. He is the author of Letters to My Sons: A Humane Vision for Human Relationships.

Gregory Wilbur is Chief Musician at Cornerstone Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Franklin, TN. In addition to his work at the church, Greg has taught for more than 20 years in classical schools and currently serves as Dean and Senior Fellow of New College Franklin—a Christian liberal arts college that he helped to start. He earned his Masters in Music Composition at the University of Alabama.

The liberal art of geometry is more than angles, shapes, and high school classrooms. In this episode, we are discussing the importance of deductive thinking and how they prepare the student for the more abstract studies of the liberal arts of harmony and astronomy.

Welcome to the Quadrivium! This four-fold path opens the student to the mathematical tools of truth perception. In this episode, we begin with the first mathematical liberal art of arithmetic; the study of arithmetic explores the discrete quantity.

A discussion on the great books with Angelina Stanford. Known for her ability to be both scholarly and entertaining, Angelina has presented papers at the College English Association Conference, the Conference on Christianity and Literature, the Circe National Conference, and the Kindred Conference.  She also brings her unique combination of scholarship, humor, and fun to the popular weekly Book Club podcast, Close Reads. Angelina has written for numerous publications and she blogs at circeinstitute.org. She is currently writing a book about her great passion--how to understand every story. Find out more about Angelina and subscribe to her mailing list at angelinastanford.com.  

We start this episode with a discussion about the larger picture of what rhetoric means to the person as a whole and in context with the other liberal arts of the Trivium. We move onto how to hone the skills and knowledge of the art of rhetoric in community. As a fun note, we talk about how scholé and lectio divina fit into the art of rhetoric. In this episode, we wanted you all to be refreshed in your search for the Truth, goodness, and beauty before we move onto the Quadrivium.

Welcome back! On this episode of The Classical Homeschool Podcast, we are interviewing Paul Kortepeter, the author of Classical Academic Press' Writing and Rhetoric Program. Grab a cup or mug of your favorite beverage, and enjoy the discussion.

Welcome to The Classical Homeschool Podcast. At the Classical Homeschool Podcast, our heart is to take on the work of wrestling through the, sometimes difficult and philosophical, ideas presented throughout the classical education movement and bring them down to earth, specifically and practically for the classical homeschooling mom. In this episode, we are bringing some lively and entertaining conversation about the liberal art of logic/dialectic to the table. We discuss the definition of logic, the different ways to study logic, and how to practice the skill of logic in the home. To get a copy of the logic worksheet fill out the form below, and you'll receive your worksheet via email. "Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thessalonians 5:23 ESV

In this episode, we explore the liberal art of Grammar. We explore how memory, naming, and reading are interwoven into this liberal art.  We prepared a worksheet for you to print out, download, and read over that will hopefully bless you on your journey through classical education.

Welcome to The Classical Homeschool Podcast. At the Classical Homeschool Podcast, our heart is to take on the work of wrestling through the, sometimes difficult and philosophical, ideas presented throughout the classical education movement and bring them down to earth, specifically and practically for the classical homeschooling mom. Welcome back! The Classical Homeschool Podcast is starting off season 2 with a bang. Jennifer and Ashley had the opportunity to sit down with series editor, David Diener, for Classical Academic Press' Giants in the History of Education. Mr. Diener introduces Plato, his principles, his biography, and his importance in this episode.

Welcome to The Classical Homeschool Podcast. At the Classical Homeschool Podcast, our heart is to take on the work of wrestling through the, sometimes difficult and philosophical, ideas presented throughout the classical education movement and bring them down to earth, specifically and practically for the classical homeschooling mom. First of all, thank you dear listeners for an amazing first season of The Classical Homeschool Podcast. Jennifer and I appreciate the comments, the questions, the reviews, and most of all the love received. In this season finale episode, we talk about the books that have been the most influential in our journey in the Classical Tradition.

This week, the topic of assessment and how it fits into classical education and our homeschools. In this episode, the homeschooling mom can find what is assessment and how we can assess our students. Assessment is more than a simple exam; it is a discernment of where our students are in the growth of virtue and the liberal arts. Assessment is a positive experience for our students it allows them to learn how to discern and self-edit. Hopefully, this episode will offer you a perspective of assessment that blesses you and your homeschool.

Welcome to The Classical Homeschool Podcast. At the Classical Homeschool Podcast, our heart is to take on the work of wrestling through the, sometimes difficult and philosophical, ideas presented throughout the classical education movement and bring them down to earth, specifically and practically for the classical homeschooling mom. On this episode, Jennifer and Ashley continue to expand on how the Christian Classical Tradition elevates our homeschools from the purely utilitarian to the pursuit of wisdom and integration. As a homeschool mother it can be confusing to live out our roles as a mother and a teacher. Are those two roles separate? How are they connected? From whom does our authority come? How do we build trust and piety in our homeschools? Jennifer and Ashley work to stress that teacher, even the homeschool mom, is a rhetorician. Meaning that as mothers, we are the introductions to the Truth for our children. Jennifer gives a fabulous example of how to engage with your students and children by asking Ashley some impromptu questions about Anna Karenina. Hopefully, this episode will bless you with some answers or inspirations to cultivate the attitude of scholarly stewardship in your life. Enjoy the show!

Welcome to The Classical Homeschool Podcast. At the Classical Homeschool Podcast, our heart is to take on the work of wrestling through the, sometimes difficult and philosophical, ideas presented throughout the classical education movement and bring them down to earth, specifically and practically for the classical homeschooling mom. This week Jennifer and Ashley explore how the Christian Classical Tradition elevates the curriculum from just the simple material objects we use to engage our students. The curriculum is the course we follow, the attitudes we have, and how much harmony is cultivated between the logos and mythos. Jennifer and Ashley discuss the logo-centric curriculum vs. the content driven curriculum. Hopefully, this episode can relieve some of the anxiety when choosing the materials for your homeschool. Enjoy the show!

Welcome to The Classical Homeschool Podcast. At the Classical Homeschool Podcast, our heart is to take on the work of wrestling through the, sometimes difficult and philosophical, ideas presented throughout the classical education movement and bring them down to earth, specifically and practically for the classical homeschooling mom. Join us this week for a discussion on how the Christian Classical Tradition elevates the student to the whole man through the development of cosmic obligation, moral imagination, and the cultivation of truth perception. Jennifer and Ashley discuss how man is created in the Divine Image and the responsibilities that that Image lays upon us as followers of Christ. This episode is a wrestling of what it means to do what one ought to do for the love of Christ and what one wants to do for the love of himself. Enjoy the show!

Welcome to The Classical Homeschool Podcast. At the Classical Homeschool Podcast, our heart is to take on the work of wrestling through the, sometimes difficult and philosophical, ideas presented throughout the classical education movement and bring them down to earth, specifically and practically for the classical homeschooling mom. In our last episode of the week, Jennifer shares her educational metaphor, the homeschool as a great story. This fun conversation not only gives the personal metaphor of Jennifer but also how she formed her course, The 5 Elements of Classical Homeschooling.

Welcome to The Classical Homeschool Podcast. At the Classical Homeschool Podcast, our heart is to take on the work of wrestling through the, sometimes difficult and philosophical, ideas presented throughout the classical education movement and bring them down to earth, specifically and practically for the classical homeschooling mom.   In today's episode, Ashley discusses her educational metaphor, the homeschool as monastery. Enjoy the show!

Welcome to The Classical Homeschool Podcast. At the Classical Homeschool Podcast, our heart is to take on the work of wrestling through the, sometimes difficult and philosophical, ideas presented throughout the classical education movement and bring them down to earth, specifically and practically for the classical homeschooling mom. In this episode, we tackle the differences between ancient man and modern man. If you have David Hicks' book, Norms and Nobility, we are talking about passages on the bottom of page 5 and the top of page 6. What are the differences? How do those differences affect our lives? Our homeschools? Our souls? Why do we align ourselves with the ancient man in classical education? As we further examine the attitude of the ancient man and the transformative power of education, we identify how important normative questions are to building the moral foundations of a man as well as the experiences of knowledge that lead man to have relationships with the knowledge. With that relationship in mind, Jennifer and Ashley connect the importance of liturgy for aligning and ordering man to harmony of the created universe. What man does and how man does those things is integral in making the whole man. Lastly, Jennifer and Ashley talk about concrete examples in their homeschools and how to evaluate where liturgies are necessary in our daily lives as well as connecting the natural rhythms God has given man to how man is to experience and participate in His love and generosity. Enjoy the show!

Welcome to The Classical Homeschool Podcast. At the Classical Homeschool Podcast, our heart is to take on the work of wrestling through the, sometimes difficult and philosophical, ideas presented throughout the classical education movement and bring them down to earth, specifically and practically for the classical homeschooling mom. In this episode, we are discussing David Hicks' definition of classical education on page 18, "Classical Education is not, preeminently, of a specific time or place. It stands instead for a spirit of inquiry and a form of instruction concerned with the development of style through language and of conscience through myth. The key word here is inquiry.” The "spirit of inquiry" calls us to evaluate the level of curiosity we have and how we cultivate curiosity with the environment around us. We talk about how our children have helped us to revive our wonder reconnecting us with the foundations of wisdom. The liberal arts help us to engage our wonder and curiosity in order to perceive the good, the True, and the beautiful. The "forms of instruction" help us to develop our perceptions to the order that God has commanded as well as being able to communicate in the language and mathematics to our fellow man. Towards the end we get to the practical points about how we are engaging in the spirit of inquiry and forms of instruction in our homeschools. Enjoy the show!

In the introductory episode of The Classical Homeschool Podcast, Jennifer and Ashley will be answering some questions about themselves, this podcast, and the importance of classical education in their lives.