Classical Et Cetera

"There once was a boy named Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it." These words from C.S. Lewis's work Voyage of the Dawn Treader open today's podcast and set the stage for a discussion of what mice, dragons, and voyages can teach us about Classical Education. Join the table in wondering at Reepicheep's nobility, Eustace's journey from man to dragon to man, and the journey of the Dawn Treader. And, if you watch to the end, you'll hear about each of our favorite islands from the book. Don't miss it!

Whole word reading method vs phonics. In the world of language education, Phonics is simply the best way to teach students how to read, write, spell, and speak. Its traditional approach stands the tests of time and science, and wins over all other language comprehension programs. The whole word learning approach is misguided, and it betrays both how broken the American school system has become and why Common Core learning is a disaster for U.S. students. What do we think? We think you should use phonics as the standard for reading and language. The alternative is using the wrong system that might lead to terrible results. 

In this episode, the table approaches the merits and shortcomings of the various classical education models. Paul, Shane, Tanya, and Martin shed light on the thought process behind Memoria Press's educational model and our view of what makes a educational model classical. You don't want to miss it! Memoria Press exists to promote and impart the classical heritage of the Christian West. Classical Christian education is the cultivation of wisdom and virtue through meditation on the Good, the True, and the Beautiful. This is accomplished in two ways: first, through training in the liberal arts; and secondly, through a familiarity with the great books and the great thinkers of the Western tradition. Memoria Press: Classical, Christian, Complete Learn more at: https://www.memoriapress.com/?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=CETC&utm_campaign=202

What was real about the land of the Chronicles of Narnia? In a nutshell, why should you study C.S. Lewis? What order should we read them in? Let's head into the wardrobe on this episode of Classical Et Cetera! Today Shane and the team talk the Chronicles of Narnia, the titular children's fantasy work from prolific author C. S. Lewis. Why do we read, study, and meditate on this work of Christian fiction? What can we learn from The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe? Should you read The Horse and His Boy first? In a nutshell, CS Lewis' work is an amazing tool to teach the truths of Christ's love and sacrificial work. His books invite us into a world far more real than our own, and teach us the ways that Christ might not be safe, but He is good.

Classroom Management. What a challenge for a first year teacher and a classical veteran alike. Today Shane and the team sit down to talk best ideas and tips for classroom organization and decoration for your coming 2022 - 23 school year.  In need of a classroom setup makeover? The team at Memoria Press have got you covered. We set a high bar for teachers and students heading back to school this year and if we know anything about education, its that a place for learning can change everything.   

Where would classical education be without the roots of British Literature? While American literature stands apart with its own defining characteristics, great swaths of  Today Shane sits down with the classical book club to talk English Literature and their top recommendations and suggestions for classic reading from across the pond.  They'll talk about great books for beginners to read from the UK and how to approach the broad library of classical English literature. We hope you find a great recommendation to take on this year in your reading programs!

The world is filled with great fiction. And in episode two of our mini-series on Great Literature, we take a look at "The Great American Novel". What makes To Kill a Mockingbird so relevant? How does Moby Dick move us? What is it about the green light of The Great Gatsby that changes how we see the rest of American literature? Today Shane and the team sit down for a must - read - book - discussion - and - review of classics from the American literary genre. We hope these recommendations will help you as you begin your journey into the Great Works of the Western World.

From casual comparisons of book lists to debates on the merits of Russian Literature (https://youtu.be/_SeMXQlnln8), we talk about the novels we read a whole lot. In this episode, Ian, Kyle, and Martin join Shane to discuss what makes a novel and why novels are primary in our literature curriculum. As always, you'll get a bunch of laughs as the table talks about all their favorite (and not-so-favorite) facets of various novels!

Today, Shane and the gang sit down to think through the importance of understanding, refining teaching practice and education methods in school, and exploring what a classical concept of pedagogy looks like.  What is pedagogy? How do we put it into practice? How do we even define it?  The question of pedagogy is a critical question and one that requires a strong definition and understanding of its meaning to parents and teachers alike. Of all the types of pedagogy, none stand stronger, in our opinion, than a classical model that puts the teacher up front and the students in seats focused and ready to learn.  Join us for our show today!   

How do we push the bounds of our own understanding? How do we make constant strides in teaching and education to cultivate our method, pedagogy, and educator's philosophy? Today on the show, Shane sits down to talk about the advantages, disadvantages, the imperative and demand for teacher's to cultivate a healthy philosophy of teaching. Today, the panel will discuss examples in historical learning and lecture, take a look at proofs from history, and show how each of them have cultivated a healthy perspective in the field of teaching classical Christian education. A philosophy involves making a personal statement to truth, goodness, and beauty. A statement that we at Memoria Press charge each of our teachers to make to their students and families. --- [CETC: 123 | Micah Moore, Tom Sculthorpe, Mitchell Holley ] ---