

Classical Et Cetera
The Memoria Press Podcast Network
Join the educators, authors, publishers, and visionaries at Memoria Press to unpack and understand the world of classical education.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 25, 2024 • 42min
Reading Habits that Foster an Intellectual Life!
Dive into the transformative power of reading and discover how to cultivate a love for literature! Hear personal stories about balancing reading amid life's chaos, and strategies to push your intellectual boundaries. The discussion spans from navigating complex narratives in crime genres to how diverse reading can challenge beliefs and broaden perspectives. Explore the balance of fiction and nonfiction, and learn the importance of intentional habits that foster a fulfilling intellectual life.

Sep 18, 2024 • 46min
Homeschool Tips to Start the School Year!
Need some tips or encouragement for starting your homeschool year strong? Classical Et Cetera is here with some advice!
For a Mom or Dad teaching their student at home, whether beginners or not, first days can be tough. There might be a lot of books and guidelines and lesson plans to sift through, or multiple children that you have to teach at the same time. Sometimes you wonder, "How will I ever get all this done?"
And that's okay! We've written a lot of curriculum for school, and done a lot of homeschooling. In this episode, we'll talk about effective study habits, flexibility and patience, celebrating milestones, and much more. We hope you enjoy this conversation!
Check out our online forum (free!) where Memoria Press families gather to ask questions and share advice. — https://forum.memoriapress.com/
What We're Reading from This Episode:
World Upside Down: Reading Acts in the Graeco-Roman Age —C. Kavin Rowe (Mitchell)
The Gift of Therapy —Irvin D. Yalom (Mitchell)
The Chosen —Chaim Potok (Paul)
The Dark Wives —Ann Cleeves (Tanya)
How to Think like Shakespeare —Scott Newstok (Tanya)

Sep 11, 2024 • 39min
Why Memoria Press Works: Comparing Classical Education to Modern Learning
Memoria Press offers curriculum, support, and structure in education. But how does our method compare to the countless other ways of educating your child?
This week's Classical Et Cetera aims to compare Memoria Press curriculum to the many modern systems of education. How are we different than other homeschool curriculum providers? What sets us apart from the American brick-and-mortar school system?
We discuss the many complexities of homeschooling and the personalized attention it offers, what's wrong with today's public schools in America (and how to reform them), and how Memoria Press offers a structured curriculum and hands-on support for parents. Homeschooling, much like gardening, requires patience and long-term vision. Let us help you with your child's educational growth!
Get Started at Home — https://www.memoriapress.com/homeschool/?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=CETC&utm_campaign=136
Or in your Classical Classroom — https://www.memoriapress.com/schools/?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=CETC&utm_campaign=136
What We're Reading from This Episode:
Portrait of a Lady —Henry James (Martin)
The Lilies of the Field —William Edmund Barrett (Carrie)

Sep 4, 2024 • 41min
How to Learn Latin for Beginners | Practical Advice from Classical Educators
This week's Classical Et Cetera is all about the "how" of Latin 101! Whether you are learning or teaching the language as a beginner, it is never too late to master the basics on your own.
Paul, Tanya, and Martin have years of experience teaching Latin in a classical education. It's not always easy, but their stories prove that anyone can do it! From flashcards and pronunciation videos, to detailed teaching guidelines and lesson plans, Memoria Press offers everything you need to both teach and learn Latin for beginners.
Latin is not just another foreign language to earn for credit, but a key to understanding our roots. It forms the basis for many English words and the Romance languages, helps with basic vocabulary and grammar, teaches precision in thought and speech, and remains highly beneficial for students in scientific, legal, and medical fields. This is not to mention its benefits for succeeding on standardized tests!
Shop Latin on our website — https://www.memoriapress.com/latin/?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=CETC&utm_campaign=135
Take online Latin lessons — https://www.memoriaacademy.com/?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=CETC&utm_campaign=135
What We're Reading from This Episode:
North and South —Elizabeth Gaskell (Martin)
Sharpe’s Tiger —Bernard Cornwell (Paul)
The Last Hope —Susan Elia MacNeal (Tanya)
How to Think like Shakespeare —Scott Newstok (Tanya)

Aug 14, 2024 • 40min
Should We Teach Students How or What to Think? | Classical Education vs. Modern Education
This week's Classical Et Cetera addresses an important question about traditional education: What is the difference between teaching children *how* to think and *what* to think?
Martin Cothran defends his stance that teachers in classical education prioritize teaching students how to think and what to do, contrasting it with modern and public education's focus on what to think (indoctrination) and how to do (vocational training). Our lively discussion highlights the differences in educational philosophies and curriculum that arise from comparing classical and modern teaching methods.
We hope you enjoy this episode! Check out all of our resources for a classical Christian homeschool on our website—https://www.memoriapress.com/?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=CETC&utm_campaign=134
What We're Reading from This Episode:
How to Think like Shakespeare —Scott Newstok (Tanya)
North and South —Elizabeth Gaskell (Martin)
The Concept of Irony — Søren Kierkegaard (Martin)
Our Man in Havana —Graham Greene (Paul)
The Hounds of God —Rafael Sabatini (Paul)

Aug 7, 2024 • 45min
The Secret Blueprint of Classical Education | Keys to Educating Free Thinkers
These week's *Classical Et Cetera* discusses Imitation and Emulation — What are the differences between these educational methods of teaching? How do these methods lead to the creation of free thinkers? And why does Modern Education see this differently than Classical Education?
The distinction between imitation and emulation is a nuanced one. In early education, students are primarily engaged in imitation activities by copying sentences, memorizing facts, and understanding concepts by replicating methods. As students grow older, they transition to emulation by engaging with material more critically and developing their own unique voices in their skills and studies. Understanding these differences allow educators to structure their teaching methods effectively and create thoughtful, innovative, and capable individuals.
Shop by Grade at *Memoria Press* to learn more about the progression of our curriculum— https://www.memoriapress.com/shop-by-grade/?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=CETC&utm_campaign=133
What We're Reading from This Episode:
The Hounds of God —Rafael Sabatini (Paul)
How to Think like Shakespeare —Scott Newstok (Paul)
Nearby —Elizabeth Yates (Tanya)
Material Logic —Martin Cothran (Martin)
The Schools We Need: And Why We Don’t Have Them —E.D. Hirsch (Martin)

Jul 31, 2024 • 46min
Why Lincoln's Gettysburg Address Still Matters | Lessons in Eloquence and Speech
Today's *Classical Et Cetera* is all about rhetoric! What is rhetoric? What is eloquence? And what was it about *Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address* that made it so brilliant?
Both rhetoric and eloquence involve the art of persuasion, which goes back over 2000 years to ancient Greece and the philosopher Aristotle. It's important for students to develop not only these talents, but also the practical ability to speak to an audience and connect with your listeners.
Listen to our podcast to learn all this and more. Also, check out our Classical Rhetoric curriculum at *Memoria Press* — https://www.memoriapress.com/curriculum/logic-and-rhetoric/classical-rhetoric-complete-set-streaming/?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=CETC&utm_campaign=132 — as well as our Writing curriculum that fosters mastery of the classical method — https://www.memoriapress.com/writing-english-grammar/?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=CETC&utm_campaign=132
What We're Reading from This Episode:
The Hounds of God —Rafael Sabatini (Paul)
Bleak House —Charles Dickens (Martin)

4 snips
Jul 24, 2024 • 41min
Families, Reading Hard Books is Good for You! | The Role of Diverse Literature in Critical Thinking
Engaging with literature that challenges your beliefs is crucial for personal growth. Discover how reading diverse perspectives enhances critical thinking in students. The conversation revolves around the importance of mentorship in navigating classic and contemporary texts. They highlight fairy tales and classics, revealing how these stories shape moral understanding. Revisiting challenging literature deepens appreciation, while exploring character connections fosters philosophical thought. Embrace hard reads to bolster your confidence in defending your views against differing opinions.

Jul 17, 2024 • 40min
Amplify Excellence Through Classical Education - feat. Andrew Pudewa
Today, Andrew Pudewa, from the Institute for Excellence in Writing joins the table to talk about the current state of the world of Classical Christian Education! With advancements in technology, changes in public school curriculum, and classroom evolution happening around us, it's always helpful to return to our grounding points, to the tenants of education that characterize well organized homeschool and private school education. Today we'll talk about excellence in writing, restoring tradition in the classroom, and the benefits of old-school education. We hope you enjoy this podcast and will take us along on your educational journey.
Be sure to check out Memoria Press at memoriapress.com for books, catalogues, curriculum and more! memoriapress.com/?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=CETC&utm_campaign=130
#memoriapress #andrewpudewa #classicaleducation
What We're Reading from This Episode:
The Hounds of God —Rafael Sabatini (Paul)
Winnie-the-Pooh —A.A. Milne (Martin)
Why We Remember —Charan Ranganath (Andrew)
Jayber Crow —Wendell Berry (Andrew)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory —Roald Dahl (Andrew)

Jul 3, 2024 • 47min
How To Win The Battle for Attention and Focus with your Students!
We see you parents and teachers. The struggle for your children's time in a world that capitalizes on their attention is an ever-present reality. So, what do we do about it? On this episode of Classical Et Cetera we dive into how to find the causes and solutions for this global problem and how to improve student's engagement with teaching, reading, and instruction.
Some homeschool families love to use our curriculum year-round! Check out our classical Christian curriculum packages! https://www.memoriapress.com/curriculum/classical-core-curriculum/?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=CETC&utm_campaign=129
We hope you enjoy today's episode. Don't forget to check out more episodes of Classical Et Cetera! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC72BhhBtLU0LgQA6s_QTcBA
Visit our forum to connect with other homeschooling families! Get help and advice from the wealth of experience in our community. https://forum.memoriapress.com/?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=CETC&utm_campaign=129
#memoriapress #classicaleducation #attentionandfocus
What We're Reading from This Episode:
Beauty and Imitation: A Philosophical Reflection on the Arts —Daniel Mclnerny (Martin)
Great Expectations —Charles Dickens (Tanya)
Life at the Bottom —Theodore Dalrymple