Classical Education

SPONSOREighth Day Books is sponsoring our upcoming online conference AND this podcast episode. They are offering FREE standard shipping between March 8 and March 31, 2024 for our listeners. Coupon code: BEAUTIFUL (at the checkout, choose the "standard shipping rate." $4.95 will automatically be deducted from the total order.Click here For Adrienne's BooklistClick here for the YOUTUBE link if you want to watch this episdoe.About the GuestRebecca was first introduced to Charlotte Mason in 2013 when her oldest child was 3. After exploring other educational methods, she felt she had finally found a philosophy that made sense. Every aspect of Ms. Mason’s ideas, from reading living books to the importance of being immersed in the natural world, appealed to her on many levels. With a degree in art history, she especially appreciated Ms. Mason’s emphasis on exposing children to fine art. Rebecca enjoys the freedom found in a Charlotte Mason education and the fact that it not only nourishes the minds, hearts, and souls of her children but hers as well. She lives in Colorado with her husband, their two children, three cats, two salamanders, and whatever bug pets her kids have adopted. She also writes at her website, a humble place.Show NotesPicture study is an enjoyable activity that cultivates the habit of attention and shapes the affections for beauty. On this episode, Rebecca from A Humble Place walks Adrienne through a picture study demonstration. This episode is with video on our YouTube channel too. Art Mentioned Picture Study Demonstration: The favourites of Emperor Honorius by John Williams WaterhouseJohn William Waterhouse picture study packet from A Humble PlaceArtist: Alphonse MuchaArtist: Vincent van Goch picture study packet from A Humble PlaceThe Night Watch FlashmobThe Night Watch High Resolution image from the Riijks MuseumThe Primavera by BotticelliThe Mona Lisa by DavinciMemory Game with Art BOOKS Mentioned (We encourage you to visit our sponsor, Eighth Day Books for books mentioned on our show. They are offering FREE standard shipping between March 8 and March 31, 2024 for our listeners.Coupon code: BEAUTIFUL )Thoms Bulfinch's Medieval Mythology (note: Age of Fable is another Bulfinch book that you can request from Eighth Day Books)Katie and the Mona Lisa by James MayhewFor the Children's Sake: Foundations of Education for Home and School by Susan Schaeffer MacaulayParent's Review articlesCelebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth by Richard Fost (Call Eighth Day Books to order your copy. 316-683-9446. Be sure to use the free shipping discount code through the end of March.)ANNOUNCING A NEW PROGYMNASMATA CURRICULUMBenjamin Lyda in partnership with Adrienne is launching a pilot for Scriptorium: Writing with the Progymnasmata for grades 3-8. For more information about participating in this pilot, visit the website: https://www.beautifulteaching.com/pilotANNOUNCING OUR FIRST CLASSICAL EDUCATION ONLINE CONFERENCE! 11 speakers, 2 days, online and recorded if you cannot attend all of the sessions! Early bird pricing only $69 though April 1. Visit our website for more information. ________________________________________________________This podcast is produced by Beautiful Teaching, LLC.Support this podcast: ★ Support this podcast ★ _________________________________________________________Credits:Sound Engineer: Andrew HelselLogo Art: Anastasiya CFMusic: Vivaldi's Concerto for 2 Violins in B flat major, RV529 : Lana Trotovsek, violin Sreten Krstic, violin with Chamber Orchestra of Slovenian Philharmonic © 2024 Beautiful Teaching LLC. All Rights Reserved

Explore the benefits of classical writing over modern approaches, with Benjamin Lyda sharing insights on teaching writing through the progymnasmata method. Learn about a new curriculum for K-8 students, focusing on virtue-based writing and engaging storytelling. Discover the legacy of the progymnasmata in classical education and the importance of integrating narration and rhetoric in writing instruction.

About the GuestsKathleen Cotter Clayton is the daughter of Dr. Joan A. Cotter, author and developer of the RightStart™ Mathematics program. Kathleen is involved with curriculum development and has written or co-authored 17 manuals. She travels, teaches online middle-school classes, and speaks across the US and Canada, sharing the mission to help children understand, apply, and enjoy mathematics. Kathleen has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota and has two Masters Degrees from the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota. In her spare time, Kathleen designs and creates mathematical quilts and loves to travel all around the world. Teresa Foltin is the School Liaison with RightStart Math. She has a Bachelor's in English Literature and a Master’s in Student Affairs in Higher Education. Previously the Director of Student Activities at an American university in Germany, she is now a homeschooling mom of five. Teresa travels across the US talking to parents and teachers, calming, encouraging, and exciting them about math education. She is interested in adoption, travel, horses, gardening, and reading. The Foltin family lives in Colorado on a small homestead with a menagerie of critters.Contact RightStart Math: Mention that you heard about them from The Classical Education Podcast. Sign up for help & more info: https://rightstartclassroom.com/Website: https://rightstartmath.com/Show NotesUplifting describes this conversation about Mathematics with guests, Cathleen Cotter Clayton, and Theresa Fulton of RightStart Math. When games are involved, everyone wants to participate. When a math program is written and approved by an electrical engineer and a physicist, as an excellent and intuitive way to teach math, why not share it!  Forget the tears, and fears about fractions. Find out the stories behind it’s success and the how and why this math program fits within the Classical Tradition of education for grades Kindergarten through eighth grade.Some Ideas Discussed:Success in Homeschool and School ProgramsA fearless experience with fractionsHistory of Right Start Math and the Research behind itAdrienne’s homeschool story “Enjoying Math!”How RightStart Math fits into the Classical model and similarities with the medieval time period (Treviso Arithmetic)The importance of place valueGeometry and the QuadriviumRight Start Math TutoringRight Start Support and Presentations for SchoolsBooks & Ideas MentionedCasting Out Nines ( RightStart calls in "check numbers". This is a video explanation)Treviso Arithmetic InformationTreviso Arithmetic PDF (Explains place value and casting out nines and other interesting ways of teaching math the medieval way)The Robe by Lloyd C. DouglasThe Magnificent Obsession by Lloyd C. DouglasComing soon to be published: a new book by Dr. CotterAfter the recording, Adrienne found an interesting public domain book on Gutenburg called A Scrap-Book of Elementary Mathematics. It has interesting and old tricks for teaching arithmetic that seems to align nicely with this way of teaching math. ________________________________________________________Upcoming Workshop Links:Society for Classical Learning Winter Workshops, 2024 (scroll to read more about Adrienne's Narration Intensive)Snapshot Series Courses by Beautiful Teaching Master TeachersSign up for Beautiful Teaching Monthly Newsletter by visiting the website! Let us help you discover what a beautiful education should look like. Subscribe to this Podcast on your favorite podcast app!Meet our Team, Explore our Resources andTake advantage of our Services!This podcast is produced by Beautiful Teaching, LLC.Support this podcast: ★ Support this podcast ★ ________________________________________________________Credits:Sound Engineer: Andrew HelselLogo Art: Anastasiya CFMusic: Vivaldi's Concerto for 2 Violins in B flat major, RV529 : Lana Trotovsek, violin Sreten Krstic, violin with Chamber Orchestra of Slovenian Philharmonic © 2023 Beautiful Teaching LLC. All Rights Reserved

Dr. Junius Johnson, a writer, teacher, and musician, talks about the art of teaching in classical education. He emphasizes the importance of approaching all subjects creatively, cultivating a lifelong relationship with texts, and fostering open discussions. He also explores the role of imagination in teaching and discusses the theme of good kings in Beowulf and its relevance to King Arthur in the Quest of the Holy Grail. Additionally, he shares insights on rereading books, incorporating dialectic discussions in math class, and teaching fairy stories.

About the GuestAlex Markos is part of the Humanities faculty at the Geneva School of Boerne, TX, where he currently teaches 9th grade Greek and Roman history and literature. Last year (2022-23), he created and taught a class on virtue for the freshmen and previously taught 3 rd -5 th grade Latin for six years at Geneva. He holds a B.A. in History and Classics from Hope College and an M.A. in Apologetics from Houston Baptist University (now Houston Christian University). For his Apologetics capstone project, he developed a curriculum for teaching virtue through Scripture and Greek mythology. He has spoken four years in a row for the nationwide Society for Classical Learning summer conference on topics including Greek mythology, The Chronicles of Narnia, incorporating leisure in the classroom, and the art of crafting a new class. He has a passion for classical Christian education and aims to inspire his students to love learning and to grow in virtue.Show NotesOriginally aimed at learning how to create a new class, we diverged into a lot of practical information that teachers will love! Alex Markos shares his love of books as the son of our former podcast guest Dr. Louis Markos. In this episode, the joy of teaching really comes out as Alex focuses on what the process looks like when creating a new class. He walks us through the brainstorming process and the many practical and thoughful ways in which to engage students!  As the discussion unfolds you will learn how to create a spirit of inquiry and ultimately how to help students order their affections.  Some Ideas Discussed:The importance of integrating a class with other classesHow to create a class cathechism and why it mattersWhat are the practical implementations and expectations from a good class?How to read hard textsHow to help students create great questions in order to have good discussionsHelping students undertsand basic categories of questionsHelping students think deeply about application of big ideasBooks Discussed in This Episode Include:The Lord of the RingsThe Chronicles of NarniaThe Blue Fairy BookThe Red Fairy Book Augustine's ConfessionsNicomachean Ethics by Aristotle"Allegory of the Cave" from The RepublicCelebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth by Richard Foster________________________________________________________Upcoming Winter Workshop Links:Fundamentals of a Charlotte Mason Education 7 Week Intensive (with Karen Glass, Kiernan Fiore, and Adrienne Freas) Snapshot Series Courses by Beautiful Teaching Master TeachersSociety for Classical Learning Winter Workshops, 2024 (scroll to read more about Adrienne's Narration Intensive)Sign up for Beautiful Teaching Monthly Newsletter by visiting the website! Let us help you discover what a beautiful education should look like. Subscribe to this Podcast on your favorite podcast app!Meet our Team, Explore our Resources andTake advantage of our Services!This podcast is produced by Beautiful Teaching, LLC.Support this podcast: ★ Support this podcast ★ _________________________________________________________Credits:Sound Engineer: Andrew HelselLogo Art: Anastasiya CFMusic: Vivaldi's Concerto for 2 Violins in B flat major, RV529 : Lana Trotovsek, violin Sreten Krstic, violin with Chamber Orchestra of Slovenian Philharmonic © 2023 Beautiful Teaching LLC. All Rights Reserved

About The GuestDr. Phillip J. Donnelly is Professor of Literature for the Great Texts Program in the Honors College at Baylor University. His teaching and research focus on the connections between philosophy, theology, and imaginative literature, with particular attention to Renaissance literature and the reception of Classical educational traditions.  He serves on the editorial board of Principia: A Journal of Classical Education.  He is the Director of the Texas Chapter of the Alcuin Fellowship and serves on the national board for the Alcuin Fellowship.  He is the author of The Lost Seeds of Learning: Grammar, Logic, and Rhetoric as Life-Giving Arts (Classical Academic Press) and Milton’s Scriptural Reasoning (Cambridge Univ. Press).  He is the co-editor (with D.H. Williams) of Transformations in Biblical Literary Traditions (Univ. of Notre Dame Press). Show NotesThis engaging conversation gives voice to the nature of verbal arts. As written in his book, The Lost Seeds of Learning: Grammar, Logic, Rhetoric as Life-Giving Arts,  Dr. Phillip Donnelly offers the image of a living seed to represent purposeful communication. From this episode, you will gain a vision for skills learned in the classroom that are alive, not detached, with a new sense of enthusiasm for the art of grammar.  Some points of discussion include: Why is the trivium so important?What is the core function of the trivium?Why a seed metaphor?What is grammar in the trivium?Books Mentioned in the EpisodeFor 15% off CAP products use discount code CEPODCAST15 at checkout.Dr. Donnelly's book is published by CAP (Classical Academic Press)The Classical Trivium: The Place of Thomas Nash in the Learning of His Time by Marshall McLuhanConfessions by St. Augustine (trans. Maria Boulding)________________________________________________________Upcoming Winter Workshop Links:Fundamentals of a Charlotte Mason Education 7 Week Intensive (with Karen Glass, Kiernan Fiore, and Adrienne Freas) Snapshot Series Courses by Beautiful Teaching Master TeachersSociety for Classical Learning Winter Workshops, 2024 (scroll to read more about Adrienne's Narration Intensive)Sign up for Beautiful Teaching Monthly Newsletter by visiting the website! Let us help you discover what a beautiful education should look like. Subscribe to this Podcast on your favorite podcast app!Meet our Team, Explore our Resources andTake advantage of our Services!This podcast is produced by Beautiful Teaching, LLC.Support this podcast: ★ Support this podcast ★ _________________________________________________________Credits:Sound Engineer: Andrew HelselLogo Art: Anastasiya CFMusic: Vivaldi's Concerto for 2 Violins in B flat major, RV529 : Lana Trotovsek, violin Sreten Krstic, violin with Chamber Orchestra of Slovenian Philharmonic © 2023 Beautiful Teaching LLC. All Rights Reserved

About The GuestJake Weidmann is a professional artist and certified as one of nine Master Penman in the world. Certified through IAMPETH (International Association of Master Penman, Engrossers and Teachers of Handwriting) in July 2011, Weidmann holds the title as the youngest Master Penman by three decades and the youngest to ever attain the title. Weidmann’s peers (other Masters) are noted for working with the White House, Queen Elizabeth and the Pope. His journey into calligraphy has been the “special sauce” for everything he now creates, incorporating the traditional calligraphic flourishing into his fine art. Weidmann is self-taught in each of his disciplines (calligraphy, painting, drawing, woodworking, and engraving). Coined by 5280 Magazine as today’s Renaissance Man, Weidmann’s analog mediums defy the digital-centric age we live in as he employs old world tools and techniques to achieve his finished works. While he typically works with private clients, Weidmann has worked with Apple, Inc., Crossway Books, and Biola University and has spoken from countless stages including Tedx and Thinq and was featured on PBS Television.Website: jakeweidmann.comFacebook: facebook.com/jakeweidmannInstagram: @jakeweidmannShow NotesWhen deciding how to apply the art of penmanship for children in your schools, you will want to consider the evidence that supports handwriting as a foundation for literacy. Beyond the evidence that connects the hands in creativity and flourishing communication, you’ll hear why, how, and what tools to use in applying the art of penmanship.  Some topics and questions covered in this episode:Dependency on technology to the detriment of healthy child development Will you speak to cursive writing and learning to read? What is the history behind Spencerian Cursive and why is it important?What should educators look for in curriculum for penmanship?How is cursive tied to phonics?How do writing tools make a difference?What tips do you have for teachers?ResourcesCommercial about Jake that Adrienne uses at teacher trainings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvSyQDu49pIThe following are affiliate links for Jake Weidmann:https://www.amazon.com/shop/jakeweidmann1) link to Michal Sull's curriculum for kids --also here: https://spencerian.com/2) link to blackwing pencils3) link to pilot varsity pen4) link to Jake's pens that he sells or will sell.5) Brian Guelle's fountain pensMaster Penman Society: https://www.iampeth.com/master-penman-societyA book that Jake wishes he had read earlier in his life: A Joy For Ever by John Ruskin________________________________________________________Let us help you discover what a beautiful education should look like. Subscribe to this Podcast on your favorite podcast app!Meet our Team, Explore our Resources andTake advantage of our Services!This podcast is produced by Beautiful Teaching, LLC.Support this podcast: ★ Support this podcast ★ _________________________________________________________Credits:Sound Engineer: Andrew HelselLogo Art: Anastasiya CFMusic: Vivaldi's Concerto for 2 Violins in B flat major, RV529 : Lana Trotovsek, violin Sreten Krstic, violin with Chamber Orchestra of Slovenian Philharmonic © 2023 Beautiful Teaching LLC. All Rights Reserved

About the GuestKaren Swallow Prior, Ph. D., is a reader, writer, and professor. She is the author of The Evangelical Imagination: How Stories, Images, and Metaphors Created a Culture in Crisis (Brazos, 2023); On Reading Well: Finding the Good Life through Great Books (Brazos 2018); Fierce Convictions: The Extraordinary Life of Hannah More—Poet, Reformer, Abolitionist (Thomas Nelson, 2014); and Booked: Literature in the Soul of Me (T. S. Poetry Press, 2012). She is co-editor of Cultural Engagement: A Crash Course in Contemporary Issues (Zondervan 2019) and has contributed to numerous other books. She has a monthly column for Religion News Service. Her writing has appeared at Christianity Today, New York Times, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, First Things, Vox, Think Christian, The Gospel Coalition, and various other places. She hosted the podcast Jane and Jesus. She is a Contributing Editor for Comment, a founding member of The Pelican Project, a Senior Fellow at the Trinity Forum, and a Senior Fellow at the L. Russ Bush Center for Faith and Culture. She and her husband live on a 100-year-old homestead in central Virginia with dogs, chickens, and lots of books.Show NotesAdrienne Freas and Karen Swallow Prior enjoy discussing the idea of culture creation through great literature. Why not think of reading for enjoyment instead of just reading for an assignment? Enjoy more balance while gaining an enriching approach to literature. Some Questions Include:How is the book, On Reading Well helpful for parents and teachers?What do you believe is helpful in your books and what do you hope teachers and parents will take away ? What is your view concerning critical theory in contrast with the idea of reading well? What are the implications for how we teach students?Resources and books mentioned:Artist Makoto Fujimura On Reading Well: Finding the Good Life through Great BooksThe Evangelical Imagination: How Stories, Images, and Metaphors Created a Culture in CrisisMoby DickThe BibleTo Kill A MockingbirdUncle Tom’s CabinJane EyreGerard Manly Hopkins poetryEast of Eden________________________________________________________Let us help you discover what a beautiful education should look like. Subscribe to this Podcast on your favorite podcast app!Meet our Team, Explore our Resources andTake advantage of our Services!This podcast is produced by Beautiful Teaching, LLC.Support this podcast: ★ Support this podcast ★ _________________________________________________________Credits:Sound Engineer: Andrew HelselLogo Art: Anastasiya CFMusic: Vivaldi's Concerto for 2 Violins in B flat major, RV529 : Lana Trotovsek, violin Sreten Krstic, violin with Chamber Orchestra of Slovenian Philharmonic © 2023 Beautiful Teaching LLC. All Rights Reserved

Headmaster Jon Jordan shares his wisdom and experience as the headmaster of a Christian classical school in Dallas. He discusses helping parents embrace the school mission, supporting staff and families in classical education, understanding virtues as moral muscles and their impact on education, strengthening moral muscles through spiritual disciplines, and integrating virtues into education.

Dr. Brian Williams, Dean of the Templeton Honors College, discusses classical education and its ongoing conversation. He explores 'poetic knowledge', announces upcoming webinar courses, and emphasizes the significance of a liberal arts education. The transformative power of Dante's Comedy and the importance of reading the entire Divine Comedy are also highlighted.