Classical Education

About the GuestJohn (Jack) Muir Laws is a principal leader and innovator of the worldwide nature journaling movement. Jack is a scientist, educator, and author, who helps people forge a deeper and more personal connection with nature through keeping illustrated nature journals and understanding science. His work intersects science, art, and mindfulness. Trained as a wildlife biologist and an associate of the California Academy of Sciences, he observes the world with rigorous attention. He looks for mysteries, plays with ideas, and seeks connections in all he sees. Attention, observation, curiosity, and creative thinking are not gifts, but skills that grow with training and deliberate practice. As an educator and author, Jack teaches techniques and supports routines that develop these skills to make them a part of everyday life.He is the founder and president of the Wild Wonder Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to encouraging nature connection and conservation through attention, curiosity, art, science, and community. Laws is the founder and host of the Nature Journal Club, a family-friendly, intergenerational community that connects with nature through art and field journaling. He has recieved numerous and prestigous rewards in environmental educaiton.  He has written and illustrated books about art and natural history including The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling (2016), The Laws Guide to Drawing Birds (2012), Sierra Birds: a Hiker’s Guide (2004), The Laws Guide to the Sierra Nevada (2007), and The Laws Pocket Guide Set to the San Francisco Bay Area (2009). He is a regular contributor to Bay Nature magazine with his “Naturalists Notebook” column. He is the primary author and editor of the curriculum: Opening the World through Nature Journaling. This free teaching guide is kid-tested and teacher-approved and integrates science, language arts, and visual arts through keeping a nature journal. He is the founder and host of the Bay Area Nature Journal Club, monthly free nature sketching workshops, field trips, and events, connecting people with nature through art.Visit his website for many FREE resources: https://johnmuirlaws.com/Show NotesLearn how to create a spirit of inquiry! Learn how to order your affactions towards the good and the true! Join Adrienne and John Muir Laws to learn the secrets behind keeping good nature journals and why it is perhaps one of the most important practices for a good and beautiful education. Hear their stories reflecting on personal experiences in the great outdoors, and their passion to help students order their affections towards things that are good and true. Topics Discussed include:Why nature journals?  Ordering the affections towards the good and trueGrowth Mindset and helping students grow towards their full capacityPractical ideas for getting startedHow to assess nature journals (what to do and what NOT to do)Resources to help with nature studyResources MentionedJohn Muir Laws YouTube Channel (lots of FREE resources)Nature Journal Connection (free educational videos for teachers-- not students-- to help create lessons)Nature Journal Educators Forum (FREE online meetings. See his calendar for event links to the meetings)Wild Wonder FoundationHow To Teach Nature Journaling (Free download by John Muir Laws)_________________________________________________________Whether you are a teacher or a parent, ask yourself…What is the purpose of education?  What is the beginning of education, AND does it ever come to an end? What type of education is best, and what type of education might I or my child pursue in the future? Let us help you discover what a beautiful education should look like. Where Should I Start?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

A young poetry enthusiast and her homeschooling mom discuss the importance of poetry for children. They explore personalized birthday shout out poems, favorite poems like 'My Shadow' and 'Mr. Nobody', and the benefits of reciting poems for deeper understanding. The hosts share their passion for poetry and how it can enhance learning and emotional connections in everyday life.

Dr. Dave Rose, Professor of Economics, discusses the importance of civics and economics education. Topics include the connection between civics and culture, cooperation in economic development, traditional practices in economics, recognizing contributions of Black entrepreneurs, fostering self-governance in classical schools, and the importance of teaching economics alongside philosophy in a classical education.

This episode originally aired in Season 1, episode 4. We have many new listeners now. We think this episode is worth a republish! Enjoy the show!Four teachers join us to talk about their joyful experiences teaching Plutarch in both classrooms and homeschools. This episode highlights different perspectives and personal experiences with the writings of Plutarch. We discuss why classical schools ought to put forth effort to incorporate Plutarch in their curriculum. Our guests give a contagious love for Plutarch to this episode and they are all active members in our Facebook Group. Philip Schaffer: Taught Plutarch in a number of high school courses: Rhetoric, Composition, Latin, and Ancient History. He adapted sections from the Lives into Latin for his students to translate.Dawn Garrett: Teaches Plutarch in homeschool co-ops using Anne White’s Guides. Lisa Mayeux: Leads both middle school and high school students in Scholé Group with Classical Academic Press.Mrs. Peach Smith: Read and loved Plutarch as a child. She has passed her love of Plutarch to her children and her high school students.  Books Mentioned In This EpisodeWe have affiliate links. I may be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases through them. This helps to support the podcast and keep it free of advertising. Plutarch Translations for Parallel LivesJohn Dreyden TranslationSir Thomas North TranslationA.H. Clough TranslationChildren and Teen VersionsOur Young Folk’s Plutarch by Rosalie Kaufman The Children’s Plutarch: Tales of the Greeks by F.J. GouldThe Children’s Plutarch: Tales of the Romans by F.J. GouldPlutarch's Lives for Boys and Girls by WestonEssays by PlutarchMoralia by PlutarchPlutarch on Listening to LecturesPaintings to teach PlutarchThe Eclectic Light Company OUR MISSIONWe exist for the benefit of both parents and teachers who are seeking to understand classical education. Teaching is an art and teachers need opportunities to cultivate their craft. Parents need to feel confident that their children are receiving the best education possible. Therefore, our goals are to help parents make well-informed decisions about the education of their children, and to help teachers experience true joy in their vocation. We help bridge gaps that currently exists between many classical schools and the parents who send their students to these schools. We guide teachers and parents on the path of a beautiful education. We help teachers delight in their sacred work. We help parents understand that a good education should fill students with wonder and delight! Join in the conversation of discovering the joy and beauty of a well-ordered education. https://www.beautifulteaching.com/OUR SERVICESIf you like our podcast, you will love our online sessions!Meet our Team of Master Teachers: https://www.beautifulteaching.com/aboutWe offer immersion sessions so you can experience classical pedagogy. A complete listing of our courses is at  https://beautifulteaching.coursestorm.com/_________________________________________________________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 ★ Support this podcast ★

Andrew Zwerneman discusses the importance of teaching history classically and the impact of fragmented vs. whole stories. Topics include Aristotle, Socrates, Plato, Cana Academy for Teachers, and the art of classical observational teaching. The episode also explores concerns about modern culture, Augustine's Anthropology, and utilizing poetry to bring history to life.

A discussion with Jonathan Pageau about the deep symbolic meanings in fairy tales, their impact on education and spirituality, the significance of monsters in stories like Snow White, and the multifaceted nature of symbolism in art, scripture, and iconography.

Dr. Christopher Perrin discusses the essence of classical education, the value of liberal arts over STEM, parental guidance for holistic development, embracing leisure in education, and integrating Christian traditions into daily routines.

Explore practical teaching approaches in classical education with Joshua Gibbs, focusing on pedagogy, literature, and engaging students. Discover how to think, not what to think, through interactive reading techniques and strengthening minds. Join Gibbs for his Summer Conference and delve into the impact of 'Jane Eyre' on life choices and teaching.

Master teacher, Mark Signorelli, discusses classical writing and its benefits for students. He emphasizes the importance of imitating great writers, integrating reading with writing, and incorporating structured creativity in the classroom. The podcast explores the art of writing in different contexts, the interplay between reading and writing, and the significance of harmony in classical education.

Exploring the challenges of measuring virtue and motivation in character education, the significance of character education in classical schools, strategies for assessing moral cognition and action, cultivating virtue and motivation in students, and the impact of intrinsic motivation on education.