Classical Education

About our GuestsThe Ancient Language Institute exists to transform the way ancient languages are taught and to recover the humanistic tradition for the modern world.Jonathan Roberts is the President and Co-Founder of the Ancient Language Institute. Jonathan graduated from The King’s College in New York City with a degree in Politics, Philosophy, & Economics, and was awarded a Master of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Missouri in 2017. He co-hosts the New Humanists podcast with Ryan.Ryan Hammill is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Ancient Language Institute. Ryan received an A.B. in History from Occidental College in 2015, where he also studied French and Russian. He has experience in journalism and digital marketing, and co-hosts the podcast New Humanists with Jonathan.Adrienne encourages her listeners to subscribe to their podcast, New Humanists. You can also follow them on Facebook Direct Links for Course Information with Ancient Language Institute: Learn Latin: https://ancientlanguage.com/learn-latin/Learn Attic Greek:https://ancientlanguage.com/attic-greek/Learn Latin Koine Greek: https://ancientlanguage.com/koine-greek/Learn Biblical Hebrew: https://ancientlanguage.com/biblical-hebrew/Learn Old English: https://ancientlanguage.com/old-english/Show NotesA major goal of this podcast is to point parents and educators back to the tradition and give them a rightly ordered way of understanding classical education. Considering some common reasons why a Renaissance is occurring in Classical Education, Adrienne and her guests from Ancient Language Institute discuss: The essay written by Jonathan called, Classical Schools Aren’t Really Classical Some misconceptions of the Trivium, and why the Trivium has a large impact on how ancient languages are taught today. ( Adrienne also encourages her listeners to listen to their episode called The Trivium According to Dorothy Sayers) Some Questions that are covered include:Traditionally, what is the main goal of learning Latin and/or Greek? How do these goals impact the manner in which these languages are taught? How can our listeners find you and if they are new to ancient languages, where should they start?Resources and Books & Mentioned In This EpisodeClassical Schools Aren’t Really Classical by Jonathan Roberts, President ALIThe Didascalicon of Hugh of Saint Victor: A Guide to the Arts by Hugh of Saint VictorSurprised by Joy by C.S. LewisThe Great Tradition: Classic Readings on What It Means to be an Educated Human Being by Richard GambleThe Aeneid by VirgilPro Archia Poeta by CiceroCharles DeGaulle Biography The New Testament Ancient Greek authorsAncient Latin authorsThis podcast is produced by Beautiful Teaching, LLC.Support this podcast: ★ Support this podcast ★ https://www.classicaleducationpodcast.com/supportOUR MISSIONWe exist for the benefit of both parents and teachers. 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 desire to bridge a large gap that currently exists between most classical schools and the parents who send their students to these schools. Immersing both parents and teachers into the beauty of good teaching is paramount to our goals! Our formative sessions are designed to be LIVE so that you can experience classical education through participating and doing. This is what is expected in classical education. In order to mentor you well, we invite you to participate for a full classical experience. Our online sessions assume modeling, imitation, and meaningful conversation as the basis of experiencing good teaching. OUR SERVICESIf you like our podcast, you will love our online sessions! We 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

About the GuestDr. Daniel Gabelman grew up in the arid foothills of the Colorado Rocky Mountains but now finds himself in a contrapuntal landscape--the flat, marshy fenlands of Cambridgeshire.  He studied in Virginia and Chicago before completing a doctorate at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. Currently, he is Head of English at King's Ely, one of the oldest schools in the world. He completed his PhD on George MacDonald's fairytale levity at the University of St Andrews in the Institute for Theology, Imagination and the Arts (ITIA). His thesis was published under the title, George MacDonald: Divine Carelessness and Fairytale Levity (Baylor University Press, 2013).George MacDonald: Divine Carelessness and Fairytale Levity (Making of the Christian Imagination)You can follow Dr. Gabelman's work at the ITIA website.Show NotesIn the spirit of levity, Adrienne decided to release this episode on April Fools' Day. During this interview there were some bloopers (between a few of us) and I decided to leave them there in the spirit of April 1 and in the spirit of MacDonald's own whimsy and levity. We had fun laughing at our own blunders while considering grand ideas!Adrienne's friend and colleague, Dr. Reno Lauro co-hosts this discussion. Dr. Lauro completed his PhD at St. Andrews and shared a love of literature with Dr. Gabelman while they both were completing their doctoral pursuits in Scottland simultaneously. The joy of their friendship shines in this episdoe.I am grateful for the brilliace that these two scholars bring to this conversation.  Some Topics and Ideas in this Episode George MacDonald, Coleridge, and whimsy! George MacDonald's essay, The Imagination: Its Function and Its CultureResources and Books & Mentioned In This EpisodeDr. Gableman's book: George MacDonald: Divine Carelessness and Fairytale Levity (Making of the Christian Imagination)A Dish of Orts by George MacDonaldvarious George MacDonald titlesThe George MacDonald SocietyFollow the George MacDonald Society on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/GeorgeMacDonaldSociety_________________________________________________This podcast is produced by Beautiful Teaching, LLC.Support this podcast: ★ Support this podcast ★ https://www.classicaleducationpodcast.com/supportOUR MISSIONWe exist for the benefit of both parents and teachers. 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 desire to bridge a large gap that currently exists between most classical schools and the parents who send their students to these schools. Immersing both parents and teachers into the beauty of good teaching is paramount to our goals! Our formative sessions are designed to be LIVE so that you can experience classical education through participating and doing. This is what is expected in classical education. In order to mentor you well, we invite you to participate for a full classical experience. Our online sessions assume modeling, imitation, and meaningful conversation as the basis of experiencing good teaching. OUR SERVICESIf you like our podcast, you will love our online sessions! We offer immersion sessions so you can experience classical pedagogy. A complete listing of our courses is at  https://beautifulteaching.coursestorm.com/Becoming an effective educator requires participation and doing, not merely listening to the ideals of a theory being talked about. Experiencing the labor of thinking, speaking, and asking questions is non-negotiable for a real classical experience. For this reason our courses are LIVE and not recorded. Participation is paramount to a true classical education.Teachers and Home Educators: Grow in your craft of teaching! Do you want to know how to apply what we discuss on our podcast? Check out our affordable on-line immersion courses with master teachers.  https://beautifulteaching.coursestorm.com/Parents: Do you want to understand how to support your student in a classical school? Or, do you simply want to know more about classical education?  Consider our affordable book seminars. Explore why a classical education is truly a beautiful way of learning. Our book seminars and immersion sessions can you help you make an informed choice as well as help you understand how to support your children who may attend a classical school.  https://beautifulteaching.coursestorm.com/Schools: We offer professional development for schools onsite or online. Email Adrienne at BeautifulTeaching@Gmail.com for more information. _________________________________________________________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 GuestPatrick Egan is a founding director of Educational Renaissance and Academic Dean at Clapham School. He previously served as an administrator at Providence Classical Christian Academy in St. Louis, Missouri. He earned a B.Mus. in Music History and Literature from Illinois State University, an M.Div. and Th.M. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Patrick and his family spent three years living and studying in St Andrews, Scotland, where he earned a PhD from the University of St Andrews. In addition to his work within the classical Christian educational movement, he has also taught courses in New Testament and Biblical Greek at colleges and seminaries in the US and UK, currently serving as Visiting Instructor in New Testament at Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis. In 2016 Patrick published Ecclesiology and the Scriptural Narrative of 1 Peter. Patrick regularly writes on the intersection of classical education and modern research at educationalrenaissance.com.Show NotesDr. Patrick Egan forms a framework of classical tradition for today with Charlotte Mason studies. Dr. Egan opens this episode with a brief history of Clapham school and its values pointed towards The Good, The True, and The Beautiful. Their discovery of Charlotte Mason is interesting. Adrienne asks Dr. Egan to share about their application of classical methods aligning to the work of Charlotte Mason.  He also discusses Charlotte Mason’s brilliance on the epistemology of how a child learns. He points towards Charlotte Mason’s anthropology of a child and how it can influence our pedagogy while complimenting the telos of a classical education. Some Topics and Ideas in this Episode They discuss the importance of the Spanish Chapel fresco called “Triumph of Saint Thomas Aquinas”, and its impact on Mason’s understanding of a Christian liberal arts education.How does Charlotte Mason fit into the tradition?If we did not have the Dorothy Sayer’s essay, could Charlotte Mason have been the force that awakened the classical ed movement? Resources and Books & Mentioned In This Episode"What is a Learner?: Reading Charlotte Mason through Aristotle’s Four Causes" by Dr. EganEducation Renaissance Podcast with Dr. Egan: https://educationalrenaissance.com/podcast/https://www.wilberforceschool.org/https://amblesideschools.org/category/bill-st-cyr/Plato's DialoguesSt. Augustine's ConfessionsLost Tools of Learning, by Dorothy SayersThe Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home, by Susan Wise Bauer and Jessie WiseFresco: “Triumph of Saint Thomas Aquinas”, circa 1365. Fresco. Florence, S. Maria Novella, Cappellone degli Spagnuoli (Spanish Chapel), left wall. Charlotte Mason on the Spanish Chapel fresco, We hold, in fact, that great conception of education held by the medieval Church, as pictured upon the walls of the Spanish chapel in Florence. Here we have represented the descent of the Holy Ghost upon the Twelve, and directly under them, fully under the Illuminating rays, are the noble figures of the seven liberal arts, Grammar, Rhetoric, Logic, Music, Astronomy, Geometry, Arithmetic, and under these again the men who received and expressed, so far as the artist knew, the initial idea in each of these subjects; such men as Pythagoras, Zoroaster, Euclid, whom we might call pagans, but whom the earlier Church recognised as divinely taught and illuminated.The books that Dr. Egan wished he had read sooner: A Philosophy of Education by Charlotte Mason (6th volume)The Abolition of Man, by C.S Lewis_________________________________________________This podcast is produced by Beautiful Teaching, LLC.Support this podcast: ★ Support this podcast ★ https://www.classicaleducationpodcast.com/supportOUR MISSIONWe exist for the benefit of both parents and teachers. 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 desire to bridge a large gap that currently exists between most classical schools and the parents who send their students to these schools. Immersing both parents and teachers into the beauty of good teaching is paramount to our goals! Our formative sessions are designed to be LIVE so that you can experience classical education through participating and doing. This is what is expected in classical education. In order to mentor you well, we invite you to participate for a full classical experience. Our online sessions assume modeling, imitation, and meaningful conversation as the basis of experiencing good teaching. OUR SERVICESIf you like our podcast, you will love our online sessions! We offer immersion sessions so you can experience classical pedagogy. A complete listing of our courses is at  https://beautifulteaching.coursestorm.com/Becoming an effective educator requires participation and doing, not merely listening to the ideals of a theory being talked about. Experiencing the labor of thinking, speaking, and asking questions is non-negotiable for a real classical experience. For this reason our courses are LIVE and not recorded. Participation is paramount to a true classical education.Teachers and Home Educators: Grow in your craft of teaching! Do you want to know how to apply what we discuss on our podcast? Check out our affordable on-line immersion courses with master teachers.  https://beautifulteaching.coursestorm.com/Parents: Do you want to understand how to support your student in a classical school? Or, do you simply want to know more about classical education?  Consider our affordable book seminars. Explore why a classical education is truly a beautiful way of learning. Our book seminars and immersion sessions can you help you make an informed choice as well as help you understand how to support your children who may attend a classical school. 

Exploring the rise of classical education in Australia, the efforts of the Australian Classical Education Society, and the challenges and achievements faced. Discussing the importance of cross-country relationships, diversity, inclusivity, character training, and the influence of church fathers' literature. Encouraging support for ACIS and classical education.

About the GuestsFour Teachers from Coram Deo Academy (CDA): A Christian, classical, and collaborative university model network with three campuses in the DFW Metroplex. Yvette Cavender (Principal, Grammar School): Yvette Cavender began her partnership with Coram Deo Academies (CDA) as a parent in 2004, when her children were in grammar school.  Soon after, she began teaching second grade, and is now the Grammar School Principal at the Flower Mound campus.  She has seen the benefits of classical education play out in the lives of her own children and considers it a privilege to collaborate with others in teaching and training students under CDA’s model. Mrs. Cavender holds Bachelor’s degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Political Science and Economics.  She is a certified teacher in the state of Texas. Yvette and her husband live in Carrollton.  Their son Chapin is a computational biophysicist at UC-San Diego and their daughter Raegan is a grammar school teacher. Kelly Whitney (4th Grade Teacher): Kelly holds a degree in Early Childhood Education from Messiah University. After teaching in the public school system for several years, Kelly stayed home with her children and began to homeschool the oldest of their 4 boys in Kindergarten. She and her family have been at CDA for 21 years now with the youngest graduating this May. She has taught at CDA for the last 14 years in both 2nd and 4th grade.Leah Jones (3rd Grade Teacher): Leah has been a teacher for 12 years. She started in public school and then homeschooled her daughter for a year and then began teaching in a university model school in Frisco, TX. In 2016 her family made the decision to move to CDA. She has been ★ Support this podcast ★ blessed to teach third grade for four years at CDA and absolutely loves it!Laura Monsalve (3rd Grade Teacher): Laura has been in education for 37 years and loves learning and improving in all areas of life. She has an education degree from ORU, and is a certified teacher, who also earned her Masters of Ed at TWU. She has taught in public schools, homeschooled, and currently teaches at Coram Deo Academy. She has been at CDA off and on for 19 years, teaching in the grammar school (1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades). She homeschooled her daughter through grammar school and the end of high school. She also homeschooled her son during his Logic level years. She currently teaches 3rd grade at CDA.Show NotesTeachers experienced surprising results when they transitioned from Bible history through facts and information, to a full liberal arts, story-based classical approach in their school. Adrienne opens by asking how narration became a formal part of the pedagogy for Coram Deo Acadmies. The Principal and three teachers define narration and describe their own experiences in the classrooms. They discuss their initial apprehensions and then their perseverance as they noticed how much the students loved it!  You’ll hear about some wonderful outcomes, and how the benefits of narration carry over into every grade level. Some Topics and Ideas in this Episode How do you define Narration?How were you feeling when you first began implementing narration?What apprehensions did you have and how did you work through these?What type of training did you have? What happened when your students began to practice narration?Resources and Books & Mentioned In This EpisodeClassical Me, Classical Thee by Rebekah MerkleKnow and Tell: The Art of Narration by Karen GlassCaught Up in a Story: Fostering a Storyformed Life of Great Books and Imagination with Your Children by Sarah ClarksonHumility: True Greatness by C.J. Mahaney_________________________________________________This podcast is produced by Beautiful Teaching, LLC.Support this podcast: ★ Support this podcast ★ https://www.classicaleducationpodcast.com/supportOUR MISSIONWe exist for the benefit of both parents and teachers. 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 desire to bridge a large gap that currently exists between most classical schools and the parents who send their students to these schools. Immersing both parents and teachers into the beauty of good teaching is paramount to our goals! Our formative sessions are designed to be LIVE so that you can experience classical education through participating and doing. This is what is expected in classical education. In order to mentor you well, we invite you to participate for a full classical experience. Our online sessions assume modeling, imitation, and meaningful conversation as the basis of experiencing good teaching. OUR SERVICESIf you like our podcast, you will love our online sessions! We offer immersion sessions so you can experience classical pedagogy. A complete listing of our courses is at  https://beautifulteaching.coursestorm.com/Becoming an effective educator requires participation and doing, not merely listening to the ideals of a theory being talked about. Experiencing the labor of thinking, speaking, and asking questions is non-negotiable for a real classical experience. For this reason our courses are LIVE and not recorded. Participation is paramount to a true classical education.Teachers and Home Educators: Grow in your craft of teaching! Do you want to know how to apply what we discuss on our podcast? Check out our affordable on-line immersion courses with master teachers.  https://beautifulteaching.coursestorm.com/Parents: Do you want to understand how to support your student in a classical school? Or, do you simply want to know more about classical education?  Consider our affordable book seminars. Explore why a classical education is truly a beautiful way of learning. Our book seminars and immersion sessions can you help you make an informed choice as well as help you understand how to support your children who may attend a classical school.  https://beautifulteaching.coursestorm.com/Schools: We offer professional development for schools onsite or online. Email Adrienne at BeautifulTeaching@Gmail.com for more information. _________________________________________________________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 

In this podcast, Vigen Guroian and Adrienne discuss the new chapters added to the second edition of 'Tending the Heart of Virtue,' focusing on fairy tales like 'The Nightingale and The Ugly Duckling'. They explore themes of beauty, transformation, judgment, obedience, and truth in classic stories, emphasizing the impact on children's moral imagination. The conversation also touches on the significance of scripture in fairy tales and the challenges of discussing challenging texts in education.

About our Guest: Dr. Forman is active in his community having served on the Roseville Joint Union High School District Governing Board from 2000 to 2004. He was the chair of the Placer County Republican party from 2005-06. He served as Board Member and President for CORE Academy, a charter school in Placer County from 2006 to 2009. He currently serves as Founder, and Board Chairman of John Adams Academy, a K-12 charter of 3 schools and 4500+ scholars located in the Sacramento California area. In 2012 the Freedom Foundation recognized Dr. Forman for his efforts in founding John Adams Academy with the George Washington Honor Medal in 2012.  In 2013 he was also honored with the Distinguished Service Award from the BYU Alumni Association. He mentors at the academy, is a frequent lecturer and authored many academic and timely articles on the principles of risk management, independence, finance, and freedom in America.  Education has the power to change a person, a community, and a country. His blog may be found at https://ldeanforman.blog/. His book on how to start a classical charter school may be found at Leading a Revolution in Education. www.johnadamsacademy.org “Children Should Be Educated in the Principles of Freedom” John AdamsSpecial Performance:  John Adams Academy Choir, Vertus. Performing "America The Beautiful," directed by Greg Blankenbehler, Secondary Music Teacher, Director of Choir, Arts Department Chair. Vertus was awarded in 2021-2022:   First Place, Gold Rating (90th percentile), Adjudicator’s Award (95thPercentile–scored 98 out of 100), Maestro Award (outstanding soloist) at Heritage Festival (Nashville, TN)Click here to view the many Accolades for VertusShow NotesIn this episode, Adrienne interviews the founder of John Adams Academy, a public charter school in California. Dr Forman’s love for a beautiful education is evident through his passion for this country and his love of the arts. He shares the history of John Adams Academy as well as some important tips for anyone interested in starting a school.  Some topics in this episode include:The humble beginnings of John Adams Academy to its great success and recognition today as an exceptional schoolThe beautiful elements of classical education and how these lead students to truthTips on starting a school and hiring good teachersCreating a mission statement and school cultureTeacher formationBooks & Resources In This EpisodeLeading a Revolution in EducationThe Autobiography of Benjamin FranklinAbigail Adams: Witness to a RevolutionSteven Covey on Seven Habits______________This podcast is produced by Beautiful Teaching, LLC.OUR MISSIONWe exist for the benefit of both parents and teachers. 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 desire to bridge a large gap that currently exists between most classical schools and the parents who send their students to these schools. Immersing both parents and teachers into the beauty of good teaching is paramount to our goals! Our formative sessions are designed to be LIVE so that you can experience classical education through participating and doing. This is what is expected in classical education. In order to mentor you well, we invite you to participate for a full classical experience. Our online sessions assume modeling, imitation, and meaningful conversation as the basis of experiencing good teaching. OUR SERVICESIf you like our podcast, you will love our online sessions! We offer immersion sessions so you can experience classical pedagogy. A complete listing of our courses is at  https://beautifulteaching.coursestorm.com/Becoming an effective educator requires participation and doing, not merely listening to the ideals of a theory being talked about. Experiencing the labor of thinking, speaking, and asking questions is non-negotiable for a real classical experience. For this reason our courses are LIVE and not recorded. Participation is paramount to a true classical education.Teachers and Home Educators: Grow in your craft of teaching! Do you want to know how to apply what we discuss on our podcast? Check out our affordable on-line immersion courses with master teachers.  https://beautifulteaching.coursestorm.com/Parents: Do you want to understand how to support your student in a classical school? Or, do you simply want to know more about classical education?  Consider our affordable book seminars. Explore why a classical education is truly a beautiful way of learning. Our book seminars and immersion sessions can you help you make an informed choice as well as help you understand how to support your children who may attend a classical school.  https://beautifulteaching.coursestorm.com/Schools: We offer professional development for schools onsite or online. Email Adrienne at BeautifulTeaching@Gmail.com for more information. _________________________________________________________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 ★

About our GuestsRandan Steinhauser with Sweetwater Scholé in greater Austin: Randan Steinhauser is a mother of four who recently launched a Charlotte Mason-inspired homeschool co-op, Sweetwater Scholé. In addition to their home education, her children attend a University-Model Classical Christian collaborative school in Austin, Texas. Randan is the founding partner of Steinhauser Strategies where she works with clients on education-related efforts including school choice and homeschool freedom. Prior to moving home to Austin, Randan was in Washington, DC where she worked for former Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. Randan has worked in more than 40 states on educational freedom initiatives. A native of South Carolina, Randan holds a B.A. in English Literature from the University of South Carolina and an M.A. in Communications from John’s Hopkins University. Valerie Bishop with Living Education co-op in Flower Mound, TX:  Valerie is the founder and Director of Living Education Co-op in Flower Mound, Texas, a Charlotte Mason-inspired Fine Arts co-op, where she teaches high school and middle school classes History & Humanities and Shakespeare. Valerie also creates Charlotte Mason-inspired curriculum for her high school classes and greatly enjoys seeing her students rise to the challenge of delightful, rigorous coursework. She is passionate about republishing and bringing classic books to life with classic paintings, such as Story of the Greeks, Story of the Romans, Saints and Heroes Vol. I, Saints and Heroes Vol II, and forthcoming illustrated versions of Homer and Virgil’s epic poems. Valerie has been married to Troy for 22 years and has six children, ages 18 to 6. Prior to homeschooling, Valerie earned an Associates of Arts from The Art Institute of Dallas and enjoyed a career creating content as a graphic designer.Jennifer Hartenburg with Bluebonnet Scholars in Houston, TX: Jennifer Hartenburg is a Published writer and classroom teacher, Jen Hartenburg holds a bachelor of arts in English Literature and a master of arts in Education from Biola University where she remains a perpetual member of the Torrey Honors Institute. She began teaching literature and writing in 1997 and helped pilot an interactive online program for high school students through Biola University beginning in 2000. She has been offering summer writing camps and classes in the Houston area since 2015, and she is an Accomplished Instructor with the Institute for Excellence in Writing. Her educational approach continues to be informed and refined by the living stream of Christian tradition, the classical liberal arts heritage, and the writings of folks such as Charlotte Mason, Jacques Maritain, C.S. Lewis, and Sofia Cavalletti. A homeschool parent/teacher of two, Jen also enjoys hiking, dancing, drinking tea, listening to the rain, and writing. Her poetry and creative non-fiction have appeared or are forthcoming in literary journals including Rattle: Poets Respond, Weber—The Contemporary West, The Saint Katherine Review, The Other Journal, Dappled Things, and The Christian Century. Jen is continually rediscovering the power of word and world to startle and heal us with beauty.Show NotesHave you wondered how to bring a breath of fresh air to homeschool? Classical Education host, Adrienne Freas, brings forth workable ideas from her guest panel members. Valerie Bishop for the love of learning, started a co-op fulfilling the mission to carry out a living education. Randon Steinhauser listened to the needs of others. Wanting a blended style of learning inspired by nature, she created a nature-focused gathering. One of the biggest challenges has been to find ways to accommodate more and more students. Jennifer Hartenburg started a hybrid homeschool community in the Christian Liberal Arts Tradition which grew out of a Charlotte Mason book club she began in 2016. The ideas shared in this podcast are truly inspiring, while surprisingly simple. Gathering with others is golden wherever you begin your homeschool journey. Listen to the end of this podcast for the inspirational closing quotations. Ask yourself what your homeschool community would look like, while remembering that "the flowers aren’t new, but the children are. "- Charlotte Mason. Some Topics and Ideas in this Episode Include:Biggest challenges in starting a co-opBuilding your classical education community Specific steps in order to begin with intention and clarity Modeling, teaching, and delegating tasks according to giftsWays to include creativity in your homeschool Adrienne's Favorite Mason Quotation:"All is mystery, being what the heart of man could not conceive of unless it had been revealed.'Great is the mystery of Godliness: God manifest in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.' [1 Tim 3:16] And what a barren and dry land should we dwell in if our spirits were narrowed to the limits of that which we can comprehend! Where we err is in supposing that mystery is confined to our religion, that everything else is obvious and open to our understanding. Whereas the great things of life, birth, death, hope, love, patriotism, why a leaf is green, and why a bird is clothed in feathers––all such things as these are mysteries; and it is only as we can receive that which we cannot understand, and can discern the truth of that which we cannot prove, and can distinguish between a luminous mystery and a bewildering superstition, that we are able to live the full life for which we were made."- C. Mason, Ourselves, 201. Resources and Books & Mentioned In This EpisodeCourse Offerings for Bluebonnet Scholars: https://www.bluebonnetscholars.org/class-offerings/Primary Curriculum for Sweetwater Scholé: https://www.bewildandfree.org/youngnaturalistA Thinking Love by Karen GlassOurselves by Charlotte Mason______________________________This podcast is produced by Beautiful Teaching, LLC.OUR MISSIONWe exist for the benefit of both parents and teachers. 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 our GuestsDr. Matthew Post: University of Dallas, Director of the St. Ambrose Center for Catholic Liberal Education and Culture; Assistant Professor of HumanitiesDr. Matthew Bianco: Chief Operations Officer for the CiRCE InstituteDr. Gary Hartenburg: Houston Christian University, Associate Professor of Philosophy and Director of Honors CollegePeach Smith: founder of Sacred HEART Academy, Koinonia Academy: Curriculum Coordinator, Lead Teacher, College CounselorKaren Glass: AmblesideOnline Advisory Committee, Author, Speaker, and Teacher_______________________________Show NotesWhat is virtue according to the tradition? Adrienne invited five distinguished guests: Dr. Matthew Post, Dr. Matthew Bianco, Dr. Gary Hartenburg, Karen Glass, and Peach Smith to discuss the topic of virtue in education. They engage in dialogue to contemplate an understanding of, and perhaps define virtue. Is it possible to teach this hallmark of Classical Education? Are children virtuous for sitting when told? How ought virtue be taught and can it be taught? What’s the practical end of teaching virtue? These are all questions we ponder in this episode to further our understanding of what virtue is and how to attain it. Some Topics and Ideas in this Episode Include: What is virtue according to the tradition?How do we define virtue?Elements of virtue according to Plato, Aristotle, and the Bible.Teaching through stories and a caring life.What about the Charlotte Mason perspective of teaching virtue?Resources and Books & Mentioned In This EpisodeVirtues in Practice programThe Bible-Philipians 4:8 and 1 Thessalonians 4:9The Meno by PlatoThe Cratylus by PlatoA Philosophy of Education by Charlotte Mason (first 20 pages)Formation Of Character by Charlotte Mason (Part 4)Poetic Knowledge: The Recovery of Education by James S. TaylorAesop's Fables by AesopThe Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave by Frederick Douglass The Souls of Black Folk (Ch. 6: of the training of black men) by W. E. B. DuBoisThe Education of Black People by W. E. B. DuBoisWorks of Jane Austen such as Pride and Prejudice and Mansfield Park__________________This podcast is produced by Beautiful Teaching, LLC. OUR MISSIONWe exist for the benefit of both parents and teachers. 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 desire to bridge a large gap that currently exists between most classical schools and the parents who send their students to these schools. Immersing both parents and teachers into the beauty of good teaching is paramount to our goals! Our formative sessions are designed to be LIVE so that you can experience classical education through participating and doing. This is what is expected in classical education. In order to mentor you well, we invite you to participate for a full classical experience. Our online sessions assume modeling, imitation, and meaningful conversation as the basis of experiencing good teaching. OUR SERVICESIf you like our podcast, you will love our online sessions! We offer immersion sessions so you can experience classical pedagogy. A complete listing of our courses is at  https://beautifulteaching.coursestorm.com/Becoming an effective educator requires participation and doing, not merely listening to the ideals of a theory being talked about. Experiencing the labor of thinking, speaking, and asking questions is non-negotiable for a real classical experience. For this reason our courses are LIVE and not recorded. Participation is paramount to a true classical education.Teachers and Home Educators: Grow in your craft of teaching! Do you want to know how to apply what we discuss on our podcast? Check out our affordable on-line immersion courses with master teachers.  https://beautifulteaching.coursestorm.com/Parents: Do you want to understand how to support your student in a classical school? Or, do you simply want to know more about classical education?  Consider our affordable book seminars. Explore why a classical education is truly a beautiful way of learning. Our book seminars and immersion sessions can you help you make an informed choice as well as help you understand how to support your children who may attend a classical school.  https://beautifulteaching.coursestorm.com/Schools: We offer professional development for schools onsite or online. Email Adrienne at BeautifulTeaching@Gmail.com for more information. _________________________________________________________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 ★

About Our GuestsRichard W. Rohlin is an Orthodox Christian, author, podcaster, medievalist, and data analyst living in Grand Prairie, TX. A husband and father, he is the co-host of The Amon Sul Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio, regularly contributes to Jonathan Pageau's The Symbolic World YouTube channel, has published several works of fiction and non-fiction, and currently has several projects under development, including a collection of essays called Finding the Golden Key: Essays Toward a Recovery of the Sacramental Imagination. His most recent book, the Akboritha, a work of liturgical mythopoeia, is available from Darkly Bright Press.Dr. Reno Lauro is a Classical Education Curriculum and Pedagogy Specialist for Coram Deo Academy. He received his Ph.D. from the University of St. Andrews Institute for Theology, Imagination and the Arts in 2011, where he wrote on J. R. R. Tolkien’s philosophy of Mythopoeia. For the past ten years, he has worked at the intersection of Humane and Digital learning. After completing his degrees, Theology (MDiv) and History (BA), Reno apprenticed for 18 months on the Palme d’Or winning film The Tree of Life with director Terrence Malick, which transformed his understanding of the Classics, the modern world, and how to communicate the relationship between the two. He has taught at the graduate and undergraduate levels (University of Dallas and University of Arizona) and in both Lower and Upper School classrooms of Classical Schools. Before coming to Coram Deo Academy. He served as the Assistant Headmaster at Saint Peter’s and of a Great Hearts Archway School. He also worked closely with the CEO of the globally recognized BASIS.ed charter schools to create and pilot seminar-style history courses as alternatives to AP classes.  _____________________________Show NotesIn this episode, Reno Lauro and Richard Rohlin introduce us to the fatherly nature of Tolkien. Beginning with a definition of Mythopoeia, we then dive into The Letters of Father Christmas. Richard unpacks a brief history of these letters and how they developed into a full-fledged story about Father Christmas and the happenings at The North Pole. The Spirit of Christmas quickly become the center of our conversations. Our guests discuss the idea that Christmas lore helps us navigate the general hardships of daily life. Reno says, "These tales have teeth in reality and make sense of the life we live." The rich tradition of folk tales, stories, and myth helps us to see the implications of the incarnation and to make sense of the real God we see in the Christ Child. Richard closes by reading from Tolkien's Mythopoeia, saying, "Our whole understanding of the cosmos goes back to Christmas!" from MythopoeiaHe sees no stars who does not see them firstof living silver made that sudden burstto flame like flowers bencath an ancient song,whose very echo after-music longhas since pursued. There is no firmament,only a void, unless a jewelled tentmyth-woven and elf-pattemed; and no earth,unless the mother's womb whence all have birth.Some Topics and Ideas in this Episode Include: Celebrating the Spirit of Christmas in your homeWhat are some misunderstandings about Christmas and Santa Clause?From St. Nicholas to Santa Clause, how ought Christians celebrate Christmas?The origins of Christmas as a pagan holidayReal and true are two different things and they have a necessary relationship to help our children engage the world as an enchanted space. Connect with Richard's Resources:Jonathan Pageau's Symbolic World, Medieval Universal History playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_N5s4n_lwB8&list=PLVX4HUUPrIY_M2uZP3yW6EEiod3fGD6FD&ab_channel=JonathanPageau Amon Sul Podcast (Tolkien & Orthodox Christianity): https://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/amonsul The Akboritha (mythopoeic liturgical fantasy): https://darklybrightpress.com/akboritha/Connect with Reno's Resources:Reno Lauro's blog, Time Out of JointReno's Tolkien's House of Being Facebook PageOther Titles Mentioned:The Letter's From Father Christmas by J.R.R TolkienChesterton's Essay Santa Clause and ScienceChristmas at a Crisis for Civilization by ChestertonA Christmas Carol by DickensThe Lion, the Witch, and the WardrobeThe Two Babylons: Or, the Papal Worship Proved to Be the Worship of Nimrod by: Alexander HislopMythopoeia by J.R.R. TolkienThe Tree of Life film by Terrence MalickTolkien's essay on The Green KnightAnglo-Saxon Advent poem Christ IDr. Reno Lauro ends our podcast reading the first sentence in this poem. The whole poem is stunning! O Earendel, brightest of angels,sent to mankind over middle-earth,righteous sun's radiance,splendid above all stars! Of thine own selfthou ever enlightenest every age.As thou, God born of God long ago,Son of the true Father, eternally existedwithout beginning in the glory of heaven,so thine own creation cry with confidenceto thee now for their needs, that thou sendthat bright sun to us, and come thyselfto lighten those who long have lived,surrounded by shadows and darkness, herein everlasting night; who, shrouded by sins,have had to endure death's dark shadow.Now, hope-filled, we look for healing,brought to the world's people through the word of God,who was in the beginning with the almighty Fatherequally eternal with God, and now becameflesh, free of failings, born of the virgin,a support to the sorrowful. God was with us,seen without sin; together dweltthe mighty Measurer's child and the son of man,at peace among the people. We may ever addressour thanks to the lord of victory for his deeds,because he chose to send himself to us.Online Courses with Beautiful Teaching Consultants: 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 © 2022...