The Well-Trained Mind podcast

Julie Bogart’s Books: The Brave Learner: Finding Everyday Magic in Homeschool, Learning and LifeRaising Critical Thinkers: A Parent’s Guide to Growing Wise Kids in the Digital AgeBecoming a Critical Thinker: A Workbook to Help Students Think Well in the Age of Disinformation Julie’s Secular Devotionals: A Gracious Space Julie’s Other Reading Recommendations: How to Really Love Your Child by Ross Campbell The Well-Trained Mind: Essential Edition by Susan Wise Bauer Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty EdwardsAuthors Julie recommended: Charlotte Mason, John Holt, John Taylor Gatto, and Peter Gray. If you enjoyed this episode, check out our episode from Season Two with Julie Bogart, Different Approaches to Teaching Writing.  (00:00) - Intro with Julie Bogart (01:32) - Julie's early years homeschooling (09:03) - Experiences with public school (11:59) - Finding homeschool community (22:04) - A brief(ish) aside on parenting styles (28:12) - Break (29:03) - We're figuring this out as we go (34:21) - Dealing with outside gaze through the years (46:05) - Being a parent and an educator (55:51) - Check out "Becoming a Critical Thinker" by Julie! (57:13) - Outro

Be encouraged! Nobody gets it right all the time. In this episode, Susan Wise Bauer and Susanna Jarrett share hilarious homeschool "fails" from our wonderful listeners.Click here for a link to our Facebook Post with more homeschool fails (some have pictures)!On this episode of the podcast we briefly discuss Hurricane Helene. If you are able and willing to support ongoing disaster relief efforts, consider donating to World Central Kitchen: https://wck.org/ (00:00) - Intro (00:56) - Consider donating to disaster relief for the victims of Hurricane Helene (04:14) - Susan's homeschool fail (07:15) - Your homeschool fails (07:44) - Things You Should Know (15:05) - Never Test a Homeschooler (20:24) - Break (21:31) - False Starts (29:31) - That Got Messy (34:10) - Unexpected Turns (38:01) - Wrapping up

Technology Reading List: Marshall McLuhanThe Medium is the MessageThe Global VillageThe Gutenberg GalaxyUnderstanding Media Neil Postman Amusing Ourselves to Death Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to TechnologyRay KurzwellThe Age of Spirtual Machines: When Computers Exceed Human IntelligenceKirkpatrick SaleRebels Against The Future: The Luddites And Their War On The Industrial Revolution: Lessons For The Computer Age Paperback Articles Mentioned in the Episode: Mayo Clinic Article on Screen Time Digital Literacy: Stanford Research: High School Students’ Digital Skills Paints Worrying Portrait Stanford Research: It Doesn’t Take Long to Learn to Spot Misinformation OnlineCivic Online Reasoning LessonsJust for fun: Medieval Help Desk SketchSusan’s Movie Recommendation: The Village, directed by M. Night Shyamalan (00:00) - Kids, Screentime, and Technology (00:42) - The benefits of remote meetings (03:46) - The Luddites (07:30) - Technology in preschool (09:46) - Tech in the grammar stage (19:17) - Break (20:22) - Tech in the logic stage (36:54) - Tech in the rhetoric stage (42:03) - Screen things we like! (46:22) - Outro

Jean Lee, a passionate secular homeschooler, shares her unique journey and perspectives on homeschooling. She discusses the differences between faith-based and secular education, shedding light on common misconceptions. Jean explores various secular curricula and reflects on the reactions from faith-based homeschoolers—both positive and negative. With humor, she recounts her funniest homeschool fails, navigating the challenges that families face today. This engaging conversation emphasizes the significance of inclusivity and community in the homeschooling landscape.

Interview with WaPo Journalist Peter Jamison: NPR Fresh Air: Homeschooling is surging, but lax regulation can leave kids vulnerable to abuse, January 18th, 2024The Report Susanna Mentioned: Report on Mathew Tirado Learn about becoming a Guardian Ad Litem or Child Appointed Special Advocate in Your State Tell us about your funniest homeschool fail! We may feature it in an upcoming episode! https://www.speakpipe.com/HomeschoolFails  (00:00) - Homeschool fails (00:42) - Intro with Terrence Massey (01:31) - What is Guardian ad Litem? (02:26) - Homeschool and child welfare (06:50) - Homeschooling, abuse, neglect, and the media (13:08) - Discipline and abuse (16:20) - Preserving families (18:49) - Break (19:56) - Educational neglect (33:24) - Common sense regulations on homeschooling (40:13) - We want the kids to be alright (44:44) - Outro

Join Susan Wise Bauer, an expert on learning misconceptions, and Susanna Jarrett, a dynamic speaker on brain function myths, as they tackle pervasive educational fallacies. They debunk the left-brain vs. right-brain myth, arguing for a more nuanced view of learning. The duo critiques the validity of learning styles and IQ tests, emphasizing that no single approach fits all learners. With wit and insight, they encourage a multimodal teaching strategy to embrace diverse talents and re-evaluate outdated educational beliefs.

Gretchen Ronnevik, an experienced educator in classical writing and formal rhetoric, shares fascinating insights on teaching controversial topics. She emphasizes the importance of representing opposing views accurately to foster constructive dialogue. The discussion navigates the complexities of neutral political education, the necessity of exploring diverse economic theories, and challenges in teaching sensitive science topics like evolution. Ronnevik advocates for creating safe spaces for open dialogue, encouraging students to engage with differing perspectives while forming their own beliefs.

Here is a link to the standarized test that Susan recommended for students coming into classical education or homeschooling “late”: California Achievement Test (CAT) (00:00) - Intro (00:55) - Reaction to WTM not being "classical enough"? (06:21) - How to teach several ages at once? (14:48) - Logistics of simultaneous at-home and in-school education (21:02) - How to keep the energy up after graduating kids? (28:16) - Confronting the decline of vocabulary (32:40) - How to transition from Kindergarten to 1st grade? (41:09) - How do handwriting and typing compare as learning tools? (45:24) - When should a "gifted" child start focusing more on special interests? (58:47) - Starting WTM "late"? (01:04:22) - Adding AP classes to rhetoric? (01:08:59) - Clarification from the burnout conversation (01:11:27) - Wrapping up

Courtney Ostaff discusses science curricula for homeschooling, exploring Elemental Science, Real Science Odyssey, Nancy Larson Science, Blossom and Root, and more. The conversation covers the goals of science education, engaging young children with fun approaches, and the differences between Christian, secular, and neutral curricula. The review includes a discussion on balancing curriculum aesthetics and pedagogy quality, challenges with usability and printing costs, and the benefits of online education through the Well-Trained Mind Academy.

What About Socialization? Via Well-Trained MindVIDEO: Should I Join a Homeschool Co-Op? Recommended Book: The Artist's Way by Julia CameronSusan's Book: Rethinking School  (00:00) - Intro (01:44) - How to prepare for the Outside Gaze (03:27) - Peer pressure when homeschooling (13:06) - What is your "Why"? (22:57) - Homeschooling groups and co-ops (33:10) - What about socialization? (48:09) - Stay true to yourself (49:35) - Outro