The Well-Trained Mind podcast

Clarification on online class types: Live = Students attend video call classes at a set time. During class they can interact with their instructor and peers. They may complete additional coursework on their own, but must submit it by a particular deadline. Asynch = Students watch video instruction on their own. There are no set meeting times. They may or may not have deadlines for coursework. Delayed (unique to WTM Academy) = Students can watch lectures on their own time (within 24hrs of the live class), but must complete all other coursework on the same timeline as live students. Here is a video about how delayed classes work at the WTM Academy. Things to Look For When Choosing an Online School: Is there an administration?Is the school accredited? TuitionHow much do you want to be involved? Delivery method/Time onlineSocialization opportunitiesViewpoint Diversity and/or Worldview Website design Nationally Recognized Accrediting bodies MSA(Also check out the agencies they cooperate with)WASC Cognia  (00:00) - Intro with Julia Collier (02:39) - What are the benefits of online school? (12:50) - Types of online programs (27:23) - Break (28:16) - Types of online programs (34:32) - What a diploma does and whether or not it's important (36:52) - What are *you* looking for in an online school? (43:13) - Green flags, red flags, and things to look for in an online school (01:02:28) - Wrapping up (01:03:22) - Outro

German: Goethe Institute Spanish: Instituto CervantesFrench:  Alliance Francaise Well-Trained Mind AcademyBeth Gibbons – singing Penderecki/Gorecki Symphony #3ANNOUNCEMENT: We will record a Q&A episode at the end of this season. If you have questions for Susan or Susanna, send them to podcast@welltrainedmind.com. (00:00) - Intro with Elizabeth Weber-Edwards (01:59) - A brief introduction to learned languages (08:15) - How do you learn languages? (14:06) - Some principles for choosing a way to teach a language (21:52) - Which language should you pick? (30:41) - Break (31:34) - How language learning fits into classical education (41:23) - What to look for in a quality online language class (54:51) - It's never too late to learn a language!

Exploring different historical interpretations like Marxist, providential, and positivist history. Discussing teaching history at different educational stages, emphasizing developing critical thinking skills. Resources for teaching historical thinking skills and engaging with diverse historical perspectives.

Susan and Susanna discuss navigating problematic content in children's literature, including racial stereotypes and misogyny. They explore the importance of critically engaging with classic books, such as 'Little House on the Prairie' and 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'. The chapter highlights the significance of addressing prejudice and outdated attitudes in classic literature, advocating for open conversations with children.

Summary: In this episode, Susan and Susanna are joined by Julie Bogart, the founder of the Brave Writer program. Susan and Julie compare their different approaches to teaching writing and discuss which approach might work best for different types of students. Show Notes: Writing With Ease Brave Writer Julie Bogart’s Books: The Brave Learner: Finding Everyday Magic in Homeschool, Learning and LifeRaising Critical Thinkers  (00:00) - Intro with Julie Bogart of Brave Writer (07:29) - A perfect segue story (10:20) - The basic philosophy of Brave Writer (13:26) - Comparing and contrasting WTM and BW (20:37) - An example of an inappropriate writing assignment and a fix! (23:33) - The pressure to come up with original content (27:57) - How to deal with writing-terrified parents (33:26) - What are we going to do about AI? (37:25) - Listener question: Left brain vs right brain thinkers? (42:31) - Wrapping up

In this episode, Susan and Susanna discuss Susan’s classical approach to teaching writing across all three stages of a classical education. Apologies, Susanna’s audio was a bit messed up in this episode! Show Notes: The Current State of Writing InstructionSusan’s Youtube video on teaching writing: Teaching Writing, Stage by StageA Plan for Teaching Writing: Grades K-12, Audio WorkshopThe Complete Writer (Our recommended writing program by Susan)

Check out The Well-Trained Mind Essential Edition or head to our website to subscribe to the new recommendations portal. 

In this episode, Susan Wise Bauer and Susanna Jarrett discuss creating a positive learning environment for young children, before formal education begins. Our Top Recommendations for Preschool Curricula: Preschool Math at Home by Kate Snow The Toddler Busy Book by Trish Kuffner Complete Daily Curriculum for Early Childhood by Pam Schiller and Patt Phipps (00:00) - Intro (00:14) - Welcome to Season 2! (plus a little Season 1 recap) (00:43) - The Nuts and Bolts of Classical Education (01:28) - What Classical Education looks like before the grammar stage (06:50) - The preschool years at a brain development level (09:15) - The preschool years at a physical development level (11:40) - Laying out some basic principles (11:50) - Don't push into formal education activities (12:44) - Create and environment for reading, math, and thinking (21:27) - If your child does want to do school (24:24) - How to create a learning environment (24:58) - Don't confuse entertainment with education (27:50) - Encourage drawing counter-clockwise circles (29:15) - Incorporate counting into everyday life (31:16) - Talk! (and listen!) (34:21) - Read read read! (38:23) - What your kid should know before 1st grade (42:31) - Outro

The podcast discusses the challenges of teaching virtue, explores the four cardinal virtues of classical education - temperance, prudence, courage, and justice, and emphasizes the importance of developing virtue in children. It also touches upon the role of parenting in character development and the impact of modeling behavior. The podcast concludes with a discussion on creating a safe environment for middle school students and the limits of teaching virtue.

Show notes: Rethinking School by Susan Wise Bauer How to Homeschool the Kids You Have – the book Courtney co-authored Courtney’s Podcast: Modern Classical Education Podcast (name recently changed to Kitchen Table Homeschool Podcast) The Well-Trained Mind Forums Study mentioned in the Episode: The Baseball Study (1988) Summary of The Baseball StudyFurther Reading: WWE and students with Dyslexia/DysgraphiaSentence diagramming with dysgraphiaTimestamps