Dwell

Renee and Karen are joined by Daniel Foucachon, a homeschooling dad of seven and founder of Roman Roads Press, to talk about his experience as a homeschooled student early in the movement, while living in France, Quebec, and the US. We enjoyed this lively conversation and hearing about his role in homeschooling with his wife, Lydia, and how he includes their children in the family business. Hosted...

In this episode, Renee and Karen dwell on Wendell Berry's recurring themes of home, marriage, place, family, economy, and hospitality. They share their favorite characters, stories, poems, and essays that have been particularly meaningful and inspiring to them over the years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet the author of the new book, Ancient and New: Storied Pathways of the Kingdom Coming, Danielle Mellama. Danielle, wife and mother of four, chats with Renee and Karen about how God meets us in our everyday lives and how there are no ordinary things, but rather windows to see God's grace and beauty if we open our eyes. Her book contains 30 short chapters: stories from her own life with refer...

We all want to be hospitable: to welcome friends, new and old, into our homes for delicious meals and conversation. But with the busyness of our lives, hospitality can be neglected, even with the best intentions. Renee and Karen offer ideas for easy make- ahead meals and tips for getting together with other families. It doesn't have to be fancy, and simple is the way to go! Hosted on Acast. See ac...

If you are a new homeschooler with a 4 or 5-year-old and maybe a toddler and baby in tow, you may be feeling excited or terrified or both. Renee and Karen offer tips to help you get started regarding expectations, curriculum (maybe none is needed!), daily habits, ideas to invest in your own education, and more. Join us! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Renee and Karen talk with Jennifer Degani about homeschooling on the road with their four kids and two pets. For the majority of the school year, they travel for work, living in various states and making each place feel like home while carrying on the routine of homeschool life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen as Renee and Karen recap the summer conference: A Contemplation of Revolution. They chat about what makes this conference so special—the community of old and new friends, the contemplation of ideas together, the culinary delights for body and soul. If you attended and want to listen again, or if you wish you could have come, you can listen to the recordings on the CiRCE website and be refre...

Andrea Lipinski, mother of two grown sons, one in training to be a Navy pilot, the other a firefighter, joins Renee and Karen to reflect on her journey of motherhood. She offers wise counsel for those raising boys, but mothers of girls should also be encouraged by her story and her most important piece of advice: know your children. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Renee and Karen talk with Buck Holler about his new curriculum, Hodie Latine: A Daily Liturgy for the Active Latin Learner. Written for children in the pre-grammar stage, it offers a recitation, a song, a game, all in Latin, along with illustrations for ease in understanding. It is not a textbook, but a "little book of delights meant to invite students into the joys of learning La...

Renee and Karen offer tips for planning out the coming school year: get a good planner/calendar, map out the big life events, add the scheduled things, the seasonal events, plan your typical week, give structure to your day, and leave space for the unexpected! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Renee and Karen chat about how to let your curriculum serve your goals and the needs of your children. Remember that education is cultivation, and it takes a long time to produce fruit!  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen to our recent webinar with Andrew Kern as he discusses the art of language and the benefits of narration and dictation in training attention, memory, thinking, and expression. We answer questions about our new curriculum, The Tapestry: what it is, who it is for, how it is structured to fit in with weekly lesson plans, and the format of each exercise. We think you will enjoy listening in! Ho...

Listen as Renee and Karen chat about how to get the most out of a summer conference. From planning ahead, to taking in and enjoying every moment while pacing yourself, to reflecting on what you have gained, they offer tips for having a blast and going home refreshed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Renee and Karen offer ideas and tips for planning your next family trip. Renee brilliantly suggests that the strategies for thinking and writing in The Lost Tools of Writing can help you prepare for your family's summer vacation! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We all know play is important for the development of our children, but do we know why and how to incorporate play into our homeschool day? Join Renee and Karen as they chat with Rachel Woodham about her soon-to-be-published book, Let There Be Play. Rachel discusses the nature of play and how it is necessary to the development of virtue and the moral imagination.   Hosted on Acast. See ac...

Author and educator Mark Signorelli joins Renee and Karen to discuss his new book, Things Glorious and Ruinous, Considering Classical Education Amidst Cultural Decay. Listen as they talk about the benefits of a classical education, including, as Mark writes in his book, "What is it the classical educator is preparing her students for? For happiness. And how does one learn to be happy in the future...

Listen as Renee and Karen chat with homeschool mom, Suzy Laskey, about their family farm in Michigan that started with a square foot garden and a dream. She describes how tending the animals and participating in the work of farm life have enriched her family and her homeschool. You might want to start a garden and get some chickens! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Renee describes her experience of being a winning contestant on a popular TV game show! She shares how she put her study skills to use in preparation and how she has used her experience to aid her students in preparing for exams and other challenges. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen as Renee and Karen chat with Kimberly Farley, representative for the Classic Learning Test. This may be just what your family needs to navigate the world of academic assessments for college entrance, as well as testing for grades 3-8. We are sure you will find this conversation informative and also encouraging as you hear how well homeschoolers are doing academically. Hosted on Acast. See a...

In this episode, Renee and Karen are joined by Vanessa Priestner, labor and delivery nurse and homeschool mom. They discuss the needs of the postpartum mom, offer tips for finding rest and support, and explain the signs of PPD as opposed to the "baby blues". If you are in that season now, or if you are supporting a new mom, Vanessa's advice will be helpful to you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pr...

Sometimes it is helpful to hear what other people are reading, their favorite books and authors, to be inspired to pick up a new book. We hope you enjoy this episode in which we share our favorites!  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen as Renee and Karen chat with guest, Amanda Kenter, who makes a convincing case for the importance of sports and physical activities in the formation of our kids. She explains the benefits of sports and how you can fit them in with your family dynamics, goals, and time commitments.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Renee and Karen answer a question from a listener about ADHD. They offer advice from their own experiences and from the principles of Charlotte Mason and Classical Education: keep lessons short, get outside, train habits, limit devices, and remember your child isn't a problem to be solved. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen as Renee and Karen talk with guest, homeschool mom Krista Sanders, about her journey to enrich her own intellectual life. She reflects on how it started when, as a mom of young boys, she asked herself, "What is education?" That eventually led her to the CiRCE Apprenticeship and then Belmont Abbey College, where she has recently completed her Master of Arts in Classical and Liberal Education...

Does the thought of teaching a foreign language in your homeschool intimidate you? Join us as Laura Councell gives us tips, ideas, and resources for learning with your children, using familiar books translated into another language and adding just a few phrases at a time. You will be inspired to wade in at the shallow end and give it a try. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informati...