Classical Et Cetera

Students need to learn philosophy during their education. It is a core pillar in developing a child's own perspective on the things that go on in the world, and it's far more accessible than a lot of people might think. For the classical Christian homeschool, understanding the pros and cons of each philosophy curriculum you encounter is a great first step to incorporating such a pivotal aspect of...

Welcome to Classical Et Cetera LIVE! An episode where Shane and the gang sit down at the Great Homeschool Convention in Cincinnati to make our case for why a classical Christian education might be a great choice for parents to choose. No home school education is complete without the curriculum to back it up, which is why Shane and the table share today why Memoria Press is a great gateway into the...

Interested in starting your own classical school? Think that private education based in foundations of truth, goodness and beauty is the way to go? The Memoria Press Curriculum is more than just learning material, it is the blueprint by which we have laid the foundation for classical schools across the country. Many of our trademark schools start out as homeschool co-ops that get started with litt...

Classical Curriculum helps in more ways than just what a student is practically learning. It extends into how a classroom conducts itself in both a school and homeschool environment. Today, Classical Et Cetera revisits gravitas and dives deeper into how serious classroom arrangement and organization poses great advantages for better education.

Today, Shane sits down to unpack A Classical History of Art, a new course from Memoria Press that traces the lines of how the tenants of truth, goodness, and beauty have impacted arts throughout history. This curriculum is perfect for at home and in-classroom education environments and especially for those teaching from a traditional, Christian perspective. And don't miss a sneak peek at Lesson 1...

As homeschooling and classical education continue to gain popularity, it's important to delineate the significant difference between The Rhetoric Stage and whatever speech and debate program is being taught in public schools. In today's episode, Shane Saxon and the team at Memoria Press discuss why we don't have a speech program in our classical Christian education curriculum and why we would rath...

**SPOILER WARNING** Fidelity New books you should read! Today the table is diving into a wonderful book by Wendell Berry; a short book, under 200 pages, that we think everyone should read at least once. We especially love recommending short books that won't break your schedule in half. "Fidelity", written in 1992 is a must read for fans of classical literature and its one of the best stories that...

Memoria Press doesn't offer a speech program, and today the table talks about why. Well, great rhetoric begins with great writing. And that's why our curriculum puts such a strong focus on the skills mastered through grammar and logic. Join Shane at the table today as Classical Et Cetera dives into what makes great writing!  If you're struggling with academic writing or essay writing, classical ed...

In this video, we explore how to manage big questions using the Socratic dialectic method in classroom conversations. As educators, we know that facilitating meaningful discussions about complex topics is essential for student learning and development. However, implementing effective classroom management in these conversations can be challenging, especially when dealing with big questions that hav...

The journey to a healthy Socratic Conversation is a long one and not to be rushed when used in a teaching environment. But when a classroom is equipped for healthy questioning, dialogue, and debate, classroom learning can drastically shift from passive receptivity to engaged and proactive critical thinking. So when is the right time to use the Socratic method in school and homeschool environments?...

Anton Chekhov penned "The Bet" in 1889, a curious short story about the nature of knowledge, wisdom, and community. Today, Classical Et Cetera will spend some time opening the pages of this clever little story and provide a summary of their thoughts and big takeaways. By Russian and English standards this book is one you should definitely look into. Check out our other articles and podcast episode...

In the Winter 2023 edition of The Classical Teacher, Martin Cothran wrote an article, The Culmination of the Classical Hero. An article that unpacks The Hero's Journey and explained how this story structure grounded more than just Star Wars, video games, and modern storytelling. It connects to something deeper. The Monomyth. A term coined by Joseph Campbell in his book, A Hero With a Thousand Face...

What is the difference between fun and leisure? It starts with the idea that there is a better way to spend your free time. Classical education promotes using the extra time in our days wisely and productively with activities that move our time from fun into leisure. So how do you that? Shane sits down with the Classical et Cetera table to discuss this very topic, along with ways in which a school...

Come visit us at The Great Homeschool Convention this coming April!  Pride & Prejudice, an insightful and transformative domestic novel that took the literary world by storm, has become one of the most beloved pieces of classical literature. A beautiful book that fits very nicely into our classical education curriculum, thank you very much. But why is it important? Why did it leave such an imp...

Great books, need great characters. And a wide swath of classic literature features some incredibly strong female characters that we believe both young girls and young boys should read and enjoy. Join Shane at the table today with guest Leta Sundet to talk about the role strong female protagonists play in classic literature, why these books feature so strongly in our traditional homeschool curricu...

We love great books. Great books will make you smarter, great books will change the way your mind works, great books have changed the western world. Today on the podcast, Shane and the gang break down the core elements of great literature that help unlock the pleasure in reading in the long term. For what are great books, if not gateways to greater reading? Today we find out. 

We've received a ton of questions from viewers of the show and now it's time to answer them! We looked through comments on Classical Et Cetera episodes to find thought provoking questions to answer at the table. Join Paul, Shane, Tanya, and Martin for this special year-end Q&A episode. If you have additional questions for the group, put them in the comments down below!

Merry Christmas from Memoria Press and Classical Et Cetera. In this episode, the gang talks "A Christmas Carol", plays Secret Santa, and Tanya almost gets stabbed! It's an episode to ring in the Christmas season and celebrate a joyful year of light and love, featuring a special message from the MP family. Merry Christmas!

Classical Education and the Great Books of the Western World are a gateway to the Great Conversation. But what is the Great Conversation, and how does a classic reading list of history's greatest books inspire us to think big and strive in personal growth and wisdom? Today, Shane and the gang find out. Today we take a look at a manageable approach for beginners to enter into the Great Conversation...

Today we're talking about our Classical Christian Studies Curriculum. Memoria Press has made it a point to teach biblical literacy, church history, and a strong faith in a Christian consciousness. Why is this valuable in a homeschooling setting? What is the point of a Christian education in a homeschool or formal school environment? Today we find out.

Why do we educate our kids? What is education in America trying to do? It can seem like the functions, aim, and purpose of school defined, redefined, and conceptualized anew every year. Why? What is education supposed to be doing for us? Today Shane and the gang sit down to explore the definition, meaning, and goals of the educational philosophy of Memoria Press. We explore the nature of education...

Time to get started in Classical Education! We know that for first time teachers and parents Classical Education and Classical thinking can seem a little bit daunting. But trust us, no one here at Memoria Press was born classically educated and we've found that the journey is definitely worth it. Getting into Classical Education is accessible for classroom and homeschool teachers alike. What are y...

In today's episode of Classical Et Cetera, Shane and friends sit down to talk about the Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair. Among the vast works by Christian authors, few cast such a compelling vision as CS Lewis.  Through a literary analysis of The Silver Chair, the team at Memoria Press will compare C.S. Lewis' other works: The Abolition of Man, Surprised by Joy, the Screwtape Letters and ma...

What is the quadrivium and how does it relate to classical education? If you've enjoyed our past conversations on the liberal arts, the trivium, and a close look at Christian homeschool education, this conversation is for you! Today we take an overview look at possibly the oldest learning curriculum in the world: The Quadrivium. Not only does a solid education need language arts to work, it needs...

The Trivium: Grammar, Logic, and Rhetoric. But what is the Trivium and how relate to the popular trivium-based education model? And how do these foundational elements properly influence a classical education? These questions and more answered on today's episode of Classical Et Cetera. Join Martin, Shane, Tanya, and Paul as they break down the Trivium: what it is, what is does, and how it shapes ou...