Classical Et Cetera

"There once was a boy named Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it." These words from C.S. Lewis's work Voyage of the Dawn Treader open today's podcast and set the stage for a discussion of what mice, dragons, and voyages can teach us about Classical Education. Join the table in wondering at Reepicheep's nobility, Eustace's journey from man to dragon to man, and the journey of the Dawn...

Whole word reading method vs phonics. In the world of language education, Phonics is simply the best way to teach students how to read, write, spell, and speak. Its traditional approach stands the tests of time and science, and wins over all other language comprehension programs. The whole word learning approach is misguided, and it betrays both how broken the American school system has become and...

In this episode, the table approaches the merits and shortcomings of the various classical education models. Paul, Shane, Tanya, and Martin shed light on the thought process behind Memoria Press's educational model and our view of what makes a educational model classical. You don't want to miss it! Memoria Press exists to promote and impart the classical heritage of the Christian West. Classical C...

What was real about the land of the Chronicles of Narnia? In a nutshell, why should you study C.S. Lewis? What order should we read them in? Let's head into the wardrobe on this episode of Classical Et Cetera! Today Shane and the team talk the Chronicles of Narnia, the titular children's fantasy work from prolific author C. S. Lewis. Why do we read, study, and meditate on this work of Christian fi...

Classroom Management. What a challenge for a first year teacher and a classical veteran alike. Today Shane and the team sit down to talk best ideas and tips for classroom organization and decoration for your coming 2022 - 23 school year.  In need of a classroom setup makeover? The team at Memoria Press have got you covered. We set a high bar for teachers and students heading back to school this ye...

Where would classical education be without the roots of British Literature? While American literature stands apart with its own defining characteristics, great swaths of  Today Shane sits down with the classical book club to talk English Literature and their top recommendations and suggestions for classic reading from across the pond.  They'll talk about great books for beginners to read from the...

The world is filled with great fiction. And in episode two of our mini-series on Great Literature, we take a look at "The Great American Novel". What makes To Kill a Mockingbird so relevant? How does Moby Dick move us? What is it about the green light of The Great Gatsby that changes how we see the rest of American literature? Today Shane and the team sit down for a must - read - book - discussion...

From casual comparisons of book lists to debates on the merits of Russian Literature (https://youtu.be/_SeMXQlnln8), we talk about the novels we read a whole lot. In this episode, Ian, Kyle, and Martin join Shane to discuss what makes a novel and why novels are primary in our literature curriculum. As always, you'll get a bunch of laughs as the table talks about all their favorite (and not-so-favo...

Today, Shane and the gang sit down to think through the importance of understanding, refining teaching practice and education methods in school, and exploring what a classical concept of pedagogy looks like.  What is pedagogy? How do we put it into practice? How do we even define it?  The question of pedagogy is a critical question and one that requires a strong definition and understanding of its...

How do we push the bounds of our own understanding? How do we make constant strides in teaching and education to cultivate our method, pedagogy, and educator's philosophy? Today on the show, Shane sits down to talk about the advantages, disadvantages, the imperative and demand for teacher's to cultivate a healthy philosophy of teaching. Today, the panel will discuss examples in historical learning...

Today on Classical Et Cetera the boys sit down to talk about their favorite pieces of Russian literature. Books from the Classical Eastern European tradition that had an influential impact on their understanding of Russian culture, traditions, and ideology. This book club episode is filled with great recommendations for authors and their works for you to find and engage. We encourage an approach t...

In today's episode of Classical Et Cetera, we're talking math. Specifically the history, origins, reform and philosophy of classical mathematics. Why is mathematics so important to our understanding of the world? And is math a fundamental part of classical education. Aristotle and Plato seem to think so, and so do we. In our show today, Shane sits down with Dan, Paul, and Memoria Press newcomer, T...

Why is it important for everyone to engage with art? Why Meet Professor Carol Reynolds, professor of music history and global art educator with the Dallas Symphony and the Van Cliburn Foundation! And today she's going to brawl over art, more specifically why art belongs as a foundational element of a classical education. Art is a reflection of what our culture values. And the study of playing musi...

Many see reading the Great Books as a productive pastime. But, is there value in a formal study of the Great Books for personal growth? In this episode, Martin Cothran and Dan Sheffler delve into the rhyme and reason of intentionally improving one's knowledge of the wisdom found in the Great Books of the Western world. Martin and Dan both head up Memoria College, a program designed to provide a me...

Homeschool curriculum choices are filled with a lot of questions. Especially you, mom and dad, in the Christian community that plan to give their children an education founded in the heritage of the classical western world. So how can we, mere followers of Jesus Christ and followers of faith, reconcile using Greek myths and other non - religious cultural literature in the same space that we study...

There is nothing easy about learning ancient languages. At least in a way that is meaningful. Today Shane sits down with three language enthusiasts and experts on how they entered the linguistic world. What routines and study habits did they employ in order to start to learn and engage on their own? Hopefully their discussion today will help you at home on your journey to learn ancient languages f...

In what ways does a classical homeschool education benefit from studying Homer and Virgil? Why do we teach that Homer is important? What is an epic poem? How does a summary help in homeschooling your children? Why is Homer in our curriculum? Synopsis: In this episode of Classical Et Cetera, the team sits down to talk about the Iliad, the Odyssey, and the Aneid and how beginners and classicists ali...

In this episode of Classical Et Cetera, a Classical Education Podcast, Shane and the team sit down to talk about Homeschool & Community Learning. Why is community important? How is learning in the context of community an important aspect of a child's education? What homeschool community learning activities should we add to our homeschool morning basket? All this and more on this episode of Cla...

In today's episode Shane sits down to chat with the Memoria Press Team to talk about offensive topics in homeschool curriculum. What makes something offensive? How should we engage with offensive material? And how do we best prepare our students for engaging with a potentially offensive world? They'll talk about subjecting your homeschool curriculum to a curriculum review. How each homeschool mom...

The squad is back! This time they're here to talk about their leisurely past-times. More specifically the difference between a classical understanding of leisure and how our modern world has come to think about the ways we rest. Join Shane, Dan, Jon, and Mitchell as they tackle the truth behind leisure on this episode of Classical Et Cetera. About the Show: In season 2 of Classical Et Cetera, Shan...

In this episode of Classical Et Cetera, Tanya, Martin, Paul, and Shane sit down to talk about the study of science, the role that it plays within a classical education, and how it might play out in a given classroom. They will explore the origins of one of our favorite books, "The Book of Trees", as well as explore the importance of an experience-rich well-rounded approach to education in the scie...

In this episode of Classical Et Cetera, Tanya, Martin, Paul, and Shane sit down to talk about the central goal of a home and school education; a well rounded graduate. They will dive into what makes a successful classically educated child, and how the pitfalls of modern education make it difficult to rise to that standard of excellence. Together we will learn how home and school partner together t...

In this delightful roundtable episode of Classical Et Cetera, Shane sits down with Martin Cothran and special guest Cheryl Swope, author of "Simply Classical: A Beautiful Education for Any Child". This revolutionary book guides parents, teachers, and schools in implementing the beauty, depth, and richness of a classical education with struggling students and students with special needs. Cheryl and...

What does it mean to be a good teacher? How do we conduct a classroom well? Where do we find encouragement for the day-in day-out rhythm of the educational life? To kick off the new year, the team sits down to talk about their own personal experiences as educators in the classical field. Join Martin, Tanya, and Paul as they tell their stories about their profession as teachers. While every day pos...

Tanya, Paul, and Martin return to discuss great books. The table begins with a breakdown of what the great books are and what distinguishes them from other literature before discussing their favorites from the lineup. Are you looking for something new to read? Martin has recommendations for long, expertly-written novels. Or, maybe you're seeking a shorter read? Paul has just the books for you. And...