Listen as Renee and Karen chat with Katerina Hamilton, Karen's daughter, about a new book called Let Heaven and Nature Sing: Advent Art and Poetry Lesson Plans for All Ages. This is a lovely resource for Advent with poems, color prints, and discussion questions to celebrate the season with your children or to enjoy by yourself! Listen as Katerina answers the question as to why so many Renaissance painters depicted Mary and Jesus as blond with blue eyes and as she discusses the power of the...

In this episode, Renee and Karen discuss chapter 6 of Norms and Nobility, "On the Necessity of Dogma". This chapter explores dialectic-the art of thinking, of wrestling with a dogma or an idea and coming to the truth. They discuss HIcks' statement of how "dialectic awakens the quarrelsome inner life" and that this is not to be feared, how the "should" question is a powerful tool, and how following a recipe is an analogy of classical education: freedom in form! Hosted on Acast. See...

Join us as we chat with Andrew Kern about his new book, Unless the Lord Builds the House, a treatise on how the temple is the pattern for learning. We discuss how the temple and its parts: the Holy of Holies, the Holy Place, the Courtyard and the Camp are patterns of us as humans and of the world around us and how that makes a difference in how we see our children and the glory to be found in every lesson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen as Renee and Karen are joined by our friend and previous co-host, Emily Hill, to talk about her schools: Haven Forest School for K-6th grade and Haven for middle and upper school. Be encouraged with ideas and resources for your co-op or hybrid school, and if you are dreaming of starting something, jump in, and as Emily says, "Start small and do what matters to you." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Renee and Karen discuss the meaning of the phrase, "saving the appearances", how the ancients viewed science compared to the moderns, and the role of science in the classical curriculum. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Charlotte Mason said, "If we fail to ease life by laying down habits of right thinking and right acting, habits of wrong thinking and wrong acting fix themselves of their own accord." Listen as Renee and Karen discuss a few habits for kids that will serve them for the long run. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Charlotte Mason wrote that habits are the rails on which the good life runs. In this episode Renee and Karen each offer three habits for moms to help launch a new school year. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Karen talks with Missy Andrews, author of My Divine Comedy and mother of 6 grown children, about her homeschool journey, a journey of coming to terms with her own weaknesses and perfectionism and discovering the gift of grace. You will be encouraged by Missy's honest and hopeful telling of her story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Renee and Karen discuss Ch. 4 of Norms and Nobility, "The Tyrannizing Image". They explore the place and significance of the Ideal Type—that which embodies virtue and excellence—in education historically, why it is central to classical education, and what accounts for the fate of the Ideal Type in the modern era. If you have not read N and N, or if you find it intimidating, this is a good chapter to jump into as it offers a key to understanding how Cl. Ed cultivates wisdom...

In this episode, Renee and Karen chat with Patty Bianco about how to help your children thrive in their online classes. Patty offers eight specific hints, from creating a designated work space to communication etiquette, and gives advice on how involved mom should be and what to do if a student isn't getting their work done. Patty also describes the various CiRCE online class options and how you can find out more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen as Renee and Karen talk with guest, Amber Vanderpol, mother of seven children ages 7 months to 22 years, about how adopting Charlotte Mason's principles of education can simplify and bring joy to your homeschool. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Renee and Karen discuss Norms and Nobility, Chapter 3, starting with Wordsworth's poem, "My Heart Leaps Up" which expresses the idea that the child is father of the man. Homeschooling moms have the privilege of keeping the long view in sight: that they are preparing their children for adulthood, and that ultimately, nurturing wisdom and virtue in their children is both their goal and their hope. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Renee and Karen discuss poetry: they share their favorite poets, offer tips for enjoying poetry by yourself or in a group, share ideas on how to get started writing your own poems, and each read one of their favorites. Whether you are new to the world of poetry or you have long enjoyed it, we hope you will be encouraged to open a volume in a moment of quiet (or to still the chaos!). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on Dwell, Renee talks with Katherine (Katie) Briggs, a middle-school teacher, author, and one of her former students. They talk about encouraging young writers as well as what it is like to have your first book published. See more about Katherine: www.katherinebriggs.com Instagram at katherinebriggs_author Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Renee and Karen explore Chapter 2, "The Word is Truth", discussing Hicks' statement that "Mythos represents man's spiritual effort to make this world intelligible."; that there is power in mythos (stories) to help us understand the world and our place in it; that mythos is the skeleton of civilization as men are inspired to good, heroic acts. Listen, and be inspired to enjoy the best stories with your children! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen as Renee and Karen chat about chapter 1 of Norms and Nobility by David Hicks. The title of the chapter is Virtue is the Fruit of Learning, and they discuss how classical education is the cultivation of wisdom and virtue and therefore virtue can be taught; how virtue is taught over time and in the community of a family; and how a mom can avoid the temptation of being a perfectionist while desiring the good life —the life of virtue for herself and her children. Hosted on Acast. See...

Listen as Renee and Karen chat with Tim McIntosh, actor, teacher, and podcaster, about his infectious love for Shakespeare. He share his favorite plays and movie adaptions and offers advice and resources for enjoying Shakespeare's plays with your family. You will be inspired to choose a play, assign characters, and jump right in! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Renee and Karen as they chat with Lily Wilmoth, owner of the Hearth and Homestead Store, about her growing family business: the products they offer and how she manages a business and a busy homeschool/family life of four children and a fifth due soon! Check out her beautiful website at hearthandhomesteadstore.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen in as Renee and Karen interview Sara Osborne about her new book called Reading for the Long Run: Leading Struggling Students into the Reading Life. Sara tells her story of teaching her son to read using the metaphor of training for a marathon to apply principles, habits, and strategies which over a period of years, did indeed enable him to cross the finish line and enjoy the reading life. This delightful memoir is not just for the mother of the struggling reader but for every mother...

Renee and Karen initiate a once a month discussion on Norms and Nobility, beginning with the good news that it is being re-published with a new edition at a lower price! In this episode they discuss the highlights of the preface and prologue and why Norms and Nobility is a helpful book for the homeschool mom navigating classical education. If you have already read it and want to re-visit it, or if you have been thinking of reading it and want to do it with friends, join us! Hosted on Acast....

Where there are two or more children, there is the inevitable and normal issue of sibling rivalry! Renee and Karen, having each raised 5 children, are sympathetic and while they don't have all the answers, they offer a few tips for handling conflict in your home and the hope that one day your children will grow up to be fast friends! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Buck Holler, Circe Apprenticeship head mentor and Latin scholar, tells the story of his journey from riding and competing in rodeos to learning and teaching Latin as a teacher in classical schools. He describes how training horses prepared him for teaching in the classroom, and reminds us that being outdoors in nature is formative to the souls of our children. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Renee and Karen chat with Alexandra Hudson, author of The Soul of Civility, Timeless Principles to Heal Society and Ourselves.They discuss how civility, the respect for the personhood of others, can bridge our political and cultural divide; they explore the difference between politeness and civility; they explain how we can create cultures of civility at home. You will be inspired to seek the good life in community with others. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more...

Renee and Karen are joined by Karen's daughter, Katerina Hamilton, to talk about why, what, and how to memorize all the things: poems, psalms, lists, facts... that we want our children and ourselves to learn. Katerina draws on the ideas from the medieval world to explain the benefits of memorization and techniques to help us train our memories. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.