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ABOUT THE GUEST Brandy Vencel has been married to her husband, Josiah, for 25 years, and they have four children, an amazing daughter-in-law, and a sweet little grandson. Brandy is currently in her 20th and final year of homeschooling. She serves on the Auxiliary Board of AmblesideOnline (a free Charlotte Mason curriculum) and Board of Directors for Providence Classical Academy in Bakersfield, California. Brandy also runs Afterthoughts Blog (afterthoughtsblog.net) and the Charlotte Mason Think Tank (charlottemason.mn.co). One of her hobbies is being tired, which is to say: staying up extremely late in order to talk to her teenagers. Brandy is hostess of the Scholé Sisters podcast and co-author of the book Scholé Every Day: How to Become a Thinking Mom. HOW TO FIND BRANDYRetreat registration: https://scholesisters.com/prudence My almost-weekly, mostly CM newsletter: http://afterthoughtsblog.net/subscribeScholé Sisters Podcast episode: History as a Center Cannot Hold SHOW NOTESAfter introducing Brandy and her credentials as a Charlotte Mason Classical Educator, Adrienne invited Brandy to dive deep into discussing the virtue, Prudence. They both walk through personal journeys and experiences with this particular virtue and offer practical tips on how to dive more deeply into the study of virtues. Books Mentioned Charlotte Mason 6 Volume Set Poetic Knowledge by James S. Taylor Norms & Nobility by David V. Hicks Consider This : Charlotte Mason and the Classical Tradition by Karen Glass Prudence: Choose Confidently, Live Boldly by Fr. Gregory Pine, OP The Four Cardinal Virtues by Josef Pieper Guide to Thomas Aquinas by Josef Pieper Ourselves by Charlotte Mason Aristotle: Education for Virtue and Leisure by Gary Hartenburg After Virtue by Alasdair MacIntyre The Happy Dinner Table: by Anna Migeon Authors recommended: considered as the fathers of Classical Education    Aristotle    Plato    Pieper  Referenced in this Podcast Cyndi Rollins Ambleside Online Providence Classical Academy, CA Dr. Lou Markos Schole Sisters Podcast and Newsletter by Brandy Vencel Afterthoughts Blog by Brandy Vencel ____________________________________ This podcast is produced by Beautiful Teaching, LLC.Support this podcast: ★ Support this podcast ★ _________________________________________________________ Credits:Sound Engineer: Andrew HelselLogo Art: Anastasiya CFMusic: Vivaldi's Concerto for 2 Violins in B flat major, RV529 : Lana Trotovsek, violin Sreten Krstic, violin with Chamber Orchestra of Slovenian Philharmonic © 2026 Beautiful Teaching LLC. All Rights Reserve

About the GuestJoshua Herring is the Curriculum Program Manager for the Rafiki Foundation, Director of the Logres Institute for Classical Liberal Studies, and author of Sons of Adam, Daughters of Eve: C.S. Lewis’s Images of Gender. He has taught 6-12th grade humanities, spend three years in high school administration, and built classical education programs at the college level. He loves helping teachers, leaders, and parents own their intellectual inheritance. Logres InstituteVisit https://www.logresinstitute.org/, and apply for their programs after July 1. About Joshua's Conferencehttps://theclassicalconsortium.com/southeastern-consortium/ On August 7-8, the 3rd Annual Southeastern Consortium of Classical Educators conference will gather at Christ the King Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Raleigh, NC to consider "Source of Joy" in teaching. Come hear from keynote speakers Patrick Whalen, Dale Stenberg, Scott Postma, and Josh Herring; experience joyful learning breakout sessions focusing on poetry, civics, science, theology, and more. Join other classical educators for a refreshing reminder of the truth that our God has given us joyful sources to draw from; begin the 26-27 academic year renewing your soul. Teachers and students - email Dr. Herring at [email protected] for a discount code!  Show Notes This interview is a candid conversation between Josh and Adrienne. As they get acquainted, they discuss classical education and share their respective contributions to the field. Some musings covered include: An in-depth discussion about their love for Till We Have Faces by LewisTeaching Homer and how students respond to the text. Holding kids accountable to reading for homeworkJosh shares the top three areas of greatest challenges faced in the classical education movement todayHow The Logres Institute aims to help teachers and home educators gain confidence in the classical pedagogyIdeas presented in Adrienne's book, Narration: The Voice of the TriviumResources MentionedC.S Lewis booksHomerQuintilianGeorge MacDonaldKaren Glass booksThoroughness and Charm by GerthThe Good Teacher by Perrin and EbenAn Essay Towards a Philosophy of Education by Charlotte Mason (Centenary Expanded Edition published by Smidgen Press)Charlotte Mason's Essay: "Two Education Ideals" (Contrasting Rousseau's Émile with John Milton's "Of Education") ____________________________________ This podcast is produced by Beautiful Teaching, LLC.Support this podcast: ★ Support this podcast ★ _________________________________________________________ Credits:Sound Engineer: Andrew HelselLogo Art: Anastasiya CFMusic: Vivaldi's Concerto for 2 Violins in B flat major, RV529 : Lana Trotovsek, violin Sreten Krstic, violin with Chamber Orchestra of Slovenian Philharmonic © 2026 Beautiful Teaching LLC. All Rights Reserve

About the GuestAutumn Kern is the host of The Commonplace, a place to help new homeschooling moms get their bearings in the classical, Charlotte Mason world. She explores the Classical Tradition on her podcast, releases practical philosophy videos on YouTube, offers ongoing education for mother-teachers in Common House, and, more recently, leads directed programmes of study under Mother Academia. She and her husband are raising their four children in an old 1700s Pennsylvania farmhouse, hoping one of these wardrobes will bring them face-to-face with Aslan.   Show NotesThis episode is dedicated to homeschool mothers! Many people have asked me to share my homeschool journey and I wanted to know more about Autumn Kern's journey into the Charlotte Mason Classical homeschool world. Autumn and I share our ups and downs as homeschool moms as means of encouragement to our fellow home educators. Some topics covered include: How we got started in the homeschool movementThe classical connection to Charlotte MasonCommon challenges to homeschool momsHow to recover from burn outHow to handle crisis situationsHow to juggle management of a home while homeschoolingAdrienne's Family Chore Routines and Cleaning Videos on YouTube Resources MentionedThe Lion, The Witch and The WardrobeA Thinking Love by Karen Glass (Vol 1 Charlotte Mason)An Essay Towards a Philosophy of Education by Charlotte Mason (Centenary Expanded Edition published by Smidgen Press) Previous Guest EpisodeAutumn joined my former co-host Trae Bailey in 2022. That episode was titled Autumn Kern: The Common Classical Charlotte Mason Mom. Click here for the link: https://classicaleducationpodcast.transistor.fm/episodes/autumn-kern-the-common-classical-charlotte-mason-mother ____________________________________ This podcast is produced by Beautiful Teaching, LLC.Support this podcast: ★ Support this podcast ★ _________________________________________________________ Credits:Sound Engineer: Andrew HelselLogo Art: Anastasiya CFMusic: Vivaldi's Concerto for 2 Violins in B flat major, RV529 : Lana Trotovsek, violin Sreten Krstic, violin with Chamber Orchestra of Slovenian Philharmonic © 2026 Beautiful Teaching LLC. All Rights Reserve

About the GuestMandi Gerth is a teacher and classical education consultant who lives in Dallas, Texas, with her husband and three of their five children. She currently serves as the Administrative Director of the Cowan Center at the University of Dallas. She holds a master of humanities degree from that institution with a concentration in classical education. Her first book, Thoroughness & Charm: Cultivating the Habits of a Classical Classroom, available exclusively from CiRCE Press, has quickly become one of their best-selling titles. In her definitive guide to classroom liturgy, she offers practical advice to the classical educator seeking a truly classical classroom while reminding the teacher of their high calling. Mandi provides practical and actionable ways to embrace the classical tradition and become a thinker worthy of imitation. Mrs. Gerth attends Church of the Holy Communion (REC), and for over twenty years, she and her husband have labored to build a family culture for their five children that values books, baseball, museums, home-cooked meals, and conversation about ideas. Show NotesMandi joins Adrienne to discuss various themes in Mandi's book, Thoroughness and Charm. Adrienne noticed connections to Charlotte Mason's core principle that Education is an atmosphere, a discipline, and a life. All of these aspects merge into what an excellent and alive classroom looks like. Through anecdotes and experience, Mandi shares her passion and her story about the art of teaching.  Some topics covered include: Why is it important to understand teaching as an art?-- What difference does it really make?How to create a common language in the classroomWhat are the differences between classroom liturgies and classroom catechismsHow and why integrating subjects/disciplines is importantHow to live a "classical" life and model this for your studentsResources and People MentionedThe Silver Chair by C.S. LewisUnbinding Prometheus by Donald Cowan (Essay, The Three Moments of Learning)Donald and Louise Cowan CenterThe Art of Teaching by Gilbert Highet Teach Like a Champion by Doug Lemov Tales from Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb____________________________________ This podcast is produced by Beautiful Teaching, LLC.Support this podcast: ★ Support this podcast ★ _________________________________________________________ Credits:Sound Engineer: Andrew HelselLogo Art: Anastasiya CFMusic: Vivaldi's Concerto for 2 Violins in B flat major, RV529 : Lana Trotovsek, violin Sreten Krstic, violin with Chamber Orchestra of Slovenian Philharmonic © 2026 Beautiful Teaching LLC. All Rights Reserved

About the GuestDr. Keith Buhler is an entrepreneur, philosopher, and teacher. He co-founded the Saint Andrew Academy in Riverside CA, where he serves at Director of Advancement. When he is not teaching Great Books at Azusa Pacific University Honors College, he coaches other start-ups and serves in the west coast Alcuin Fellowship.  His writings include Into the Light (a chapter on education); Virtue and Wisdom as Natural Ends (philosophy); and Sola Scriptura: A Dialogue (theology). He attends St Andrew Orthodox Church in Riverside, with his wife Elizabeth and their four children.   Show NotesOrthodox Christian educator, Dr. Keith Buhler joins Adrienne to discuss his chapter in the new anthology compiled by David V. Hicks (author of Norms & Nobility).  Some topics covered include: Education is a life, not just a pursuit of academicsThe role of the teacher as a role model and mentor in virtueOrthodox traditionsGrowing children in good habits in the classroomEducation is a lifelong pursuit that does not end upon graduationResources and People MentionedInto The Light: Classical Education and Orthodox Christianity, compiled by David V. Hicks and Anthony Gilbert The Republic by PlatoA Dish of Orts, Essays by George MacDonald (The Fantastic Imagination Essay)Sir Gibbie, George MacDonaldG.K. Chestertonpoems by C.S. LewisThe Awakening of Miss PrimNorms and Nobility by David Hicks Ten Traits of a Good Teacher by Chris Perrin C. S. Lewis Poetry Kevin Clark and Ravi Jain The Liberal Arts TraditionPeter KreeftPoem on Oxford by C. S. Lewis After Prayer by Malcom Guite (A Kind of Tune Poem)George Herbert Sir Gibbie by George MacDonald Aristotle Podcast Episode on Nature Journaling with John Muir LawsPodcast Episode on Norms & Nobility with David V. Hicks _____________________________________ This podcast is produced by Beautiful Teaching, LLC.Support this podcast: ★ Support this podcast ★ _________________________________________________________ Credits:Sound Engineer: Andrew HelselLogo Art: Anastasiya CFMusic: Vivaldi's Concerto for 2 Violins in B flat major, RV529 : Lana Trotovsek, violin Sreten Krstic, violin with Chamber Orchestra of Slovenian Philharmonic © 2026 Beautiful Teaching LLC. All Rights Reserved

About the Guests MELODY FOWLER: Roots Farm Education Founder, Director, Form III Instructor Ages 10-12Melody is a happy wife of 28 years, a proud mother of three and now an over-the-moon grandma of four grandchildren. She was born in El Paso, Texas, and moved to Redding when she was five years old. She loved learning as a child and her favorite pastime was to play school in her garage with younger siblings and neighborhood friends on vintage desks her father bought at local yard sales. After receiving her Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Studies and teaching credential from Simpson University, Melody taught a self-contained fifth grade classroom for 11 years before moving on to the 8th grade teaching English and U.S. History for four years. She finds it essential to teach the next generation to revere and protect the rich inheritance of liberty they have been gifted. She also completed her administrative credential in Educational Leadership and wrote her Master's paper on Charlotte Mason. She participated in the Northern California Arts Project, the Shasta County Math Grant, and a three-year ELL grammar program teaching English as a second language. Melody was involved in her site’s leadership team, acted as a site council member, and successfully advocated for funding creative problem-solving programs like Odyssey of the Mind for the gifted and talented. She also volunteered to coach other activities like student government, softball, and cheer. In her free time, she enjoys learning about education, philosophy, economics, history, gardening, and spending time with her family and six dogs. CHAD FOWLER: Roots Farm Education  Founder, Director, and Form II Instructor Ages 8-9 Chad was born and raised in Shasta County. He and his wife Melody have three children with the youngest almost 16. From an early age, Chad had an interest in gardening and animals and participated in Shasta County 4-H. Chad worked his family business as well as other working retail management for many years. After helping in his son's kindergarten class and coming from a family of teachers, Chad decided his place needed to be in the classroom and he went back to school. He received his BA in Liberal Studies and teaching credential through Simpson University. He later completed his administrative credential and Masters degree in Educational Leadership through National University.    He has been a public school educator since 2008 and served as a Master Teacher, Teacher in Charge, Activities Director and Lead Teacher. He has participated in the Shasta County Math Grant, the Northern California Arts Project for teachers, Gates Literacy Grant and other teacher development trainings since 2008. Chad enjoys time in the garden growing vegetables, fruits and flowers, camping with his family and spending time with his Nigerian Dwarf Goats and chickens.  Roots Farm Education In the year 2020 they started with 57 students and now have nearly 100 students. They are building slow with in-depth training for their teachers and mission alignment with the incoming families. Their mission states: Roots Farm Education provides home-educated families with a learning environment that integrates agriculture and academics. Stemming from a Christ-centered, Charlotte Mason education, the curriculum embodies western thought with the instruction that pursues truth, promotes wisdom and beauty, creates a pathway to responsibility, and fosters individual initiative and ingenuity. With the land as the laboratory and assistance from experts within the community, factual knowledge in math and science will be hands-on along with essential life skills such as: producing, processing, and marketing food, animal husbandry, sewing, and basic construction. Roots aim is to cultivate a generation of children ready to succeed in higher education, career, and life, while positively impacting the world around them and preserving the lost art of self-reliance. Show NotesTwo seasoned teachers from the public school system decided to break away and start a school that would focus on agriculture and a Christian classical pedagogy. This inspiring episode of challenges, faith, and vision tells their story.  Some topics covered include: Practical advise on how to start a new school: how to create a clear vision, realistic expectations, and acceptance of trialsHow to hire the right teachersHow did the first year go and where are you now?What struggles did you face during the planning process?How Temple Grandin helped them develop a purpose for agriculture studiesHow Charlotte Mason's philosophy influenced their approach and purposeVisit Ambleside EnglandJoys of learning and Focus on education in faithForms for classes and their flexibilityWhat a generous curriculum according to Charlotte Mason really looks like in practiceAdvice to Classical Education and Faith based SchoolsClassroom teachers and how they adaptedBible StudyNot using Chromebooks and studies that prove why notHerzog Foundation support for faith based schools: the Business sideResources and People Mentioned Charlotte MasonKaren GlassClassical Education Facebook Group and Beautiful Teaching with Adrienne FreasBenjamin Lyda The Herzog FoundationJohn HeitzenraterMaria MontessoriLisa Ector, Board of Directors for CMIBooks and Curriculum Mentioned Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingles WilderCharlotte Mason volumesGuide to Working With Farm Animals by Temple GrandinDark Enough to See the Stars in a Jamestown Sky by Connie LapalloRightStart MathMicroscopic World by Rosie DickinsOctopus Scientist by Sy MontgomeryIsland of Surtsey: Iceland's Upstart Island by Loree Griffin BurnsRobin Hood by Howard PyleMere Christianity by C.S. Lewis and the Study GuideMarco Polo: his travels and adventures by George Makepeace TowleCanterbury Tales book and videosChris Hall on Common ArtsBooks about damaging use of ChromebooksJamestown books; Dark Enough to See the Stars in a Jamestown Sky by Connie Lapallo and Blood on the River by Elisa CarboneIsland of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'DellAlfie Kohn books on educationSchools they visited in Dallas Mount St. Michael Catholic School in DallasJohn Heitzenrater's school (He was the headmaster of Founders Classical in Corinth Texas when Chad and Melody visited. Now he is the headmaster of  Chrysostom Academy in PA).St. George Classical Academy in Denton, TX founded by Benjamin Lyda, author of Scriptorium Writing and Living Classical. _____________________________________ This podcast is produced by Beautiful Teaching, LLC.Support this podcast:

About the GuestCharlene Thompson is a first grade teacher in her fourth year at Founders Classical Academy in Rogers, Arkansas. She holds a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Harding University and is a passionate learner of classical education. She believes in cultivating wisdom and virtue through rich literature, narration, and the development of lifelong habits of attention and expression. Her goal is to help young students grow into thoughtful, articulate, and joyful learners. Show NotesI met Charlene when I led a full-day workshop on narration at Founders Classical Academy in Rogers, Arkansas a few years ago. During a recent classical education conference, Charlene approached me to share how narration was working with her students. The stories she shared were so beautiful that I had to get her on the show to help encourage other teachers and parents about how narration works in the classroom.  Some questions that were covered include: What was the process you took to get started in narration--or did you just jump right in?Tell us what happened from the teacher's perspective.What did you notice happening with students' art of attending?How many times a day do you ask the students to narrate? Is it your experience that narration covers critical thinking skills, analysis, and all the standards?Let's talk about the art of narration in math, and some questions to ask.Tell our listeners how you play with narration and some fun things you've done.Would you say something encouraging to other teachers?Do you see a difference in new inexperienced students? How do you help them feel comfortable?Resources, Books, and People Mentioned Jason BarneyKaren GlassCharlotte MasonThe Thanksgiving Day by Alice DalglieshThe Ugly DucklingHansel and GretelCinderellaNarration: The Voice of the Trivium by Adrienne FreasMathematician, Paul Lockhart math booksThe Little Boy Who Cried Wolf, scripted dramaAesop's Fables Favorite quotation: " Read the best books first"--Henry David Thoreau     Book she wishes she had read sooner: The Bible  _____________________________________ Beautiful Teaching NARRATION CONFERENCE: 2025 Online Conference with the Beautiful Teaching Team- Narration: The Art of Learning with Keynote Guest, Jason Barney, October 24-25, 2025 https://beautifulteaching.coursestorm.com/ ★ Support this podcast ★

About the GuestDr. John Ahern holds a PhD from Princeton University in historical musicology. He currently teaches at The Wilberforce School as an Upper School Humanities and Latin instructor. He is also faculty at the Theopolis Institute and directs their Te Deum Fellows Program in Liturgical Music. His writings on a variety of topics have appeared in First Things, Ad Fontes, The Lamp, Mere Orthodoxy, Eidolon, the Theopolis Institute blog, and the CiRCE Institute blog. He lives in New Jersey with his wife and four children. Show NotesJohn Ahern has successfully implemented the practice of keeping a commonplace book with his students. In this episode he explains why it is an important practice, how to create time to do it, and how to establish best practices in a school setting. If you have wondered how to succeed at keeping a commonplace book, this episode is incredibly practical and will help you confidently get started in this beautiful practice. Resources Mentioned Link to the Circe Institute article: https://circeinstitute.org/blog/how-to-make-a-commonplace-book/ Notebooks the school uses: https://www.leuchtturm1917.us/classic-notebooks-1.html Also: https://www.amazon.com/Leuchturm1917-Journal-Hardcover-Notebook-Numbered/dp/B09T75BG8L?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1 The Book of Memory by Mary CarruthersLeisure the Basis of Culture by Josef PieperBleak House by Charles DickensTo Kill a MockingbirdIsaac Newton's Common Place Notebook 19C Common Place Notebooks Bleak House by Charles DickensA Man for All Seasons by Robert Bolt Authors Mentioned Charlotte Mason Plato Aristotle St Augustine Homer Quintillion Cicero Romans Dostoevsky Dante Aquinas John Winthrop _____________________________________Beautiful Teaching online courses & narration conference: BT online webinars, interactive courses, and book studies registration: https://beautifulteaching.coursestorm.com/2025  Online Conference with the Beautiful Teaching Team- Narration: The Art of Learning with Keynote Guest, Jason Barney, October 24-25, 2025Reading Josef Pieper with Dr. Fred Putnam will take place on Thursday evenings Sept-Dec. Space is very limited. This is a seminar experience. Interaction with Dr. Putnam is essential for this online course. If you are interested in having this immersive experience with him, you can enroll here: https://beautifulteaching.coursestorm.com/course/reading-josef-pieper-with-fred-putnam ★ Support this podcast ★

Dr. Erik Ellis is Assistant Professor of Classical Education at the University of Dallas. After graduating from the University Scholars Program at Baylor University with concentrations in Greek and Latin, Dr. Ellis received an MA in History from the same institution and served as a middle school and high school Latin teacher for five years in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Along with Latin, Dr. Ellis was privileged to teach history, logic, and French, the last of which had a decisive effect on his teaching of Latin. Two years into his teaching career, Dr. Ellis began researching and investigating communicative language pedagogy and its application to classical languages. After attending and offering workshops with the Oklahoma Foreign Language Teachers Association, SALVI, and Fr. Reginald Foster, Dr. Ellis left secondary teaching to continue his education. He received an MA in Classics, a Master of Medieval Studies, and a Doctorate in Medieval Studies at the Medieval Institute of the University of Notre Dame and studied at the Polis Institute and the Vatican Library in Rome. One of his research specializations was the history of education with a focus on the history of classical language teaching. Upon graduation, he worked for a year at Notre Dame’s Center for the Study of Languages and Cultures, where he received a certificate in Second Language Acquisition Theory and Methodology. Following this, he taught Latin, Greek, and general humanities courses at Universidad de los Andes in Santiago, Chile, and Hillsdale College before moving to his current role in the program in Classical Learning at the University of Dallas. Show NotesI had a delightful discussion with Dr. Ellis last year and invited him on to the show to discuss some really important concepts within the classical education movement. In order to rightly understand the tradition of a liberal arts education, we need to rightly define and understand the meaning of particular words. We discuss some wonderful words that are important to our understanding of the tradition which impacts how we teach. Some topics included: Expanding on how the mind works while teaching the liberal arts.Fascinating word studies on Greek and Latin as spoken languages.The inclusion of a wealth of material from Constantine VII, Historically, Philosophically, and Theologically. Explaining anamnesis ( recollection): How this recollection through dialogue, song, and habituation, brings or makes things present. Writing; Is the focus on analysis and understanding, or is the aim to be able to speak wisely with an idea or account of a story that is understood and will bring about a greater reality? The meaning of the word "Logos."UPCOMING SUMMER ANCIENT LANGUAGE WORKSHOPS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DALLAS Join Dr. Ellis at the University of Dallas for their summer intensive courses in Latin and Greek that they are hosting in partnership with the Polis Institute in Jerusalem. More info here: https://www.polisjerusalem.org/programs/international/ Resources(Dr. Ellis's dissertation)  The Historical Semantics of the Contemporary Classical Education Movement: Principia: A Journal of Classical Education, Volume 2, Issue 1, 2023- https://www.pdcnet.org/principia/content/principia_2023_0002_0001_0025_0041 What is Classical Education? By: Erik Ellis - https://theimaginativeconservative.org/2023/07/what-is-classical-education-erik-ellis.html Are the Great Books Enough to Revive Our Education System? By: Erik Ellis - https://theimaginativeconservative.org/2020/04/great-books-enough-classical-education-erik-ellis.html_____________________________________Beautiful Teaching online courses: BT online webinars, interactive courses, and book studies registration: https://beautifulteaching.coursestorm.com/2025 Annual Online Classical Education Conference with the Beautiful Teaching Team - October 24-25, 2025Reading Josef Pieper with Dr. Fred Putnam will take place on Thursday evenings Sept-Dec. Space is very limited. This is a seminar experience. Interaction with Dr. Putnam is essential for this online course. If you are interested in having this immersive experience with him, you can enroll here: https://beautifulteaching.coursestorm.com/course/reading-josef-pieper-with-fred-putnam ________________________________________________________This podcast is produced by Beautiful Teaching, LLC.Support this podcast: ★ Support this podcast ★ _________________________________________________________ Credits:Sound Engineer: Andrew HelselLogo Art: Anastasiya CFMusic: Vivaldi's Concerto for 2 Violins in B flat major, RV529 : Lana Trotovsek, violin Sreten Krstic, violin with Chamber Orchestra of Slovenian Philharmonic © 2025 Beautiful Teaching LLC. All Rights Reserved.

About the Guest: Dr. Fred PutnamFred Putnam retired after forty years of teaching high school, college, and graduate school; for twelve of those years he was Professor of Bible & Liberal Studies in the Templeton Honors College at Eastern University (2012-2024), where he helped to design, and taught in, the program leading to the MA in Teaching [MAT] in classical education.  Beginning as a seminary professor of Biblical Hebrew and Koiné Greek, his teaching expanded to include not only the languages and interpretation of the Bible, but also linguistics, translation theory and practice, English literature, philosophy, etc. During those years of teaching, experiences with students led him from being a fairly conventional teacher (lectures, quizzes, tests, grades, attendance, etc.) to a text- (or subject-) and student-centered pedagogy that others have identified as “classical”. The main thrust of his teaching has always been helping students learn to read-learning to attend to, reflect on, and respond to texts, whatever those texts may be (including poems, novels, Scripture, works of art and music, etc.).  In the Templeton Honors College, he led undergrad courses on the Old and New Testaments, Hebrew, Greek, and seminars on Joseph Pieper, The Count of Monte Christo, and philosophy of education, and five masters-level courses in the MAT: "Classical Pedagogy I: The Culture of the Classroom", "Philosophy & History of Education II: The American Public School System", "The Ethos of a School", "Drama in the Classical School (With an Emphasis on Shakespeare)", and "Teaching the Bible as a Classic Text" (online through the Templeton Honors College).  While homeschooling their daughters, Fred and his wife met weekly with homeschooled high-schoolers; he taught Shakespeare, poetry, literature, philosophy, Hebrew, and Greek, while his wife tutored individual students in reading and creative writing.  Born in New Hampshire, he grew up on farms in northeast Connecticut, emigrated to PA in 1970, and insists that he is a New Englander on "southern assignment". He knows that hills are made of granite, Guernseys give the best milk, and continues to await a real northern-style winter. An ordained minister, he preaches in various churches in southeastern Pennsylvania, where he and his wife live near their daughters and grandchildren, and where he also reads, translates and analyzes the Hebrew and Greek Bible, and putters.  Show NotesIn this episode, Adrienne and Dr. Putnam discuss the seminal works of Josef Pieper. They also do a deep dive into what a beautiful way of teaching really looks like. Some highlights include: How Dr. Putnam teaches (What is classical pedagogy?)Teaching & learning are relational activities-- the teacher's view of a student is central to the pedagogyHis course: The Ethos of a School-- how a school can establish and maintain a humane identity even during major changesHow Pieper can help teachers understand virtues and their applications in teachingHow Pieper can help us understand what it really means to learn and how it affects being a teacherUnderstanding the nature of being a person and its implications for teaching Resources Mentioned An Anthology by Josef PieperOnly the Lover Sings by Josef PieperLeisure, The Basis of Culture by Josef PieperThe Courage to Teach: The Inner Landscape of a Teacher's Life by Parker J. PalmerHow Children Learn by John HoltTeaching with Your Mouth Shutby Donald L. Finkel TedTalk: Kathryn Shultz on Being Wrong https://www.ted.com/talks/kathryn_schulz_on_being_wrong?language=en________________________________________________________Beautiful Teaching online courses: BT online webinars, interactive courses, and book studies registration: https://beautifulteaching.coursestorm.com/Reading Josef Pieper with Dr. Fred Putnam will take place on Thursday evenings Sept-Dec. Space is very limited. This is a seminar experience. Interaction with Dr. Putnam is essential for this online course. If you are interested in having this immersive experience with him, you can enroll here: https://beautifulteaching.coursestorm.com/course/reading-josef-pieper-with-fred-putnam ________________________________________________________This podcast is produced by Beautiful Teaching, LLC.Support this podcast: ★ Support this podcast ★ _________________________________________________________ Credits:Sound Engineer: Andrew HelselLogo Art: Anastasiya CFMusic: Vivaldi's Concerto for 2 Violins in B flat major, RV529 : Lana Trotovsek, violin Sreten Krstic, violin with Chamber Orchestra of Slovenian Philharmonic © 2025 Beautiful Teaching LLC. All Rights Reserve

About the GuestJonathan Pageau is a French Canadian liturgical artist, icon carver, writer, and public speaker. With a YouTube following of 191K, he has become a sought out interpreter of the deep patterns in stories. His podcast entitled The Symbolic World features, in both English and French, Jonathan's interpretations and conversations with other artists, thinkers and culture champions who are interested in restoring a collective respect for and use of these patterns as the very stuff of the cosmos. The Symbolic World Press is Jonathan Pageau’s new collaborative publishing venture specializing in skillfully bound and well-crafted books you can hold and read with your family and friends. SWP publications recall some of the most important and ancient stories out of the digital space and onto the printed page in masterfully designed books. The books are inspired by classic tales that are re-told in surprising ways that both compel the modern reader and resonate with the ancient traditions of storytelling. Jonathan's Resources Mentioned Include:God’s Dog by Jonathan Pageau Jonathan Pageau Fairy Tale Series https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/ Show NotesI invited Jonathan Pageau back on my show to revisit fairy tales and go deeper than I did with my first interview (Season 3, Episode 14). I also wanted to expand a bit on his presentation for The Great Hearts Conference on how fairy tales reflect "The Music of the Spheres." I also wanted to dive a bit more into how to teach fairy tales to students. Some of the key points we covered include: - Fairy Tales and “ Music of the Spheres” (His original presentation at The Great Hearts Conference is on YouTube) - Patterns forming experiences and behavior  - Narration: Retelling stories - Developing an imagination - Relationships, Analogies, & Faith - Celebrate fairy tales with tea time - Attention , Memory, Transmission  - Teaching Fairy Tales to High School Students  - Noticing symbolism in Fairy Tales and Bible Stories Authors and Books Mentioned  Jonathan Pageau Snow White J. R. Tolkien essay "On Fairy Stories" (Free in the public domain) Martin Heidegger  Charlotte Mason  Albert Einstein  Brothers Grimm "The Fantastic Imagination" essay by George MacDonald (the last chapter in A Dish of Orts in the public domain) Walking on Water Reflections on Faith and Art by Madeleine L’EngleUntil We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis ________________________________________________________Beautiful Teaching online courses: BT online webinars, interactive courses, and book studies registration: https://beautifulteaching.coursestorm.com/________________________________________________________This podcast is produced by Beautiful Teaching, LLC.Support this podcast: ★ Support this podcast ★ _________________________________________________________ Credits:Sound Engineer: Andrew HelselLogo Art: Anastasiya CFMusic: Vivaldi's Concerto for 2 Violins in B flat major, RV529 : Lana Trotovsek, violin Sreten Krstic, violin with Chamber Orchestra of Slovenian Philharmonic © 2025 Beautiful Teaching LLC. All Rights Reserve

About the GuestKolby Atchison serves as the head of school at Clapham School, a classical Christian school in Wheaton, Illinois, that implements the educational philosophy of Charlotte Mason. He is a founding director of Educational Renaissance where he speaks, writes, and podcasts on classical Christian education, Charlotte Mason, and modern research. He lives with his wife and three children in Chicagoland. Show NotesIn this episode, Kolby and Adrienne dive into the philosophy of a person and the role of a teacher according to Charlotte Mason. Recently, several neoclassical programs (Memoria Press and Classical Conversations) released videos answering the popular question, "Is Charlotte Mason Classical?" We decided to dive directly into what we believe is the fundamental difference in the tradition of classical ed (which Mason is closely aligned to) and the the progressive classical movement (otherwise known as neoclassical). Resources Mentioned Neoclassical Vs. Classical Tradition: a comparison on Beautiful Teaching's website: https://www.beautifulteaching.com/neoclassical-vs-classicalMemoria Press Latin StudyThe Core by Leigh Bortins (founder of Classical Conversations)Charlotte Mason Vol VI & Vol IAristotleThe BibleA Thinking Love: Studies from Charlotte Mason's Home Education by Karen GlassTill We Have Faces by C.S. LewisEducational Renaissance________________________________________________________Beautiful Teaching online courses: BT online webinars, interactive courses, and book studies registration: https://beautifulteaching.coursestorm.com/________________________________________________________This podcast is produced by Beautiful Teaching, LLC.Support this podcast: ★ Support this podcast ★ _________________________________________________________ Credits:Sound Engineer: Andrew HelselLogo Art: Anastasiya CFMusic: Vivaldi's Concerto for 2 Violins in B flat major, RV529 : Lana Trotovsek, violin Sreten Krstic, violin with Chamber Orchestra of Slovenian Philharmonic © 2025 Beautiful Teaching LLC. All Rights Reserve

About The Guests Karen Glass is part of the Advisory of AmblesideOnline. She has four children, ages 13 to 27, who have been homeschooled using Charlotte Mason’s methods from beginning to end.  Karen has been studying and writing about Charlotte Mason and Classical Education for over twenty years and has written the popular books Consider This: Charlotte Mason and The Classical Tradition,  Know and Tell: The Art of Narration, In Vital Harmony, and her newest book A Thinking Love: Studies from Charlotte Mason's Home Education. Dr. Robert Terry has over twenty years of experience in classical education. He has been a teacher of multiple disciplines, a curriculum designer, and has worked extensively in teacher training and development. He has served as the Curriculum Director and Vice President of Academics at a multi-campus University-model classical Christian school in the Dallas area. While academic head he successfully accomplished two ACCS accreditations. Before discovering classical education, Robert was a CPA. He has also served his school as a Finance Director in the past. Robert holds an MA in Philosophy focusing on the great Christian texts and a Doctorate focused on the work of the Oxford Inklings. He has been married to Elisabeth for twenty-five years and has been active in homeschooling their four grown children. Show NotesOn this episode, my guests discuss the important connections that Mason made from reading Samuel Taylor Coleridge's On Method. We discuss how important this connection is to her philosophy, as well as how it has had an impact on the classical education movement. Some important discussion points include: The poet's influence on MasonThe revitalization of Shakespeare, wonder, and a curiosity framework in educationA deep understanding of ideas and making relational connectionsMethod as it is tied to a pedagogyMason's method of a lesson and how to properly interpret her 20 principlesReason for caution: Why reading Charlotte Mason in part can be misleading ResourcesIf you want to read Coleridge, Karen Glass recommends this version. It is a facsimile of the same version that Mason had in her PNEU library: A Dissertation On The Science Of Method ISBN:  978-1018198736 Karen's blog on Coleridge and Mason Connections: https://www.karenglass.net/page/2/?s=coleridge Connections with Coleridge #1—A nod from Charlotte Mason Connections with Coleridge #2—Introducing Treatise on Method Connections with Coleridge #3—Law and Order Connections with Coleridge #3.5—A Speculative Detour Connections with Coleridge #4—Dipping into Method Connections with Coleridge #5—In Pursuit of Method Connections with Coleridge #6—Meet the Philosophers Connections with Coleridge #7—Laws, Ideas, and Truth Connections with Coleridge #8—A short history of the education of mankind Connections with Coleridge #9—In Search of the Soul Connections with Coleridge #10—A Few Final Words Treatise On Method: Coleridge The Rime of the Ancient Mariner: Coleridge  Kuala Khan: Coleridge Shakespeare Francis Bacon Plato C.S. Lewis Tolkien Quintilion  Pascal  ____________________Beautiful Teaching (BT) Resources: BT online webinars, interactive courses, and book studies registration: https://beautifulteaching.coursestorm.com/BT Newsletters: https://www.beautifulteaching.com/newsletters________________________________________________________This podcast is produced by Beautiful Teaching, LLC.Support this podcast: ★ Support this podcast ★ _________________________________________________________ Credits:Sound Engineer: Andrew HelselLogo Art: Anastasiya CFMusic: Vivaldi's Concerto for 2 Violins in B flat major, RV529 : Lana Trotovsek, violin Sreten Krstic, violin with Chamber Orchestra of Slovenian Philharmonic © 2025 Beautiful Teaching LLC. All Rights Reserve

Guests Dr. Louis Markos: Houston Christian University:  Professor of EnglishRobert H. Ray Chair in HumanitiesScholar-in-ResidenceDr. Patrick Egan: Clapham Christian Classical School Academic DeanContributor of Educational Renaissance Jason Barney: Coram Deo Academy in Carmel, IN School PrincipalAuthor of Charlotte Mason: A Liberal Education for All (published by CAP)Contributor of Educational Renaissance Show Notes Common misunderstandings of Charlotte Mason (especially if you only read her principles)What does Mason say about memory work and how does it compare to Dorothy Sayer's view?Who in the Romantic era is good that Charlotte Mason embraced? What did she reject from the Romantic philosophers?Various quotes from Mason that reflect her alignment to the liberal arts traditionWhat is her view of a child and how does it influence her pedagogy?How and why narration is classical and superior as a classical pedagogyWhat is Paideia? -- Does Mason have a paideia in her philosophy?How the habit training model of Charlotte Mason mirrors/agrees with the classical tradition Resources MentionedThe Great BooksJohn Locke, Coleridge, WordsworthCharlotte Mason: A Liberal Education for All by Jason BarneyFor The Children's Sake by Susan Schaeffer MacaulayConsider This: Charlotte Mason and the Classical Tradition by Karen GlassAbolition of Man by CS LewisThe Seven Laws of Teaching by John Milton GregoryAn Essay Towards a Philosophy of Education by Charlotte M. Mason (Centenary Expanded Edition has restored her original essay, "Two Education Ideals" where she compares Rousseau's Emile unfavorably to her favoring John Milton's Of Education)Metalogicon by John of SalisburyInstitutes of Oratory by QuintilianCharlotte Mason's Great Recognition of the Middle Ages through the fresco (vol. 2- Parents and Children by Mason) Charlotte Mason Quotes Louis Markos: "Our schools turn out a good many clever young persons, wanting in nothing but initiative, the power of reflection and the sort of moral imagination that enables you to 'put yourself in his place.'"- (Mason, Vol 6, pg. 25) Jason Barney:  "Almost anything may be made of a child by those who first get him into their hands. We find that we can work definitely towards the formation of character; that the habits of the good life, of the alert intelligence, which we take pains to form in the child, are, somehow, registered in the very substance of his brain; and that the habits of the child are, as it were, so many little hammers beating out by slow degrees the character of the man.  Therefore we set ourselves to form a habit in the same matter-of-fact steady way that we set about teaching the multiplication table; expecting the thing to be done and done with for life. " (The History and Aims of the P.N.E.U. pamphlet) Patrick Egan: "But the Florentine mind of the Middle Ages went further than this: it believed, not only that the seven Liberal Arts were fully under the direct outpouring of the Holy Ghost, but that every fruitful idea, every original conception, whether in Euclid, or grammar, or music, was a direct inspiration from the Holy Spirit, without any thought at all as to whether the person so inspired named himself by the name of God, or recognised whence his inspiration came." (Mason, Vol 2, pg. 271) ________________________________________________________This podcast is produced by Beautiful Teaching, LLC.Support this podcast: ★ Support this podcast ★ _________________________________________________________ Credits:Sound Engineer: Andrew HelselLogo Art: Anastasiya CFMusic: Vivaldi's Concerto for 2 Violins in B flat major, RV529 : Lana Trotovsek, violin Sreten Krstic, violin with Chamber Orchestra of Slovenian Philharmonic © 2025 Beautiful Teaching LLC. All Rights Reserved

Guests Dr. Matthew Post:  Founder and Former Director of the Classical Education Graduate program at The University of Dallas; Served with The National Classical Education Symposium, The Institute for Classical Education, and The National Council for Classical Educators; Currently serves as Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs, Honors College at The University of TulsaDr. Laura Eidt: University of Dallas- Affiliate Assistant Professor of Modern Languages, Humanities Program Director, Director of UD's K-5 Latin Curriculum Latin Through StoriesDr. Robert Terry: Over 25 years at a Classical University Model School teaching and serving as curriculum director and faculty development, Masters in Great Books, Doctorate of Theology (ThD in Inkling Studies)Jonathan Fiore: Formerly homeschooled, Graduate of Hillsdale, Masters in Classical Education from The University of Dallas, Humanities Teacher at Holy Innocent's Catholic SchoolTopics Covered What are the essential criteria for a school to be considered classical?There are 4 touchstones that make up a classical education: Christ-centered, cultivation of wisdom and virtue, appreticeship in the 7 liberal arts, and a focus on the timeless and traditionalCommunity and leadership must have an understanding of the tradition for successAtmosphere is central to the success -- order and harmony (beauty) is really importantAre the following things necessary?- Great Books, Socratic Dialogue, integration of subjects, Charlotte Mason, Trivium & Quadrivium, Latin? Love and freedom are at the heart of classical educationDoes reading the classics or teaching ancient Greek history automatically define your school as "classical"?Are we preparing students to see themselves as part of a community and a country?How ought we assess students if education is rooted in love and liberty?-- What does the research tell us about good and bad ways to assess students?What are some common roadblock in classical education?Memory work should be meaningful rather than rote fact chantsSeminarsFormation of teachers and parents is necessary Resources we Discussed: Paradox of Education in a Republic by Eva BrannJefferson's Natural AristocracyHomer's Iliad and OdysseyWhat is a book or poem that every classical teacher and board member should read? The Liberal Arts Tradition by Clark and JainPlato's GorgiasThe Awakening of Miss Prim by Natalia Sanmartin FenolleraHomer's Iliad (Fagles or Lattimore translation)Abolition of Man by C.S. LewisParadox of Education in a Republic by Eva Brann________________________________________________________This podcast is produced by Beautiful Teaching, LLC.Support this podcast: ★ Support this podcast ★ _________________________________________________________ Credits:Sound Engineer: Andrew HelselLogo Art: Anastasiya CFMusic: Vivaldi's Concerto for 2 Violins in B flat major, RV529 : Lana Trotovsek, violin Sreten Krstic, violin with Chamber Orchestra of Slovenian Philharmonic © 2024 Beautiful Teaching LLC. All Rights Reserved