Everyday Educator

Listen in on this second episode of our Advent series as Lisa Bailey and her husband David explore the gift of listening. How did the gift of listening position Joseph for blessing? How can listening deepen your celebration of Christmas this year? Whether you listen devotionally, or as a family activity, we hope this podcast blesses your family this season.

Merry Christmas! All December the Everyday Educator podcasts will center on Advent, with devotional thoughts suitable for the whole family, and some ideas you can use for deeper reflections. This month we'll focus on the gifts of attending, listening, wondering, and celebrating as embodied in the Christmas story; this week, we'll look at how Mary's gift of attending allowed her to hear God's heart, and adjust her expectations for a blessing. Join us as we think about unexpected gifts and how our responses to them help or hinder our celebrations!

I know that we all are determined to be "the best teachers" for our kids, and we eagerly (at least usually!) join them in learning/re-learning literature, math, science, history…all the "main subjects" we've come to think of as vital. But, what about the subjects many DON"T see as "vital"? How are we to find the time or the talent for teaching the fine arts?! Is it possible that anything we've already learned can help us with the arts?! Join guests Jennifer Courtney and Marc Hays on this Everyday Educator Podcast and hear how the Five Common Topics make discussing, appreciating, and participating in art fun for the whole family.

Do you feel adequate for the task to teaching science to your kids?! If you are trying to prepare your child for a STEM career, you might already feel overwhelmed…but…is that what you should be doing?! Our podcast guests Leslie Hubbard and Marc Hays offer some perspective and encouragement for parents in this episode; listen as they tell us how to get started and how to use the Five Common Topics to lead our students to ask "troubling questions" in pursuit of science!

Are you worried about "studying history" with your students as they get older—especially if youdon't know all the history details that they know?! The good news is, studying history doesn't have to be complicated! Join Marc Hays, Karin Carpenter, and Lisa Bailey as they reveal how to use some simple questions to "connect the dots" of your history study, building a context for your knowledge that truly leads to deeper understanding. Our experienced parents will offer specifics on using the Five Common Topics to frame some great conversation-starters, and suggest some bigger reasons to study history as a family.

Have you noticed how argumentative your middle schooler can be? Wondering how to harness and channel this proclivity for good? We suggest logic studies! Join Lisa Bailey and Stephanie Meter as they advocate for studying logic with your middle schooler; as Stephanie says, teaching logic to your teens may just help them argue their way out of their own crazy ideas! You'll also see how logic finds its way into all other studies, from Latin to math to Mock Trial. Listen in and discover how asking the right questions positions us all to find the right answers, logically speaking.

What IS the value of a "mental map of the world"? Does "where" really matter to our students? Whether you're searching for the reason to study geography or looking for new ways to learn cartography, you'll find fresh ideas on this Everyday Educator podcast. Marc Hays, Stephanie Meter and Lisa Bailey look at how to layer the learning from Foundations through Challenge as they talk about geography and current events, pointing out ways to use the Five Common Topics to jump start the learning.

What if teaching math could bring your family closer? Would you like to know how to "play with numbers" instead of only "solving problems"? Listen in as Lisa Bailey, Marc Hays, and Leslie Hubbard talk about math explorations at home and in community. Discover ways to ask good questions that model good thinking for your students, and begin the journey toward loving math—really!

The art of writing well focuses on three questions; do you know what they are? If you feel somewhat unequal to the task of teaching writing to your children, or if you just want some fresh ideas, tune into this week's Everyday Educator Podcast "More Than Pen and Paper." Lisa Bailey and Stephanie Meter give pointers on how to harness the Five Common Topics to ask key questions that will lead you and your students toward better writing, more open dialogue, and a truly hospitable exchange of ideas!

Whether you are a reader yourself or a parent eager to raise readers, you'll love listening in as three lifelong readers discuss why children should read, what children should read, and how children should read. Join Jennifer Courtney, Stephanie Meter, and Lisa Bailey as they explore how parents can raise readers by using good questions to initiate conversations about what we are reading at home. You'll go away equipped to ask good questions about a book even if you haven't read it yourself! As a bonus, listen in to discover the hidden benefit of reading.

Let's be honest: even after we make the decision to homeschool we have questions! "How do I know what to teach?" "How important are grades and assessments?" "What else should I be teaching?" In this episode based on chapter 3 of The Question, host Lisa Bailey and guests Marc Hays and Leslie Hubbard share insights on these and other frequently asked questions. Listen in as they ruminate on the point of education, the place of technology, and how classical education teaches self-control.

What do "rest" and "wrestling" have in common? How can one actually lead to the other? Find out on the latest Everyday Educator Podcast as Lisa Bailey, Marc Hays, and Leslie Hubbard talk about integration, reconciliation, harmony, and enjoying the journey with your middle school children. You'll find encouragement and some good insight on asking the right questions as you learn alongside your kids.

Have you ever considered the purpose of education? Are you still formulating your goals for educating your children at home? Join Jennifer Courtney, Marc Hays, and Lisa Bailey as they think through the arts of the trivium and prepare to spend several weeks delving into the Art of Dialectic. This new series, based on the book The Question, will help you think through the philosophical and practical purposes for classically educating your children at home; you'll gain valuable insight on how the Five Common Topics of Dialectic make wrestling with big ideas easier.

A tool that could produce better readers would be worth its weight in gold to many of us! Happily, just such a tool is waiting for us all: Active Reader Questions! Whether you want to become a more discerning reader, raise a more intentional thinker, or enjoy deep conversations about what you read with your family, this tool is a wonder. Join Lisa Bailey, Marc Hays and Stephanie Meter as they explore how asking questions (of ourselves and others) leads to richer reading.

Are you still on the fence about writing in your books, even after Practicum? Join Lisa Bailey, Marc Hays, and Stephanie Meter as they reveal how "marking the text" made reading Animal Farm a different experience this time around. You'll gain some practical tips on methods of marking, and discover how marking your books leads to conversation: with the book, with the author, with yourself, and with others! (This is the second episode in a series using Animal Farm to illustrate the tools good readers use.)

How do you start a conversation about a book or story? Wouldn't it be great if there was a tool that could ensure you remember all the important details, identify the key plot points, connect the aspects of the story, AND help you have a better conversation about what you've read? Good news: a story sequence chart can do just that! Listen in as Marc Hays and Stephanie Meter help host Lisa Bailey discover the vital aspects of George Orwell's Animal Farm by following a story sequence chart. These readers and thinkers introduce the story in this first of three episodes demonstrating how to use the three tools learned during Practicum 2020 to talk about literature.

Edging closer to the start of the a new academic year are you filled with excitement, anticipation, or…nerves?! Join veteran homeschoolers Lisa Bailey and Jennifer Courtney for a conversation about what they wished they had known at the outset of their journeys. They'll discuss the value of habits, relationships, and "pressing on", and offer a suggestion for where to seek security and rest when the journey is challenging.

Are you still wrestling with your decision about homeschooling for this fall? Sometimes it can seem like you don't know what you don't know! Join veteran homeschoolers Jennifer Courtney and Lisa Bailey as they share the questions they wish they had known to ask, and the answers they found along the way. Homeschooling, it turns out, is about much more than academics!!

Families looking for a buffet of resources to enliven their homeschool journey are loving two new e-zines from Classical Conversations! The Sandbox and Onward have recently debuted to rave reviews, and a sneak peek inside these two resources reveals blessings for busy families practicing the arts of learning at home. Listen in as Kelli Wilt gives us the scoop on what we'll find inside, how we'll use them at home, and where we'll go to get more issues.

How does a classical, Christian education lead to virtue? Can you even TEACH virtue?! As you ponder the home-centered education you are designing for your family, consider the place that Truth holds. Join Lisa Bailey, Melisa Weaver, and Stephanie Meter for a thoughtful conversation about "soul cultivation", the "little t's and Big T", and how to embark on a homeschool journey that is not wandering!

What are the benefits to children when parents keep learning? How can we hope to give our children a better education at home than the one we received? Glean some keen insights and some reproducible ideas from Leigh Bortins, Jennifer Courtney, and Amy Jones as they think on these things in this episode of the "We Believe" series.

Have you ever wondered why "community" is emphasized by classical, Christian educators? At CC, we believe we were created for community--to support one another, teach one another, encourage one another--to do life together! Listen in as Michele Earles and Eva Zaldumbide share what learning in community has taught their families, and discover how "community" goes beyond in-person in the COVID-19 era. You might be surprised!

How does what you believe impact what you do? At Classical Conversations, we understand that what we believe drives what we do, educationally! Join us for this first episode of a new series, "We Believe…So We…", and think with us about the purpose of education. Listen in as homeschooling parents Kristi Dye and Tim Knotts share how their beliefs about the purposes of education directs both their choices of what and how to teach at home and their motivations to be lifelong learners. What do classical educators DO because of their beliefs?

Looking for some more "organic" ways to seize the teachable moments with your children? In this second episode on "as-you-go-discipleship", guest Jill Philbrick shares some key principles and some practical examples for parents seeking winsome ways to talk about spiritual matters with our kids. Be sure you stick around for the blessing at the end! And, don't miss the "As You Go-Discipleship for Families" devotional offerings on CC Connected later this summer.

Wondering why your efforts at family devotion time fall flat? Maybe you need a new perspective! In Part 1 of this series, veteran homeschool mom Jill Philbrick shares her struggles with "devotions" and how she has discovered a more winsome way to share Biblical truth with her children.

Practicum-at-home: cause for mourning or reason to celebrate? The answer might surprise you! While we all miss our community and the exhilaration of being together, Cultivating the Conversation: The Art of Exposition is surprisingly adaptable to our "new normal". Listen in as four Practicum Speakers share how the content of this year's Practicum (teaching reading!) meets the needs of all families, while the On Demand format means more folks than ever can be part of the conversation! Discover conversational tools to excavate truth and find inviting ways to engage with others about hope and life!

You've come to the last stop on the educational journey, senior year of high school! Is Challenge IV right for your family? Listen in as Brittany Lewis and Lisa Bailey, veteran homeschoolers and CC directors, describe this crown jewel of the Challenge program. They'll discuss the skills sharpened and the subjects used in the sharpening! You will find discover how Challenge IV prepares students for life not just academics, developing the moral imagination needed to identify virtue and live it out. You'll hear about leadership education and how the pace of this last year of high school is designed as a "gift of contemplation" for students, encouraging them to become deeper thinkers, truer friends, and better citizens. Parents will find their role as mentors and cheerleaders as the homeschool journey draws to a satisfying end.

As your student moves into the latter years of high school, you might have some questions about the Challenge program. Listen in as Karin Carpenter and Lisa Bailey reveal the gems to be mined in the Challenge III year! You will hear how the study of Latin, algebra, American history and Shakespeare are winsomely pursued, and how community day provides chances for each student to help and be helped as they stretch the learning muscles. You'll discover how community day conversations give students the chance to love their neighbors more naturally, as they practice sharing ideas together.

What have you heard about Challenge II? If you want the real scoop, listen in as Tonya Rozelle and Lisa Bailey describe this transformational year of high school. You'll hear how the theme of choices is realized in each strand of study, and how this intentional focus helps you raise deep thinkers who revel in changing their world. Parents, find out how to balance your involvement with your student's independence, and be encouraged by what your student will gain through this year of discussion.

In this episode, Daniel Shirley, homeschool graduate and Challenge IV tutor, talks with long time homeschooling moms and CC leaders: Amanda Butler, Academic Director, and Heather Shirley, Academic Officer, about new training opportunities for licensed directors and tutors. If you liked what you heard about how CC trains homeschooling parents, consider becoming a CC tutor. Visit classicalconversations.com and click on "contact a local leader" to learn more about starting a CC homeschool community in your area.

Wondering what's so great about Challenge I as your child enters the high school years? Listen in as Lisa Bailey and Julie Dickens reveal the blessings of this program for students and families. Get the answers to key questions such as "Is Challenge enough to prepare my student?" and "How involved should parents expect to be?" You'll be excited to hear what students learn, and how that changes them!

Those of you looking toward Challenge B for the fall will want to listen in as Stephanie Meter and Lisa Bailey discuss the details of this program. You will hear how the "Ownership" theme of Challenge A naturally leads to the "Discipline" of Challenge B. You will get a practical sense of how students continue to hone the skills of learning they've been cultivating. And, you'll discover the biggest surpriseof Challenge B! Listen in and discover the richness…

Wondering what to expect as you and your student move into the Challenge years? Join Lisa Bailey and Angela Oxford as they discuss the beauties and benefits of Challenge A. You'll gain some great insights on this "year of firsts" and hear from experienced parents how to navigate this new part of your journey, both academically and relationally.

Marc Hays and Timothy Knotts discuss homeschooling from a dad's perspective about why is music important, how they incorporate music in their homes, and how the unified diversity of music itself provides for the differences between family practices and children's gifts and desires. Timothy currently serves as the president of The Education Association of Christian Homeschoolers in Connecticut and as an area representative for Classical Conversations.

Marc Hays and Timothy Knotts discuss homeschooling from a dad's perspective and continue the conversation about activities we enjoy with our children where no books are involved whether inside, outside, near our homes or far away. Timothy currently serves as the president of The Education Association of Christian Homeschoolers in Connecticut and as an area representative for Classical Conversations.

Marc Hays and Timothy Knotts discuss homeschooling from a dad's perspective and begin the conversation about books we are reading aloud, have read aloud, and want to read aloud with our children. Timothy currently serves as the president of The Education Association of Christian Homeschoolers in Connecticut and as an area representative for Classical Conversations.

Good news ALERT! A welcome addition to the Copper Lodge Series is hot off the press, ready to delight readers everywhere. Join host Lisa Bailey as she interviews Jennifer Courtney, compiler of our newest story collection, New World Echoes! Discover why these tales stand the test of time and why they resonate with us today as much as they did with the settlers of the "New World."

In this episode of the "Moving On Up" series, join Lisa Bailey, Holly Morales, and Sarah Pederson as they talk about the Essentials program. Discover how this English grammar, writing, and math practice program provides encouragement, support, and fun for students AND parents within community each week. Covered ideas: parents as learners, scalability of material, and foundations for future language learning.

Looking into the Foundations Program for your children 12 years old and younger? Join Lisa Bailey, Jennifer Courtney, and Holly Morales as they discuss the beauty of the Foundations Program as a fun way to build a foundation for knowledge, as a community for parents eager to reclaim their own educations, and as a delightful way for children to have some hands-on fun while learning to better love their neighbors! This is a community-based program that truly resonates with the way your children love to learn; find out how to get started today!

Catch this new series, "Moving On Up!", designed to highlight Classical Conversations' offerings for the whole family. In this first episode, join host Lisa Bailey and guests Holly Morales and Jennifer Courtney as they uncover the gems in the Scribblers At-Home Collection, designed for your little treasures ages 3-8. Listen in as these homeschooling veterans discuss the gentle ways to begin learning as a family.

In this final episode Marc Hays and Daniel Shirley reflect on C.S. Lewis's total argument and explore whether or not our future is a hopeful one.

Join Marc Hays and Daniel Shirley as they review the second essay and begin the third essay of The Abolition of Man by C.S. Lewis.

Marc Hays and Daniel Shirley continue their conversation about The Abolition of Man by C. S. Lewis. Covering the first half of the second essay "The Way", Marc and Daniel discuss Lewis's "Innovators" and the "Tao".

In this first episode of a four-part series, Marc Hays and Daniel Shirley delve into the first Essay of C.S. Lewis's The Abolition of Man discussing ideas like the head, heart, and appetites and what it means to inculcate proper sentiment in students.

Join Daniel Shirley and Heather Shirley as they discuss the Parent Resources on pages 68-69 of the 2020 Classical Conversations Catalog. Learn how each of these well-chosen books can inform and enrich parents' homeschool journey across each Classical Conversations program from Scribblers through Challenge IV and beyond.

Just how important is the canon of Delivery? What are the elements that will help us move an audience? How can we help our students overcome a possible reluctance to present? If you've wondered about these questions, or even if you just want to finish out the Five Canons podcast, join Lisa Bailey, Jennifer Courtney, and Brittany Lewis as they talk about sharpening the skills of Delivery with all our children.

Is the Canon of Memory more than just memorizing a speech? Join podcasters Lisa Bailey, Jennifer Courtney, and Brittany Lewis as they probe this canon more deeply! You'll discover that Memory blesses as it allow students to focus on their audience, distill their message, and revive their confidence. Find out how the canon of Memory can be practiced by students of every age, and enjoyed by families as they read together, share stories, learn hymns, and memorize scripture.

If you are ready to explore ways to be memorable and moving with your communication, join Lisa Bailey, Jennifer Courtney, and Brittany Lewis as they think about the canon of Elocution. Discover how the style of our communication should be governed by both the subject material and our audience, and get some practical ideas for incorporating elocution into all your lessons with all your students.

In the second of our podcasts on the Five Canons of Rhetoric, our team discusses "Arrangement" and how this canon leads us to organize our thoughts, to love our neighbor, and to become clearer thinkers. With insights gleaned from years of leading students and children, Jennifer Courtney, Brittany Lewis, and Lisa Bailey examine how to use Arrangement across all subject strands to grow our understanding. Listen, and learn how Arrangement helps us communicate effectively and think deeply.

As classical, Christian educators, we are interested in finding the truth and communicating that truth well! An ancient tool can help us achieve that goal; join Lisa Bailey, Brittany Lewis, and Jennifer Courtney as they begin to explore the 5 Canons of Rhetoric in this podcast on the canon of Invention. You'll be encouraged as these veteran homeschoolers share how Invention can help your student overcome the "tyranny of the blank page" when thinking and writing about a new idea, and how Invention can help us all become more gracious communicators.