Shows
Scholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasTeaching CourageToday's episode is a continuation of our ongoing discussion of virtues and vices. Brandy, Mystie, and Abby contend that if classical education is supposed to form virtue, courage and fortitude have to be covered. What does THAT look like? Listen up because they talk all about it! You're going to love this conversation! *** Are you ready for the Scholé Sisters fall mentorship? The new mentorship — Feminism Detox — kicks off on Monday October 27th. We're reading three books together and discussing them in a variety of ways — there are discussion threads where you write out your thought...
2025-10-241h 05
Scholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasDiscussion is Part of a Classical Education (with Everett Vencel!!)Our guest today is Brandy's son, Everett Vencel. Everett recently graduated from New College Franklin and now works as an audiovisual engineer at Cornerstone Presbyterian Church and as a personal assistant to the owner of a water heater company. In his spare time, he reads anything he can get his hands on and is studying Information technology. He and his wife, Emily, are expecting their first baby in June. Today's conversation is all about DISCUSSION. What place (if any) should it have in a classical education? What are some common objections to using discussion in the classroom...
2025-03-281h 10
Scholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasStop Looking for Hacks (You Need a Philosophy)So many people are turning to homeschooling these days, and the first question they usually ask is about curriculum – what should they use and how should they use it. In today's episode, Mystie and Brandy discuss why it's useful to back up and talk about why everyone needs a philosophy and how to go about building one. *** Earlier this week on Tuesday, Scholé Sisters hosted our annual Spring Training. Our coach this year was Dr. Carl Trueman, professor of biblical and religious studies from Grove City College. He gave us an amazing history lesson on Mar...
2022-05-061h 04
Scholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasIn Loving MemoryThis special summer season is one episode long and all about our annual retreat. We are in the process of making some major changes to it, all of which we think you're going to love. The purpose of the retreat has always been to foster, first and foremost, real life community. We've taken steps to make that time of homeschool fellowship even better than before. Want to know more about it? Listen up! Pam, Mystie, Abby and Brandy are discussing all the many changes they've come up with so far and explaining the how and why behind...
2021-07-1634 minScholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasBackground Knowledge: The Door to UnderstandingIn today's episode, Pam, Mystie, Abby, and Brandy discuss portions of Saint Augustine's book On Christian Doctrine that deal with the need for background knowledge in order to read with understanding, especially understanding metaphors. This was a very fun reading assignment! *** Don't forget to become a Sophie level member of the Sistership! You will get our Spring Training sessions with Rosaria Butterfield this month, along with access to all the other wonderful things going on, AND our annual summer gear! Click here to sign up. *** Click here to access today's show...
2021-05-211h 04Scholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasDorothy Sayers' Latin Lament (with Renee Shepard)Renee Shepherd is back with us again today. Renee and her husband, who were both homeschooled, are now homeschooling their six children. She is currently finishing her graduate degree in Classical Christian Studies at New Saint Andrews College, where her favorite things to study are theology, Latin, and literature. Renee brought a lesser known article by Dorothy Sayers to our attention, and that's what Mystie and Brandy are discussing with her today. We think you will be interested in how it rounds out what Sayers said in her well known Lost Tools of Learning. ***
2021-05-071h 15Scholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasTransitioning to Independent WorkIn today's episode, Pam, Mystie, Abby, and Brandy break down the transition to independent work from preschool all the way to high school and beyond. This conversation gives us a lot to think about! *** Spring Training is coming up next month! Registration is now open for our annual Spring Training Our coach this year is the one and only Rosaria Butterfield, author of a number of wonderful books, including The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert and The Gospel Comes with a House Key. We have asked Rosaria to coach us on what...
2021-04-231h 10Scholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasHow to ContemplateIn today's episode, Mystie, Abby, and Brandy discuss their way through the entire Thinking Person's Checklist at the back of Alan Jacob's book, How to Think. This was a fun and interesting conversation to have and they think you're really going to enjoy it! *** Spring Training is coming up next month! Next month — the month of MAY — is our annual Spring Training, as you well know. We are pleased to announce that our coach this year is the one and only Rosaria Butterfield, author of a number of wonderful books, including The Secret Thou...
2021-04-091h 02Scholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasThe Uncommon CommonplaceDo you keep a commonplace book (or wish you did)? Today's episode is serves as a first half for our upcoming Commonplace Workshop. Pam, Mystie, Abby, and Brandy discuss what a commonplace book even is and why anyone would want to keep one. It's a great discussion you don't want to miss and will get you ready for the Workshop, which is happening this month! *** Ready for the Commonplace Workshop? Are you intimidated by commonplacing? Not sure if you're doing it right? Uncertain how to get started? You're not the only...
2021-02-0557 minScholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasYou Can't Cancel ChristmasThe death of culture and festivity is not a less important death than bodily. No matter what government officials say, Christmas is coming and must be honored with festive celebration – piety requires it. In this episode, Brandy Vencel, Pam Barnhill, Mystie Winckler, and Abby Wahl discuss how festivity and scholé fits into the curricular framework found in Kevin Clark & Ravi Jain's PGMAPT formulation in The Liberal Arts Tradition. With occasional timely musings about how festivity is different and difficult this season, they return to our responsibility to keep up the cheer – because we do have a hope that...
2020-12-0452 minScholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasLet's Get Physical (Gymnastic in a Classical Education)Today's discussion about physical training in classical education was one Brandy, Mystie, Pam, and Abby got to record when they were all together in Phoenix for the Loving Well retreat. They do get philosophical and discuss why these things are important, but they also get practical and talk about a bunch of ideas that they hope will help us all get started if we're ready to get physical in our homeschools. *** Join the Sistership Sophie Level to get Christmas gift access! Have you joined the Scholé Sistership yet? If not, you really should s...
2020-11-061h 08Scholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasEast Meets West: Classical Education in ChinaOur guest today is Ravi Jain, who is now tied with Cindy Rollins for the Scholé Sisters title for Most Appearances as this is his third time on the show. Ravi Jain has a BA from Davidson College, an M.A. from Reformed Theological Seminary, and a Graduate Certificate in Mathematics from the University of Central Florida. He coauthored The Liberal Arts Tradition with Kevin Clark, now translated into Chinese. Ravi currently teaches Calculus, AP Calculus, and Physics at the Geneva School in Orlando, Florida. He has given over 150 talks and workshops throughout America, Africa, and China o...
2020-10-2355 minScholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasLet's Get Together, Yeah Yeah Yeah (Communitites vs. Networks)Today's discussion between Brandy, Pam, Mystie, and Abby centers on the differences between communities and networks as spelled out by John Taylor Gatto in his wonderful little book Dumbing Us Down. To which do you belong? Is there an ideal? There's a lot of food for thought in this episode. *** Registration for Loving Well is now open! Registration is now open for this year's online local retreats which will take place live on Saturday October 10th. The theme of this year's retreat is Loving Well and our guest speaker is Karen Glass! This...
2020-09-181h 07Scholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasThe Wonder Years (Quintilian and the Classical Preschool)Is there really such a thing as classical education for preschoolers? You may be surprised to learn that yes the ancients actually had opinions on what to do with the little ones entrusted to us. In today's episode, Mystie, Brandy, and Abby discuss a bit about what Plato, Aristotle, and Quintilian had to say on this subject. *** Registration for Loving Well is now open! Registration is now open for this year's online local retreats which will take place live on Saturday October 10th. The theme of this year's retreat is Loving Well and...
2020-09-0457 minScholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasRetreats Go Viral (Summer Bonus Season)Today's episode is all about the fall retreat. In the first half, Brandy, Mystie, and Abby talk about Covid and lockdown … and how to manage a retreat if we're still on lockdown (including what Scholé Sisters plans to do to help support unique situations). In the second half we talk about how we overhauled part of our program to make room for something super special from Abby. *** Get your Beginner's Guide to Scholé! We have a special treat for you today! You can download for free our new Beginner's Guide to Scholé. If you a...
2020-07-1027 minScholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasA Scholé for All SeasonsToday's episode is extra long! Our topic is scholé and how it changes with the seasons of motherhood. Brandy, Pam, Mystie, and Abby discussed having all preschoolers, starting to homeschool, the teen years, and then guessed what the particular challenges might be in launching children. It was a long episode because it's a big topic! *** Join us in the Sistership! Many fun things are going on in the Sistership these days. Abby is prepping a follow-up contemplation session for Spring Training. If you wish Spring Training wasn't over, you'll be thrilled with what s...
2020-05-291h 34Scholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasThe Grammar of Grammar (with Kevin Clark!)Our guest on the show this time is Dr. Kevin Clark. Kevin is the founder of The Ecclesial Schools Initiative, an organization that's partnering with local churches to plant a network of affordable and accessible Christian classical schools. Kevin is an Alcuin fellow with The Society for Classical Learning and a member of the teaching faculty in the Master of Arts in Classical Teaching program at The Templeton Honors College. Most importantly, he is Taryn's husband and father to Aubrey, Caedmon, Naomi, and Eleanor. In today's episode, Mystie and Brandy have a rousing conversation with Kevin Clark...
2020-05-151h 06Scholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasSocratic Trialogue (with Renee Shepard!)Our special guest today is Renee Shepard. Renee has been married for 14 years. She and her husband, who were both homeschooled, are now homeschooling their six children. She is currently finishing her graduate degree in Classical Christian Studies at New Saint Andrews College, where her favorite things to study are theology, Latin, and literature. This episode is a follow up to an episode we did last year called Someone Stole My Socrates. Brandy, Mystie, and Renee discuss a work by Plato called Gorgias. (Brandy likes to call it Gorgeous.) Whatever you call it, it's a Socratic dialogue...
2020-04-031h 09Scholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasMake Classical Education Scholé AgainIn today's episode, Mystie, Abby, and Brandy take on the trials and tribulations of classical homeschooling. The three of them talk solutions to rescue a ho-hum classical education. It's so easy to get away from scholé and become rabid box-checkers. How do we revive ourselves when that happens? That's what today's discussion is all about! *** Join the Sistership! In these trying times, practically our ONLY community is our online community. Ironic, hm? We've got some great book clubs going, a Plutarch class, and more! Just click here and sign up for the Premier membership! You'll h...
2020-03-2058 minScholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasDeath by Sticker Chart (with Karen Glass!)Our special guest today is one of our favorite people, Karen Glass! Karen Glass has been homeschooling her children for 25 years, and she's not quite finished yet. She is one of the founders of the AmblesideOnline curriculum project and has delved deeply into Charlotte Mason's philosophy of education. She has lived in Poland, where her husband ministers, for over twenty years. In the last few years, she has begun writing books to share some of the things she has learned along the way. Today, Abby and Brandy chat with Karen about motivation. Are there right and wrong...
2020-03-061h 08Scholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasA Faculty of FriendsIn today's episode, Brandy, Mystie, Pam, and Abby discuss the "faculty of friends" concept presented by Ravi Jain and Kevin Clark in the new revised edition of The Liberal Arts Tradition, an idea that also appears in Norms and Nobility, Poetic Knowledge, and more! We think you'll find this episode inspiring and encouraging. *** Jump into our Shakespeare mentorship! The Sistership Premier Shakespeare mentorship led by Kelly Cumbee – she's guiding us through As You Like It – just began, and it's not too late to join in! If you ever wanted someone to hold your hand through a Sh...
2020-02-2153 minScholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasFalling in Love with Shakespeare (with Kelly Cumbee!)Our guest on the show today is Kelly Cumbee. Brandy and Mystie have known Kelly for over a decade because she was a participant in the old online book clubs led by Cindy Rollins. Brandy is very excited to introduce you to her. For over twenty-five years Kelly Cumbee has been educating her seven children at home, where she mostly sits in her rocking chair and reads aloud to them what she herself wants to learn. She has always loved music, nature, and stories, and passionately believes that they are all connected. She is prone to info-dumping...
2020-02-0752 minScholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasWho's Your Daddy?In today's episode, Mystie and Brandy dig deeply into the four types of reading explained by AG Sertillanges in his wonderful book The Intellectual Life. Before Brandy read this, she didn't even know there were four types of reading! It's a very interesting distinction to make, and we think you'll love today's discussion. *** Have you joined Sistership Premier yet? We hope so! The Sistership Premier Christmas gift is coming soon! We want you to have something extra special just for you and that's why we asked Ravi Jain (co-author of The Liberal Arts Tradition) to...
2019-11-221h 02Scholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasHave Your Humble Pie ... and Eat It, Too!Today's episode was recorded live at the beach house while Brandy, Mystie, and Pam were at the fall retreat! The sound quality is a little less than usual, but it was very fun to record face-to-face. Our topic today is humility and teachableness. You'll enjoy this interesting conversation. Join our November challenge! We are hosting our first ever month-long CHALLENGE! As you know, principles aren't for having or knowing – they are for LIVING. What if you took a principle and determined to live it out in some small way every weekday for a whole month? Think what a...
2019-10-2559 minScholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasHistory as a Center Cannot Hold (with Angelina Stanford!)Our guest today is the lovely and delightfully controversial Angelina Stanford. Angelina has an Honors Baccalaureate Degree and a Master's Degree in English Literature from the University of Louisiana. For over twenty-five years, she has shared her passion and enthusiasm for literature with students in a variety of settings — everywhere from university classrooms to homeschool co-ops to homeschooling her own three children. You can find Angelina at angelinastanford.com where she teaches online literature classes for middle school through adult, as well as webinars and short term classes. She had a big summer, launching The Literary Life Podcast with he...
2019-10-111h 12Scholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasScholé Sisters Group TherapyIn today's episode, Brandy, Pam, and Mystie get real about Scholé Sisters groups. First, they talk about Pam's Scholé Salon, specifically what they've done and how it's going. From there, they transition to what to do when groups experience change or difficulty. Groups, even GOOD groups, will experience trials and setbacks, and it's important for all of us to think about how to respond. Don't forget to download Your Scholé Sheet to think through and apply the ideas from this episode, then bring your thoughts into the Sistership and join the conversation happening there. Click here to dow...
2019-09-271h 05Scholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasScholé is Diffuse (with Ashley Woleben)In today's episode, Brandy and Mystie discuss so many good things with special guest Ashley Woleben — what scholé is and how it relates to what the book A Mind for Numbers calls "diffuse mode learning," plus how to make scholé a part of your life. Ashley is always a very interesting person to talk to and we know you'll love this episode. About Ashley Woleben: Ashley is a military wife and homeschooling mother to five. She obtained a BA concentrating on the fields of anthropology and classical studies and has completed her MA in humanities with...
2019-09-131h 05Scholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasHeroes First! (with Wendi Capehart)It was something Wendi Capehart said at AmblesideOnline Camp during her talk that inspired this conversation. Mystie and Brandy are discussing why starting with heroes in a child's education is not white-washing, and why pointing out the darkness too young might backfire. Wendi Capehart from the AmblesideOnline Advisory board is a very busy lady, so we were thrilled when she — rightly dubbed "the smartest woman on the internet" by Cindy Rollins — agreed to a phone call with us this summer. Let us tell you a little about Wendi. Wendi and her husband Bill have been Chri...
2019-08-301h 07Scholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasMake Your Retreat a Treat!In today's episode, Mystie and Brandy are talking all things Scholé Sisters fall retreat planning with Jenn Discher and Danielle Cyrus. Jenn and Danielle both hosted large retreats last year and have lots of great tips for you. Jenn Discher and her husband and three kids (ages 9, 7, and 4) live in North Georgia, outside of Atlanta. Jenn was a high school history teacher for six years before her oldest was born and she's homeschooled since the beginning. Regarding homeschool philosophy, Jenn relies heavily on Charlotte Mason's ideas and the classical tradition, slowly growing in her understanding of both!
2019-07-1233 minScholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasGainsaying SayersIn today's episode, Mystie, Pam, and Brandy finish up their conversation about Dorothy Sayers' essay, The Lost Tools of Learning, which began in Episode 49. In fact, if you haven't listened to Episode 49, you really should do that first. Anyhow, in this episode the Scholé Sisters discuss and debate the trivium portion of the essay. It's great fun you won't want to miss. *** This episode is sponsored by The Scholé Sisters Sistership. Have you joined the Sistership yet? Our new-and-improved Sistership platform is the place for meaty and humorous conversation together, sharing your Scholé Everyday, and dis...
2019-05-241h 15Scholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasYou've Got a Friend in MeIn today's episode, Mystie and Brandy use part of CS Lewis' book The Four Loves to discuss friendship – how Lewis defines it, if we womenfolk are capable of it, and how it's different from other things like companionship and affection. We wrap up by applying this to … yes! … book clubs. We think you'll love this. *** This episode is sponsored by Scholé Sisters Spring Training Sessions! If you are listening to this episode right when it comes out, one of these sessions already took place on Monday evening. The good news is there is still time to sign...
2019-05-101h 12Scholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasPhilosophy for MommiesEric Hall is back on the show with us today. We had rave reviews when he appeared in Episode 29 called I'm Not the Holy Spirit. So many of you wanted to hear more from him, but let us introduce again in case you haven't yet heard that episode. Eric Hall is an adjunct professor of English at Bakersfield College where he teaches writing and literature. Eric has a B.A. in English from the Master's College followed by graduate studies in theology at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland, and studies in rhetoric and philosophy at Clemson...
2019-04-2655 minScholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasThe Sisters on Sayers — Not the Podcast You ExpectedThis is the first of two episodes in which the Sisters say things about Dorothy Sayers -- specifically, they say things about her famous essay, The Lost Tools of Learning. What sort of things, you ask? Today, we're talking good stuff: the good, the true, the beautiful. Join us! *** This episode is sponsored by the Sistership. Have you joined the Sistership yet? On our new-and-improved Sistership platform we not only have meaty and humorous conversation, we also provide a safe and private spot for local groups to coordinate and converse about their meetings. Mystie and...
2019-03-151h 12
AfterCast: An Audio Companion for the Classical, Charlotte Mason MamaHow She Learns: My Personal Continuing Education JourneyToday is the FINAL installment of this Learning How to Live Series -- which makes this the END of Season 4! What I tried to do, and hope I accomplished, was take the categories we've been discussing these past few weeks and show how they play out in my own life – not because the way I do it is the one right way, but simply because it's always useful to have an example of how this might work. I hope you find it helpful as we look at different ways to learn in the midst of busy days! Th...
2019-03-0717 minScholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasSomeone Stole My Socrates!This episode, Brandy and Mystie discuss the Socratic Method. Is it really classical? Is it progressive? Does it have anything to do with Socrates? Has Socrates been kidnapped and, if so, it is right to hunt him down and steal him back?? *** This episode is sponsored by the Scholé Sisters newsletter! I know what you're thinking: why in the world is our newsletter sponsoring our own podcast episode? Well, it's because we want you on our newsletter email list! We've got some pretty exciting things coming up, and the newsletter is the surest way to f...
2019-03-011h 11AfterCast: An Audio Companion for the Classical, Charlotte Mason MamaA Mama's Continuing Education: Oh, the Endless Possibilities!Today is NOT just a review. Yes, we walk through everything we've learned over this huge series and remind ourselves of the amazingly numerous possibilities. But the point isn't the review – the point is to think of these as categories and then discover what similar options exist for us today. I think you'll find some real gems to help keep you learning in the midst of your busy days. *** To access the posts and show notes for this podcast, click here. To support the show, click here. Find Brandy on Facebook.
2019-02-2816 minAfterCast: An Audio Companion for the Classical, Charlotte Mason MamaBecoming a Charlotte Mason Teacher in a Utilitarian WorldToday we begin to end our Learning How to Live series. We're heading toward application. Before we get too practical, we need to discuss the WHY. Why keep learning? There are some good reasons to learn and some bad or insufficient reasons to learn, and it takes wisdom to know the difference. Listen up for an exploration of the heart of self-education. *** To access the posts and show notes for this podcast, click here. To support the show, click here. Find Brandy on Facebook. Find Brandy on Instagram. ...
2019-02-2109 minScholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasRightly Dividing (with Karen Glass!!)Mystie and Brandy are glad to have Karen Glass back on the show to help us kick off Season 8. Karen is the author of Consider This: Charlotte Mason and the Classical Tradition and Know and Tell: The Art of Narration and a member of the Advisory of AmblesideOnline. She has four children, mostly grown and married, who were 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 For this episode, Brandy, Mystie, and Karen discussed division -- what it is, how...
2019-02-151h 11AfterCast: An Audio Companion for the Classical, Charlotte Mason MamaLocal Group Meetings and Conferences for Continuing EducationToday we continue with our Learning How to Live series. Up until this point, we've mostly talked about things that can be done privately – reading books and magazines and such. This time, we take a look at communal activities like meetings and conferences. There's some information here that you won't want to miss! *** To access the posts and show notes for this podcast, click here. To support the show, click here. Find Brandy on Facebook. Find Brandy on Instagram. Thanks for being an Afterthinker!
2019-02-1408 minAfterCast: An Audio Companion for the Classical, Charlotte Mason MamaMagazines as Continuing EducationToday we continue with our Learning How to Live series by discussing magazines and the part they played in the education of Charlotte Mason's parents and teachers. Do you think magazines can play a part today? Is there anything else that might be similar? Listen up to find out! *** To access the posts and show notes for this podcast, click here. To support the show, click here. Find Brandy on Facebook. Find Brandy on Instagram. Thanks for being an Afterthinker!
2019-02-0808 minAfterCast: An Audio Companion for the Classical, Charlotte Mason MamaOn Mother CultureToday, we take a look at something called Mother Culture. If you found the idea of a Mothers' Education Course, which we talked about in Episodes 27 and 28, overwhelming, this is the solution for you. Make sure you listen to the end so you hear all about the freebie tracker I offer that makes Mother Culture even more fun. *** To access the posts and show notes for this podcast, click here. To get your Mother Culture Habit Tracker, click here. To support the show, click here. Find Brandy on Facebook....
2019-01-3110 minAfterCast: An Audio Companion for the Classical, Charlotte Mason MamaThe Mother's CompassToday, I'm interrupting our Charlotte Mason series to bring you this season's special conversation. Brittney McGann is back with me today; I hope you recognize her from last season. Brittney has been studying Charlotte Mason for over seven years. Mason's philosophy embodies all the things Brittney loved about her own upbringing and everything she would have wished for in her education, had she known it was possible. Brittney hosted the Grace to Build Retreat in Black Mountain, North Carolina for three years and has presented workshops at multiple Charlotte Mason conferences. These days she is teaching her three children...
2019-01-241h 01AfterCast: An Audio Companion for the Classical, Charlotte Mason MamaCharlotte Mason's Mothers' Education Course: The ContentToday's episode is our second on Charlotte Mason's Mothers' Education Course. If you recall, last episode we talked about the HISTORY of the course. This time, we're looking at the content of the course and also asking a few questions about what it'd look like to build a course for today's mothers. *** To access the posts and show notes for this podcast, click here. To support the show, click here. Find Brandy on Facebook. Find Brandy on Instagram. Thanks for being an Afterthinker!
2019-01-1709 minAfterCast: An Audio Companion for the Classical, Charlotte Mason MamaA Brief History of Charlotte Mason's Mothers' Education CourseAre you ready to take a look at Charlotte Mason's Mothers' Education Course? Before we talk content, we need to know our history, and I think you'll find this lesson particularly interesting. *** To access the posts and show notes for this podcast, click here. To support the show, click here. Find Brandy on Facebook. Find Brandy on Instagram. Thanks for being an Afterthinker!
2019-01-1010 minAfterCast: An Audio Companion for the Classical, Charlotte Mason MamaA Note on Lectures at the Ambleside Teachers' CollegeToday's episode is super short, but still worth hearing. We briefly speculate on what lectures at Miss mason's college might have contained, and generally take one last look around at life at Ambleside. *** To access the posts and show notes for this podcast, click here. To support the show, click here. Find Brandy on Facebook. Find Brandy on Instagram. Thanks for being an Afterthinker!
2019-01-0307 minAfterCast: An Audio Companion for the Classical, Charlotte Mason MamaAt College with Charlotte MasonIn today's installment of our Learning How To Live series, we take a close look at what it was like for the students who went to Ambleside and studied under Charlotte Mason. Have you ever wondered what it was like for a governess at the training school? Stay tuned to find out! *** To access the posts and show notes for this podcast, click here. To support the show, click here. Find Brandy on Facebook. Find Brandy on Instagram. Thanks for being an Afterthinker!
2018-12-2811 minAfterCast: An Audio Companion for the Classical, Charlotte Mason MamaThe Self-Education of Miss Charlotte MasonToday, we're taking a look at Charlotte Mason's personal habits. She was quite the well-read lady, and it turns out this didn't happen by accident. Let's check out what Miss Mason did and think about how we can make better choices with our time. *** To access the posts and show notes for this podcast, click here. To support the show, click here. Find Brandy on Facebook. Find Brandy on Instagram. Thanks for being an Afterthinker!
2018-12-2009 minAfterCast: An Audio Companion for the Classical, Charlotte Mason MamaLearning How to LiveWelcome to Season 4 of AfterCast! I'm so glad you're here! Today, we're kicking off a new series of episodes. This whole season is going to have one focus: continuing our education as homeschool teachers. To think about that, we're going to discuss all the ways Charlotte Mason and her comrades continued their educations. But first, we need to start at the beginning: what does it mean to have the heart of Charlotte Mason teacher? How does a Charlotte Mason teacher flourish? Listen to find out! *** To read the transcript of today's episode, click h...
2018-12-1309 minScholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasWhat the Dickens?Today's episode features a discussion of Charles Dickens' famous story A Christmas Carol, which is Brandy's FAVORITE Christmas story. Naturally, Mystie and Pam tried to ruin it for her, but she was undaunted, and thinks you will be, too. *** This episode is sponsored by Mystie's Brain Dump Guide. Do you have a lot to do and too much to keep track of? Of course you do! Mystie's all new Brain Dump Guide will help you take the cluttered jumble inside your head and straighten it out so you can step out of your scattered, overwhelmed...
2018-12-071h 04Scholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasNeed Scholé? Just Add Joy!If you have ever smelled smoke at your house and wondered if you were starting to burn out at this homeschooling thing, this episode is for you. Brandy was tempted to burnout early this year and so she and Mystie chatted about homeschooling, minimalism, and why sometimes adding something is a better approach that cutting back even more. *** This episode is sponsored by Start Here, the definitive starting place for studying Charlotte Mason. When Charlotte Mason was trying to distill her educational philosophy into its simplest form, she ended up with 20 core principles. These are t...
2018-11-161h 04Scholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasPrioritizing Words (with Angelina Stanford!)Our guest today is Angelina Stanford! Angelina Stanford has a Master's degree in English literature and has been teaching, writing, speaking, and training teachers for over 20 years. She is the co-star of the popular Close Reads podcast, as well as the new Shakespeare podcast, The Play's the Thing. You can find Angelina at her website where she teaches class for middle school, high school, and adults. And look for her upcoming book, How to Understand Every Story: From Greek Gods to Superheroes, coming out next year. Have you ever wondered why books are such a big deal i...
2018-11-0258 minScholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasForgotten Classics (with Martin Cothran!)In this episode, Mystie and Brandy talk with Martin Cothran from Memoria Press. Martin is known for (among other things) his knowledge of forgotten classics – really good books almost no one remembers. It was our pleasure to discuss with Martin the nature of these books and how to find them. *** Click here to get the show notes for today's episode. (This is where you get the booklist download!) Don't forget to find us on Facebook! Click here to follow us on Instagram! And did you know we have a mo...
2018-10-191h 00Scholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasCarpe Librum (Seize the Booklist)If you were bummed that you were unable to attend the Scholé Sisters session at GHC in Cincinatti, and then extra disappointed we were unable to offer you a recording … this is for YOU! Brandy, Mystie, and Pam have redone the whole thing, and you can even get a download of the document handout with all the important details! *** Click here to get the show notes for today's episode. (This is where you get the booklist download!) Don't forget to find us on Facebook! Click here to follow us on Instagram!...
2018-09-211h 08Scholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasLiving Books Are Books for LifeIn this episode, Brandy, Mystie, and Pam kick off Season 7 of Scholé Sisters with a discussion about living books. What are they, what is their significance, and how can you identify them? This is a totally fun discussion about reading -- and how picky should we be anyway? -- that you don't want to miss! *** Click here to get the show notes for today's episode. Click here to register for the Learning Well Online Local Retreat (with Cindy Rollins) Click here for more information on planning your local retreat. ***...
2018-09-0759 minAfterCast: An Audio Companion for the Classical, Charlotte Mason MamaA Living Reproduction of the PastFor this final episode of the season, we're tackling some tough questions: why are names like classical education and great conversation so difficult to define? Is Charlotte Mason for everyone? And what does it mean to duplicate a tradition in a living way? *** To access the posts and show notes for this podcast, click here. To support the show, click here. Find Brandy on Facebook. Find Brandy on Instagram. Thanks for being an Afterthinker!
2018-09-0610 minAfterCast: An Audio Companion for the Classical, Charlotte Mason MamaHow Education Is Like SandpaperIn a Charlotte Mason education, there is no specialization. All students are to study all subjects. The question is WHY? Today, we're going to take a look at some possible reasons using Socrates, Aristotle, MBTI, and some lesson Miss Mason teaches us in her book Formation of Character. *** To access the posts and show notes for this podcast, click here. To support the show, click here. Find Brandy on Facebook. Find Brandy on Instagram. Thanks for being an Afterthinker!
2018-08-2313 minAfterCast: An Audio Companion for the Classical, Charlotte Mason MamaChristian Conflict with the InklingsToday's episode is a crossover episode with the Charlotte Mason Poetry Podcast, and I'm chatting with CMP's very own Brittney McGann! Brittney and I read the book Bandersnatch together – it was an excellent read (I highly recommend it) and a great place to start for a conversation about conflict in community. Join us today as we learn lessons from how the Inklings succeeded … and also failed ... and learn from them about building a healthy community. *** To access the posts and show notes for this podcast, click here. To support the show, click...
2018-08-091h 22AfterCast: An Audio Companion for the Classical, Charlotte Mason MamaHow to Move ForwardSo, you figured out something is wrong with your homeschool. Good. The question is what to do next. A lot of us find it paralyzing to discover our imperfections. Today, we're devising an action plan to get moving. *** To access the posts and show notes for this podcast, click here. To support the show, click here. Find Brandy on Facebook. Find Brandy on Instagram. Thanks for being an Afterthinker!
2018-07-2609 minAfterCast: An Audio Companion for the Classical, Charlotte Mason MamaPutting the Generosity Back in Generous EducationCharlotte Mason prescribe a "broad and generous education" for her students. For a variety of reasons, this can be a daunting task. Today, we're taking a look at one of the biggest obstacles to implementing this sort of education: OURSELVES. *** To access the posts and show notes for this podcast, click here. To support the show, click here. Find Brandy on Facebook. Find Brandy on Instagram. Thanks for being an Afterthinker!
2018-07-1211 minAfterCast: An Audio Companion for the Classical, Charlotte Mason MamaWhat Did Charlotte Mason Mean by "Short Lessons?"If you're thinking that because Charlotte Mason prescribed short lessons, this means your high schooler should only do 20 minutes of math, you're thinking wrong! Today, we're doing a deep dive into what we mean when we say "short lessons." *** To access the posts and show notes for this podcast, click here. To support the show, click here. Find Brandy on Facebook. Find Brandy on Instagram. Thanks for being an Afterthinker!
2018-06-2910 minAfterCast: An Audio Companion for the Classical, Charlotte Mason MamaHow to Help Your Children with Hard BooksIt's easy to say that our children should read hard books, but what does that look like in practice? Do we just throw them into the deep end and hope for the best? No! There's actually a lot we can do to help, which is our topic for today. *** To access the posts and show notes for this podcast, click here. To support the show, click here. Find Brandy on Facebook. Find Brandy on Instagram. Thanks for being an Afterthinker!
2018-06-1416 minAfterCast: An Audio Companion for the Classical, Charlotte Mason MamaIf it Ain't Broke, Don't Fix ItAre you feeling the pressure to change things in your homeschool because there are new, hip curricula on the market? Or maybe it's the opposite -- you're tempted to hang on to something that isn't really working? Either way, this episode is for you! *** To access the posts and show notes for this podcast, click here. To support the show, click here. Find Brandy on Facebook. Find Brandy on Instagram. Thanks for being an Afterthinker!
2018-05-3111 minScholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasAn Education by Any Other Name...In today's episode, Mystie, Pam, and Brandy discuss the power of educational metaphors – are we using the right images to picture our homeschools? Metaphors aren't absolute -- it's what we mean by them and how we apply them that matters. Join the Scholé Sisters as they hash out metaphors and discuss what makes a good one worth using. *** Click here to get the show notes for today's episode. *** This episode is sponsored by In Memoriam. After Charlotte Mason died in 1923, the PNEU held a memorial service in her honor, though (quite app...
2018-05-2559 minScholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasLivin' La Vida Latin (with Angela Reed!)Brandy is talking at length about Latin today with Angela Reed. Angela is a homeschooling mother of 5 in the Sunshine State of Florida. A former classroom teacher, degreed in Classics and Latin and persuaded by Charlotte Mason's educational philosophy, she channels these enthusiasms onto Instagram: building community with friends @charlottemasonirl, researching how Latin fits within a CM paradigm @thecmlatinproject, and documenting family life, homeschooling, and the day-to-day @athena_amidstthereeds. Brandy asks Angela some of the tough questions we all want answers to: Why Latin first is the New Testament is in Greek? Can I do a modern l...
2018-05-111h 09Scholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasIs Scholé for Everyone?In today's episode, Brandy, Pam, and Mystie raise the question of whether scholé is for everyone. Or is it just for the bookish and more academic? They had to begin by defining scholé, of course. This episode is about scholé in real life with our kids and FOR our kids. How do we help them "do scholé"? There are some big questions discussed this time! *** Click here to get the show notes for today's episode. *** This episode is sponsored by Teaching Reading with Bob Books. Teaching Reading with Bob Books is a line...
2018-04-271h 20Scholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasTwaddlicious!On today's episode, Mystie, Pam, and Brandy have a rousing discussion on the subject of twaddle. What is it? What isn't it? Is it ever acceptable? Some of us have unconventional opinions on this subject. *** Click here to get the show notes for today's episode. *** This episode is sponsored by Plan Your Year. Plan Your Year is the homeschool planner that shows you how. It walks you step-by-step through creating a homeschool plan unique to your home, your kids, your family. There are over 40 printable planning pages plus an 80-page planning g...
2018-04-131h 15Scholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasBling Your Pre-Reading with a Notebook Makeover (with Celeste Cruz)Our guest today is Celeste Cruz. Celeste is the Catholic homeschooling mother of nine children ages 11 and under, blogger at Joyous Lessons, and one of the hostesses of CharlotteMasonIRL on Instagram. In this episode, Pam, Brandy, and Celeste have an in-depth conversation about transforming the chore of pre-reading for our children's lessons into a beautiful scholé experience for Mom. They cover the technical aspects of notebooking, letting go of perfectionism, and MORE! *** Click here to get the show notes for today's episode. *** This episode is sponsored by The Simplified Or...
2018-03-271h 14Scholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasNarration: The Act of Knowing (with Karen Glass!)Brandy is pleased to have Karen Glass back on the show today. Karen is the author of Consider This: Charlotte Mason and the Classical Tradition, she's the brain behind Mind to Mind, an abridgment of Charlotte Mason's sixth volume, and her third book, Know and Tell: The Art of Narration just debuted last month. Karen Glass is part of the Advisory of AmblesideOnline. She has four children, mostly grown and married, who were homeschooled using Charlotte Mason's methods from beginning to end. She has been studying and writing about Charlotte Mason and Classical Education for over twenty years.
2018-03-091h 00Scholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasPaideia Is All Greek to MeIn today's episode, Mystie Winckler and Brandy Vencel discuss Werner Jaeger's introduction to his three-volume series, what Paideia: The Ideals of Greek Culture, Jaeger's definition of education, what culture is, why Christians are resistant to honoring the Greeks, and much more. Download to listen, subscribe and be a Sister! *** Click here to get the show notes for today's episode. *** This episode is sponsored by The Afterthinker's Guide to Charlotte Mason's Home Education. That's right! Brandy has a NEW Charlotte Mason study guide out for 2...
2018-02-231h 02Scholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasBeing Impervious: Now it's [Not] PersonalWelcome to SEASON FIVE of Scholé Sisters! Mystie and Brandy are kicking this season off right with the one and only Cindy Rollins. Today's discussion centers on the idea of being impervious. We discuss not allowing "things" to get to us, absorbing emotion, self-control, menopause (gulp), and more! This is a conversation you don't want to miss. *** Click here to get the show notes for today's episode. *** This episode is sponsored by Personality Pages. Want to figure out and understand your personality better? Mystie has a free one-page cheat sheet to he...
2018-02-0952 minAfterCast: An Audio Companion for the Classical, Charlotte Mason MamaWhy Your Curriculum Should Include Hard BooksIs YOUR child reading a hard book right now? Is he really struggling? Is your mommy heart going out to him, tempting you to let him drop the book? It's completely normal to feel this way… BUT … before you let him drop the book, let's think through the situation a bit. Sometimes, we need to drop a book. But lots of times, we don't. It takes wisdom to know the difference. To access the posts and show notes for this podcast, click here. To support the show, click here. Find Brandy on Facebook.
2017-12-0711 minAfterCast: An Audio Companion for the Classical, Charlotte Mason MamaThe Use and Misuse of Charlotte Mason's First PrincipleChildren are born persons. — Charlotte Mason's First Principle of Education In today's episode, we're digging deeply into this principle. What does it mean? What are its limitations? How do we apply (or misapply) this principle? To access the posts and show notes for this podcast, click here. To support the show, click here. Find Brandy on Facebook. Find Brandy on Instagram. Thanks for being an Afterthinker!
2017-11-0911 minScholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasEducating for Virtue: I'm Not the Holy Spirit (with Eric Hall!)Have you ever tried to sort out the tension between God's grace and our pursuit of virtue? Is virtue ultimately a free gift of grace? And, if so, how can we say it is the goal of Christian education? If virtue IS our goal, how do we impart it? How do we test it? And is there a danger in homeschooling when it comes to virtue tests? And what if we fail? What if everything we've done isn't enough? Today on the show, Mystie and I are please to welcome Eric Hall. Eric i...
2017-11-0352 minAfterCast: An Audio Companion for the Classical, Charlotte Mason MamaStarving Our ChildrenToday's episode discusses something I picked up in Charlotte Mason's book, Home Education ... that IDEAS are the food of the MIND. What are the implications of this? What about when children are limited in their ability to read and discover ideas for themselves? How does this change the way that we treat our children? To access the posts and show notes for this podcast, click here. To support the show, click here. Find Brandy on Facebook. Find Brandy on Instagram. Thanks for being an Afterthinker!
2017-09-2111 minAfterCast: An Audio Companion for the Classical, Charlotte Mason MamaFar as the Curse is Found (Suffering and Holiness)Today's episode isn't about homeschooling, unless you count the fact that it's part of my series, The Low-Energy Mom's Guide to Homeschooling. Life continues, even though we're homeschooling, and sometimes life gets ugly. Let's talk about why that is. To access the posts and show notes for this podcast, click here. To support the show, click here. Find Brandy on Facebook. Find Brandy on Instagram. Thanks for being an Afterthinker!
2017-09-1410 minAfterCast: An Audio Companion for the Classical, Charlotte Mason MamaMusic and the Poetry of EducationIn today's episode, I have a bit of debate with a chapter in Clark and Jain's book, The Liberal Arts Tradition. I love what they said in terms of philosophy, but I don't think they took the practical implementation of their philosophy nearly far enough. I tried to provide what I think is a helpful push in the right direction. To access the posts and show notes for this podcast, click here. To support the show, click here. Find Brandy on Facebook. Find Brandy on Instagram. Thanks f...
2017-08-3114 minAfterCast: An Audio Companion for the Classical, Charlotte Mason MamaAre You Sabotaging Your Charlotte Mason Homeschool?If you feel like you're messing up your Charlotte Mason homeschool, the first thing you need to know is that you're not alone. Returning to our basic principles – and remembering that principles and practices are not always the same thing – can help us focus on what matters most. To access the posts and show notes for this podcast, go to afterthoughtsblog.net/podcast. To support the show, go to afterthoughtsblog.net/donate. To find Brandy on Facebook, go to www.facebook.com/AfterthoughtsBlog. Thanks for being an Afterthinker!
2017-08-2413 minAfterCast: An Audio Companion for the Classical, Charlotte Mason MamaThe Best Kept Secret of Homeschooling Homeschooling has a lot of side-benefits, as you probably know. These benefits aren't reasons to homeschool, but they are good things nonetheless. We could talk about how children are able to get more sleep or have more free time. But are these the BEST kept secret? Nope. The best kept secret benefits US – the teachers – not the children. What is it? Keep listening and you'll find out. To access the posts and show notes for this podcast, go to afterthoughtsblog.net/podcast. To support the show, go to afterthoughtsblog.net/donate. To find Bran...
2017-08-1712 minScholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasLeveraging Summer for SuccessToday, Mystie, Pam, and Brandy are chatting about summer. Instead of letting summer slowly slip through our fingers, we can leverage summer and set ourselves up for greater success in our upcoming homeschool years. And you don't have to do it alone! You'll want to listen all the way to the end because Scholé Sisters is announcing something super special for summer ... we're hoping it'll encourage you to find (and bond with) your sisters! Want the show notes? Find them here: scholesisters.com/sp-1 Our summer book club studying Anne White's book Minds More Awake o...
2017-06-0748 minScholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasThe Nitty-Gritty Guide to Homeschooling High School Boys (with Cindy Rollins!)In her book Mere Motherhood, Cindy Rollins made the passing comment that she was not as big of a fan of homeschooling high school boys as she had been in the past. This turned into a rumor: Cindy Rollins doesn't think boys should be homeschooled in high school. Um. NOT TRUE. Today, Mystie and Brandy chat with Cindy about homeschooling high school boys (as well as using AmblesideOnline for high school), the pros, the cons, and how to know if it's time to let it go. Want the show notes? Find them here: scholesisters.com/ss23 If...
2017-05-1959 minScholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasDon't Lose That Lovin' Feelin'For today's episode, Pam, Mystie, and Brandy had quite the discussion surrounding the idea of interest and being interested – what does it mean, are we born interested, how do we lose interest over time, how do we gain it, what do we do when our children aren't interested? We talked about a lot! Want the show notes? Find them here: scholesisters.com/ss21 If you haven't heard, there will be a summer book club studying Anne White's Book Minds More Awake on the Scholé Sisters Forum. If you aren't a member already, go to http://www...
2017-04-281h 08Scholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasAmusing Ourselves to LeisureIn today's episode, Mystie and Brandy discuss amusement and entertainment. Does our commitment to scholé mean that there's no room in life for things that are completely frivolous and entertaining? Believe it or not, Aristotle had something to say on this subject! Want the show notes? Find them here: scholesisters.com/ss21 Come find us on Facebook! We'd love to have you join the conversation there.
2017-03-3158 minScholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasMothers, Don't Let Your Methods Grow up to Be Systems (with Karen Glass!)We are thrilled to have our friend Karen Glass on the show today. Karen is the author of Consider This: Charlotte Mason and the Classical Tradition, and also the brain behind Mind to Mind, an abridgment of Charlotte Mason's sixth volume. Karen Glass is part of the Advisory of AmblesideOnline. She has four children, ages 12 to 26, who have been homeschooled using Charlotte Mason's methods from beginning to end. She has been studying and writing about Charlotte Mason and Classical Education for over twenty years. In today's episode, Karen, Mystie, and Brandy discuss the difference between methods and s...
2017-03-171h 11Scholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasThe Intersection of Effortlessness and Hard Work (with Dr. Christopher Perrin!)Our guest on today's show is none other than Dr. Christopher Perrin from Classical Academic Press! Dr. Perrin is an author, consultant and speaker, who specializes in classical education. He is committed to the national renewal of the liberal arts tradition. Dr. Perrin serves as a consultant to charter, public, private, and Christian schools across the country and he has published numerous articles and lectures that are widely used throughout the United States and the English-speaking world. In today's episode, Mystie and Brandy ask Dr. Perrin to help us balance a tension that we all feel in o...
2017-03-031h 08Scholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasThe Low-Down on NarrationIn today's episode, Brandy, Mystie, and Pam have a conversation that gives you the low-down on narration. It's not so much about the how as it is about the why. With that said, we ask for your patience with the sound. We had some trouble with Mystie's microphone, and we couldn't get rid of all the static in the editing process. We hope the fun and good ideas in this episode will help you forgive us for the momentary decline in quality! Want the show notes? Find them here: scholesisters.com/ss18 Come...
2017-02-171h 09AfterCast: An Audio Companion for the Classical, Charlotte Mason MamaMy Child Doesn't Like X: Homeschooling Meets ResistanceWhy we don't need to rearrange the entire curriculum just because Johnny hates something on the day's agenda ... with some help from Aristotle via C.S. Lewis. To access the posts and show notes for this podcast, go to afterthoughtsblog.net/podcast. To support the show, go to afterthoughtsblog.net/donate. To find Brandy on Facebook, go to www.facebook.com/AfterthoughtsBlog. Thanks for being an Afterthinker!
2017-02-1610 minAfterCast: An Audio Companion for the Classical, Charlotte Mason MamaMy Teacher, My Logos?If a logos is a central organizing principle, then we should think about what is the central organizing principle of our homeschools. We might hope it is one thing when in fact it's another -- which means it's time to be honest with ourselves! To access the posts and show notes for this podcast, go to afterthoughtsblog.net/podcast. To support the show, go to afterthoughtsblog.net/donate. To find Brandy on Facebook, go to www.facebook.com/AfterthoughtsBlog. Thanks for being an Afterthinker!
2017-02-0908 minAfterCast: An Audio Companion for the Classical, Charlotte Mason MamaObserving Holy-Days with EusebiusEusebius, The Church History (translated by Paul Maier) is a book I've been reading with E-Age-Fourteen for our Bible/Church History category and it is just fantastic. It reminds me a lot of the book of Acts, and also Bede's Ecclesiastical History. I honestly think reading through it has been a great way to kick off high school. In today's episode, I read an excerpt and then attempt to pull out a principle that I personally found helpful, and I hope you do, too. I'd tell you what that principle is, but I think it's nicer to...
2017-02-0210 minAfterCast: An Audio Companion for the Classical, Charlotte Mason MamaPossibility, Not HeredityCharlotte Mason's 2nd principle says, "[Children] are not born either good or bad, but with possibilities for good and for evil." This can trip some people up, especially Protestants. When we look at the context of hereditary determinism, we start to understand what she was fighting against. That's what we're doing today: using a bit of Charles Dickens in order to understand the historical context. To access the posts and show notes for this podcast, go to afterthoughtsblog.net/podcast. To support the show, go to afterthoughtsblog.net/donate. To find...
2017-01-2607 minAfterCast: An Audio Companion for the Classical, Charlotte Mason MamaEP 04: The Don't Look Theory of ParentingWhen it comes to parenting, I can have an overwhelming desire to intervene. Unfortunately, this desire can interrupt the necessary process of learning through experience. I needed to take drastic measures in order to protect my children ... from ME. Thus the genesis of my Don't Look Theory of Parenting. Turns out, it's far less tempting to intervene if you're not looking. To access the posts and show notes for this podcast, go to afterthoughtsblog.net/podcast . To support the show, go to afterthoughtsblog.net/donate . To find Brandy on Facebook, go...
2017-01-1907 minAfterCast: An Audio Companion for the Classical, Charlotte Mason MamaAll Education is Self-EducationCharlotte Mason once said that "all education is self-education." Okay. That's great. But what if my child is a late bloomer? Does this mean that I as the mother need to start being more aggressive and take my child's learning in my own hands? Can I MAKE learning happen? Is it possible that our jobs as mother-teachers requires patience more than anything else? To access the posts and show notes for this podcast, go to afterthoughtsblog.net/podcast . To support the show, go to afterthoughtsblog.net/donate . To find Brandy on...
2017-01-1211 minAfterCast: An Audio Companion for the Classical, Charlotte Mason MamaWelcome to AfterCast!For many years now, Afterthoughts has been a sort of intellectual watering hole for all of you classical, Charlotte Mason homeschooling mamas out there – I like to call you Afterthinkers. You are thinking people – idea people – who never let a good book go to waste. You keep yourselves intellectually agile by reading books, often old books, seeking out the best that has been thought and said, and mixing it into your everyday lives of laundry and dishes and dinner and long division. At Afterthoughts, we have spent over a decade nourishing our minds on theology, educational philosophy, and a...
2016-12-3108 minScholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasThankfully ClassicalToday's show is all about thankfulness and Brandy is extremely thankful for Mystie. You see, we had recorded a different episode, but the recording had technical difficulties, and we weren't able to use it. Mystie was willing to do a special recording, and we are all THANKFUL for her and that she was willing to do this so last minute! In this episode, Mystie and Brandy first discuss the philosophy of thankfulness and the connections between gratitude and scholé. After that, they talk about all the long list of people and curricula and organizations that make us h...
2016-11-1854 minScholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasReading Pagan Literature with Highly Resistant Children (with Wes Callihan!)Brandy's guest today is the one and only Wes Callihan and she is thrilled! If you can believe it, she got through the entire interview without acting like a total fan girl. Wes and Brandy discuss why some children (the hypothetical Boy A and Girl B) are resistant to pagan literature and what to do about it. Two types of resistant prove we need two types of responses! We also get to find out what Wes is reading in his free time, and what advice he'd give to parents whose children are signing up for online classes. Don't...
2016-11-0445 minScholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasLearning Styles Are BunkOn today's show, Pam and Brandy discuss learning styles and the fact that there is no scientific evidence whatsoever to back them up. (Obviously, Pam is trying to get us into trouble.) But REALLY, it was a great discussion, even if somewhat controversial. Also, if you've ever wondered how learning styles intersect -- or not -- with the classical tradition, we manage to Go There. In our Nitty Gritty Question, we also confess our regrets and do over desires in regard to early childhood education in our homes. Don't forget about the Scholé Sisters Forum. Th...
2016-10-2152 minScholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasClose Encounters of the Other KindOur guest today is Kathy Wickward, former homeschool mom (she's graduated, folks!), one of the founders of CM West, and one of the masterminds behind AmblesideOnline's living science curriculum. On today's show, Kathy and Brandy discuss leading our children through encounters with viewpoints with which we don't agree. Is there ever an age not to do this? And how DO we do this? Kathy shares with us her theory of six degrees of separation from a subject, and more! Don't forget to join our forum over at scholesisters.com/join -- we've got virtual Scholé Sisters groups an...
2016-10-071h 01Scholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasWill the REAL Multum Non Multa Please Stand Up?On today's show, Mystie and Brandy discuss the ancient Latin motto multum non multa – meaning, much not many. Applied to education, and somehow misapplied to education, we chat about who used the motto in reference to education, what they meant, and what this has to do with Charlotte Mason and The Latin-Centered Curriculum. We also bring up one of the great unmentionables: the dangers of taking a minimalistic approach to life and homeschooling. Don't forget to sign up for our monthly newsletter at scholesisters.com!
2016-09-2351 minScholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasFind the Right Scholé for Your TypeWelcome back! We are so excited to have you with us today for our first episode of Season 2! In this episode, Mystie and Brandy explore the relationship between personality types and scholé. Mystie draws a distinction Brandy had never thought about before -- that some types of scholé are restorative, while others bring about more of a stretching and growing -- and different types serve these purposes for different personality types. The bottom line is that if you are in need of some restoration, knowing your personality type and what restores it can be super helpful. Don...
2016-08-2654 minScholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasMaking the Most of Summer with Habits and VirtueIn today's episode, Mystie and Brandy use Aristotle's Nichomachean Ethics to discuss the connection between habits and virtue, and then proceed to convince ourselves to work on shoring up good habits over the summer to pave the way for a better school year. We also discuss a question on assessment sent to us by Amanda Venema – and a big shout out to Amanda for being the first to leave us a recorded message! So…habits, virtue, summer, assessment – what's not to like? This is a fun way to wrap up Season 1 of the podcast. Don't forget to go joi...
2016-05-1356 minScholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling MamasThe Wonder-Based Classical Co-opPam is not only Brandy's co-host, she's also the guest this time around. That's because Brandy really wanted to hear more about her classical co-op and all the changes they have made over the years and how those have come about. Since Brandy doesn't have a co-op herself, what she really wanted to do was listen and learn -- and Pam was full of great lessons, that's for sure! Get ready to be inspired to continue to learn and grow and allow that process to bear fruit in other endeavors, such as co-ops. All the show notes...
2016-02-2650 min