Dwell

In this episode, friend and colleague in the world of classical education, mom and grandmother, teacher and poet, Christine Perrin, joins us for a discussion on how to foster a love of poetry in our children. She says that the experience of poetry comes before the analysis of it, she offers tips on how to jump into the world of poetry, and she shares her favorite volumes and poets with us. 

Katie Carrillo, mother of three daughters and head mentor of the Gulf Coast Apprenticeship, joins Renee and Karen to discuss living the good life with children living at home after high school. Our culture tells us that our child needs to create his or her own life at eighteen years old. But what if college or moving out of the family home is not what your child desires? Katie offers her story with her daughters and offers advice for navigating these years.

Listen as Renee and Karen chat with guest John Hodges, teacher, musician, composer, and director of The Center for Western Studies. John explains, as Plato said, that the purpose of music is to cause us to delight in beauty and the harmonious things. We discuss learning to play instruments, and John offers musical selections that you can find to enjoy with your children. To find out more about his gap year program, go to centerws.com

Join us as we chat with Laura Councell about the effects that music, instrumental and vocal, can have on your children's souls, minds, and bodies. Laura holds a doctorate in music and is a homeschooling mother to three children ages 2,5, and 8. Her son, Harry, is a special needs child, and Laura describes how song has been life-giving for him. Listen and be inspired and encouraged by Laura's story.

In this episode, Renee and Karen chat with Bethany Kern about her new art history and appreciation books called Lumen, A Guide to the Elements of Art through Time. The first volume (of seven) on line was published last year, and the second, on space, is hot off the presses. Listen as Bethany describes the process of choosing artists and their work, how the volumes are structured, and how you can use them in your homeschool. Get these beautiful books now!Lumen, A Guide to the Elements of Art through Time

Listen as Renee and Karen discuss Anthony Esolen's book Ten Ways to Destroy the Imagination of Your Child, which aims to show how our culture constricts the imaginations of the young. Written in the style of C.S. Lewis' Screwtape Letters, it is witty and clever. If you haven't read this book, you should get a copy wherever you buy your books!Amazon

This episode is a further conversation with Dr. Jeanne Schindler. She offers us wisdom for navigating the digital age within our families and some practical advice on how to limit online exposure and encourage social engagement.Here is Jeanne's interview with Front Porch Republic, with the Postman Pledge at the bottom.

Listen to this lively conversation with Dr. Jeanne Schindler as she explains how the digital world has mediated our experience and awareness of the real world and has impacted our ability and desire to commune with God and with each other.