Episodes

  • Organizing the School Year: "Big Rocks" go in first, then fill in with the "little rocks and sand".

    Organizing the School Year: "Big Rocks" go in first, then fill in with the "little rocks and sand".
    Jun 16 2026
    Renee and Karen offer tips for planning out the coming school year: get a good planner/calendar, map out the big life events, add the scheduled things, the seasonal events, plan your typical week, give structure to your day, and leave space for the unexpected!

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    25 mins
  • Making Your Curriculum Work for You

    Making Your Curriculum Work for You
    Jun 9 2026
    In this episode, Renee and Karen chat about how to let your curriculum serve your goals and the needs of your children. Remember that education is cultivation, and it takes a long time to produce fruit!

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    27 mins
  • Dwell Webinar—The Keys to Teaching Language in the Elementary Years: Narration and Dictation

    Dwell Webinar—The Keys to Teaching Language in the Elementary Years: Narration and Dictation
    Jun 3 2026
    Listen to our recent webinar with Andrew Kern as he discusses the art of language and the benefits of narration and dictation in training attention, memory, thinking, and expression. We answer questions about our new curriculum, The Tapestry: what it is, who it is for, how it is structured to fit in with weekly lesson plans, and the format of each exercise. We think you will enjoy listening in!

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    1 hr and 55 mins
  • Surviving and Thriving at a Homeschool Conference

    Surviving and Thriving at a Homeschool Conference
    May 19 2026
    Listen as Renee and Karen chat about how to get the most out of a summer conference. From planning ahead, to taking in and enjoying every moment while pacing yourself, to reflecting on what you have gained, they offer tips for having a blast and going home refreshed.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    28 mins
  • "Are we there yet?"

    "Are we there yet?"
    May 12 2026
    In this episode, Renee and Karen offer ideas and tips for planning your next family trip. Renee brilliantly suggests that the strategies for thinking and writing in The Lost Tools of Writing can help you prepare for your family's summer vacation!

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    37 mins
  • Let There Be Play!

    Let There Be Play!
    Apr 28 2026
    We all know play is important for the development of our children, but do we know why and how to incorporate play into our homeschool day? Join Renee and Karen as they chat with Rachel Woodham about her soon-to-be-published book, Let There Be Play. Rachel discusses the nature of play and how it is necessary to the development of virtue and the moral imagination.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    41 mins
  • Introducing a new book on classical education: Things Glorious and Ruinous

    Introducing a new book on classical education: Things Glorious and Ruinous
    Apr 21 2026
    Author and educator Mark Signorelli joins Renee and Karen to discuss his new book, Things Glorious and Ruinous, Considering Classical Education Amidst Cultural Decay. Listen as they talk about the benefits of a classical education, including, as Mark writes in his book, "What is it the classical educator is preparing her students for? For happiness. And how does one learn to be happy in the future? By learning to be happy now. Happiness is a way of being in the world...." Be encouraged to continue the good work of educating your children.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    41 mins
  • Have You Dreamed of Homesteading?

    Have You Dreamed of Homesteading?
    Apr 7 2026
    Listen as Renee and Karen chat with homeschool mom, Suzy Laskey, about their family farm in Michigan that started with a square foot garden and a dream. She describes how tending the animals and participating in the work of farm life have enriched her family and her homeschool. You might want to start a garden and get some chickens!

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    29 mins