In this mailbag episode of _Classical Et Cetera_ we respond to listener questions on a range of parenting and homeschooling topics. We talk about limiting video games, responding to boredom in children, and how much attention homeschool parents should give to modern pop culture versus older stories, books, and models. Drawing on principles of classical education, we explore how attention, imagination, and formation shape a child’s learning. Join the conversation as we think through these questions together!

*What We're Reading* from This Episode: 

Stoner" John Williams (Paul)

Against the Machine" Paul Kingsnorth (Tanya)

North and South" Elizabeth Gaskell (Tanya)

Marce Catlett" Wendell Berry (Tanya)

Sense and Sensibility" Jane Austen (Tanya)

By Her Own Design" Piper Huguley (Jessica)

How should adults think about reading goals for the coming year—and how do you read more books without letting reading become a burden?

In this episode of _Classical Et Cetera_ we talk about reading goals for 2026 and what it takes to build a reading life that lasts. Whether you’re an avid reader, returning after a long break, or feeling overwhelmed by unfinished books, this conversation explores better ways to read with intention and balance. We discuss fiction and nonfiction, reading for work versus pleasure, and why shared reading and conversation matter so much.

Comment your reading list for 2026! Book recommendations are always welcome.

*Tanya's Stack of Books* 

Sense and Sensibility — Jane Austen 

The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating — Elisabeth Tova Bailey 

Absent in the Spring — Agatha Christie 

The Door — Magda Szabo 

Mystery and Manners — Flannery O'Connor 

The Headmaster — John McPhee 

Marce Catlett — Wendell Berry 

*Martin's Stack of Books* 

The Giver — Lois Lowry 

Booth Tarkington Biography 

Wonderworks — Angus Fletcher 

The Master and His Emissary — Iain McGilchrist 

Primal Intelligence — Angus Fletcher 

The Digital Delusion — Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath 

The Last of the Mohicans — James Fenimore Cooper 

Quo Vadis — Henryk Sienkiewicz 

Sense and Sensibility — Jane Austen 

The Jungle Book — Rudyard Kipling 

*Paul's Stack of Books* 

The Greek Way — Edith Hamilton 

The Biological Farmer — Gary F. Zimmer 

The Liturgy of the Land — Thomas D. Van Horn & Jason M. Craig 

Against the Machine — Paul Kingsnorth 

The Wild Orchid — Sigrid Undset 

The Southern Tradition at Bay — Richard M. Weaver 

The Ministry of Fear — Graham Greene 

*Jessica's Stack of Books* 

I Beheld the Mountains — Joseph Payne 

The Modern Proper — Holly Erickson & Natalie Mortimer 

Remarkably Bright Creatures — Shelby Van Pelt 

Little Women — Louisa May Alcott 

By Her Own Design — Piper Huguley 

There is no shortage of advice about how Latin _should_ be taught—immersion, conversation, grammar-first, or a blending of methods. In this episode of _Classical Et Cetera_ we step back and ask a more fundamental question: what should be the real _goal_ of learning Latin, and how should that goal shape the way we teach it? We discuss grammar versus immersion, reading and speaking, and why different methods produce very different results—especially for children. Join us as we clarify common misconceptions and answer several listener questions!

*What We're Reading* from This Episode: 

"Hamnet" Maggie O'Farrell (Tanya)

"Hamlet" William Shakespeare (Tanya)

"North and South" Elizabeth Gaskell (Tanya)

"Trust" Hernan Diaz (Paul)

"Mythology" Edith Hamilton (Martin)

"Plutarch's Lives" Plutarch (Martin)

"Practical Theology" Peter Kreeft (Martin)

"The Portrait of a Lady" Henry James (Martin)

Is a classical education practical in today’s world of trades, technology, and rapidly changing careers? In this episode of _Classical Et Cetera_ we explore that question through the real-life experiences of two classically educated graduates—one studying computer science, the other pursuing a trade. Together, we discuss how classical education prepares students not for a single job, but for many possible paths. From plumbing to programming, we examine transferable skills, lifelong learning, and the formation that equips students for real work and real life.

Due to technical difficulties this episode is audio-only. Thanks for bearing with us, and we'll see you next week!

*What We're Reading* from This Episode: 

"Trust" Hernan Diaz (Paul)

"Every Thing You Ever Wanted to Know About Heaven" Peter Kreeft (Danny)

"Oathbringer" Brandon Sanderson (August)

What do we really mean when we talk about the liberal arts? In this episode of Classical Et Cetera we walk through the introduction to Sister Miriam Joseph’s _The Trivium_ and explore the classical understanding of education. Rather than focusing on methods or grade levels, we talk about what education *is* — how grammar, logic, and rhetoric function as tools of the mind, and why education is more than just the accumulation of information.

Read the sample from Sister Miriam Joseph's book that we use for this episode: https://www.memoriapress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/The-Trivium-The-Liberal-Arts-of-Logic-Gramm…/?utm_source=PodBean&utm_medium=CETC&utm_campaign=202

And watch part one of this conversation right here! https://youtu.be/by_fbsFjStk?si=SzS6jf_bV91-j_40/?utm_source=PodBean&utm_medium=CETC&utm_campaign=202

*What We're Reading* from This Episode: 

"The Roy Grace Series" Peter James (Tanya)

"Against the Machine" Paul Kingsnorth (Martin)

"A Christmas Memory" Truman Capote (Martin)

"Holistic Management" Allan Savory (Paul)

In this Christmas episode of _Classical Et Cetera_ we trade our usual “What are you reading?” segment for a festive book exchange! The Core Four each brings a book to give, sparking conversation about classic stories, meaningful reading, and the traditions that shape the season. We recommend beloved Christmas books for children and adults, reflect on why great Christmas stories endure, and offer ideas for reading together as a family.

Christmas Book Exchange 2025 list:

The Mythmakers —John Hendrix (From Paul, To Martin)

West with the Night —Beryl Markham (From Martin, To Jessica)

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes —Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (From Tanya, To Paul)

Hamnet —Maggie O'Farrell (From Jessica, To Tanya)

Is Memoria Press Catholic or Protestant—and what does “ecumenical” really mean in Christian education?

In this episode of _Classical Et Cetera_ we explain how _Mere Christianity_ guides our Christian Studies program and how we focus on the core beliefs shared by historic Christianity. We discuss the differences between "teaching" doctrine and "teaching about" doctrine, the role of the creeds, and how classical education approaches Scripture, church history, and doctrine at different stages of a student’s formation. This conversation offers clarity for parents and teachers seeking a thoughtful, faithful, and intellectually honest approach to Christian education—one that emphasizes unity without avoiding depth.

*What We're Reading* from This Episode: 

"Against the Machine" Paul Kingsnorth (Martin)

"The Snow Walker" Farley Mowat (Martin)

"Tolstoy or Dostoevsky" George Steiner (Martin)

"Twenty Years After" Alexandre Dumas (Paul)

Frederick Douglas Biography (Dustin)

What is a house system, and why do our classical schools use them? In this episode of _Classical Et Cetera_ we explore how the house system works at Highlands Latin School—where it came from, what it accomplishes, and why students love it. From leadership and service to school culture and community, we look at how houses shape students in meaningful, lasting ways. Whether you're part of a classical school, a homeschool community, or simply curious about this tradition, join the conversation and see why the house system has become such an important part of our classical education.

*What We're Reading* from This Episode: 

"Guardians of Tradition" Ruth Miller Elson (Martin)

"Without Precedent" Joel Richard Paul (Shawn)

"The Wind in the Willows" Kenneth Grahame (Daniel)

We’re back with another Mailbag episode! Did classical education actually cause the Enlightenment? How does one become a classical educator? When is the best time to start logic at home?

We’re also diving into co-ops, composition choices for younger students, art and music recommendations, and more! Whether you're homeschooling, teaching in a classical school, or simply curious about classical education, join us as we work through these thoughtful questions—and send us more at [email protected].

*What We're Reading* from This Episode: 

"Galahad and the Grail" Malcolm Guite (Martin)

"Christian Paideia" Brian Welter (Martin)

"Unnatural Death" Dorothy Sayers (Tanya)

"King Lear" William Shakespeare (Tanya)

"Twenty Years After" Alexandre Dumas (Paul)

"The Wind in the Willows" Kenneth Grahame (Paul)

Fairy tales are far more than simple children’s stories. In this episode of _Classical Et Cetera_ we explore why these tales endure, what they offer the moral imagination, and how they help both children and adults see the world with clarity and wonder. From questions about when to begin reading fairy tales to the connections they share with Scripture, we discuss why "demythologizing" (whether fairy tale or sacred text) risks losing the very truth they carry. Join us for a thoughtful classical and Christian look at stories that shape our soul.

*What We're Reading* from This Episode: 

The Wind in the Willows" Kenneth Grahame (Ian)

"Everything Sad Is Untrue" Daniel Nayeri (Ian)

"Housekeeping" Marilynne Robinson (Ian)

"The Wind in the Willows" Kenneth Grahame (Leigh)

"Understanding the Hillbilly Thomist" Damian Ference (Leigh)

"Beauty and Imitation" Daniel Mclnerny (Vigen)

"Into the Light: Classical Education and Orthodox Christianity" David Hicks and Anthony Gilbert (Vigen)

"Twenty Years After" Alexandre Dumas (Paul)