Simple Wonders

As I've studied attachment and love, I've wondered how they affect children's learning. So I asked Dr. Russell Osguthorpe, an expert in both attachment and learning, to come on the podcast to discuss the connection between the two. In this episode we discuss how attachment affects behavior and learning, and how parents can create an atmosphere of love that invites deep, meaningful learning. 

Dr. Osguthorpe taught at Brigham Young University for multiple years. He has multiple degrees from Brigham Young University, including a PhD in Instructional Psychology. He is a former director of the Center for Teaching and Learning and a professor in the Department of Instructional Psychology and Technology at BYU.  He is also a former general president of the Sunday School for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is also an author and has written multiple books, including “Filled With His Love.”

Show Notes: https://simplewonders.org/2023/03/03/creating-an-atmosphere-of-love-and-learning-w-dr-russell-osguthorpe/

Many of the behavioral problems parents face, during all generations of time, all stem from one thing: attachment. A healthy attachment to a parent affects everything from learning to to self-regulation.  But why is attachment so important? How do we nurture a healthy attachment with our children? And how do we know if our attachment is suffering?

In this episode I'll answer these questions and more as we explore the big idea of attachment.

Show notes: https://simplewonders.org/2023/02/15/love-attachment-part-2/

Why is it so difficult to teach my own children?

It feels like my child is emotionally distant. How can I repair our relationship?

Why has my child become so defiant?

Although these parenting issues may seem unrelated, they all have one thing in common: attachment. Unconditional love is the foundation for parenting and teaching because loving relationships are what keep our children's hearts tender and teachable. This episode is part one of two episodes where we discuss the big idea of love and attachment and how it affects our authority as parents and teachers. 

In this episode I dive deep into the spiritual aspects of relationships and how parent either harden or soften their children's hearts. 

Show Notes: https://simplewonders.org/2023/02/03/love-attachment-part-1/

Although I've been studying Mason's philosophy of education for a few years now I still had some unanswered questions about her first principle.

I invited Dr. Jack Beckman to chat with me and answer a few of those questions. In this episode we discuss how Mason's philosophy compares to the well-know child development theories today, how parents can give children liberty while still setting boundaries, and what he looks for in schools that respect children as people. 

Dr. Jack Beckman began his career as an Early Childhood educator in the classroom, then as an educational leader, and finally as Professor of Elementary Education at Covenant College. He is a graduate of George State University, Covenant College and Cambridge University. He is also a Fellow at the University of Cumbria, UK, where he works with a team of colleagues to develop a research agenda on the life and work of Charlotte Mason.

Show Notes: https://simplewonders.org/2023/01/24/freedom-within-boundaries/

It’s important to understand principles, to have a framework, before we move on to applying her methods. 

So for the rest of the season we'll be discussing the big ideas in Charlotte Mason's 20 Principles. First, Children are Born Persons. 

“We believe that the first article of our P.N.E.U. educational creed—“children are born persons”—is of a revolutionary character; for what is a revolution but a complete reversal of attitude?” 

Why is it so revolutionary to think of children as persons? And how does this mentality change how we parent and teach children? In this episode we'll explore what this seemingly simple phrase means, and how our current culture measures up.

Show Notes: https://simplewonders.org/2023/01/06/children-are-born-persons/

My child has a learning disability. Can I still apply Charlotte Mason’s methods? 

I'm feeling like my child needs more support outside of what the school system can give; where do I start?

How do I have a peaceful homeschool when my child's challenges create so much tension?

Because her philosophy is largely based on self-education, Charlotte Mason believed that her educational methods were for everyone – children of all cultures, time periods, and all abilities. Today I’m speaking with Julie Christensen, a mother, home educator, and senior writer at Bright Horizons.

Julie has a lot of experience with Charlotte Mason’s methods and educating a child with special needs. I’m very excited to speak with her today because I know that her experiences will resonate with so many mothers, and her wisdom will benefit everyone.

We all want our children to receive a high-quality education – one that builds knowledge and teaches them how to think. But how do we go about this? Charlotte Mason said that education should be focused on feeding children a feast of living ideas (from books)  then narrating what they learn, by speaking or writing about it.

But how does Mason’s method compare to cognitive science today? And why is this method of educating children so effective? I've invited the author Natalie Wexler to discuss these questions and more on this episode. 

Natalie Wexler is an education writer and the author of The Knowledge Gap: The Hidden Cause of America’s Broken Education System—and How to Fix It (Avery 2019). She is also the co-author, with Judith C. Hochman, of The Writing Revolution: A Guide to Advancing Thinking Through Writing in All Subjects and Grades (Jossey-Bass 2017), and a senior contributor at Forbes.com. Her articles and essays on education and other topics have appeared in The NewYork Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and on her free newsletter, Minding the Gap. She has spoken on education before a wide variety of groups and appeared on a number of TV and radio shows, including Morning Joe and NPR’s On Point and 1A. Find out more about Natalie and her work at her website, www.nataliewexler.com, or follow her on Twitter (@natwexler).

Show Notes

https://simplewonders.org/2022/12/09/the-connection-between-reading-and-thinking-w-natalie-wexler/

What makes Charlotte Mason’s philosophy and methods different from others?

How do we nurture a love of learning in our children?

What should parents look for in a curriculum or school?

Over 100 years ago, Charlotte Mason said “Teaching, talk, and tale, however lucid or fascinating, affect nothing until self-activity be set up; that is, self-education is the only possible education; the rest is mere veneer laid on the surface of a child’s nature.”

In this episode I'll answer those questions as we explore perhaps one of Mason's most profound ideas: self-education. The secret to curious, motivated, intelligent children. 

Families, especially mothers, are devalued in our society. We're told mothers are replaceable, that we need to modernize motherhood; but all the science says the opposite.  In this episode, Cassie Shepherd and I discuss the importance of motherhood and why mothers are the best people to nurture a child's heart and mind.

Show Notes: https://simplewonders.org/2022/11/11/mothers-work-wonders-w-cassie-shepherd/

In this episode, we explore the history of institutions for children and what we've learned from them. I'll discuss why home-centered learning is essential for all families and I'll share some simple strategies you can begin implementing today, no matter where your children go to school. 

Show Notes: https://simplewonders.org/2022/10/24/home-centered-learning/