The Rational Educator

Connor Boyack is the author of The Tuttle Twins, a series of illustrated children's books that takes some of the great works from the canon of free market and classical liberal thought, and turns their basic premises into kid-friendly stories that parents can also read along with them. The stories are not only fun, but also thought-provoking, and a gateway to have some great conversations with your kids.

You can learn more about the Tuttle Twins series by going to their webpage. Connor was nice enough to offer a 40% discount for the books by entering the coupon code "FORTY."
https://tuttletwins.com/

If you're interested in having your child learn basic skills like cursive, check out the live online classes at the Pisan Academy website, where you can find other classes like grammar, language arts, and history, taught in small group sessions:
https://www.pisanacademy.com/classes

Find us on social media!
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/PassionateHomeschooler
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/PassionateHomeschooler/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PassionateHomeschooler/
Our Blog - https://pisanacademy.com/blog/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/pisanacademy

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Co-founder Deanna joins us for a discussion about cursive handwriting. Numerous studies have shown how this one skill, taught at an early age, can result in lasting neurological and cognitive benefits. So, why is it no longer being taught? And what are some of the best practices in which to teach it?

If you're interested in having your student learn cursive, check out the live online classes at the Pisan Academy website, where you can find cursive as well as language arts and history classes taught in small group sessions:
https://www.pisanacademy.com/classes

Check out more of Deanna's work on the Passionate Homeschooler YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4poqV4r3PEN-SITXjGtTRw

Find us on social media!
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pisanacademy/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pisanacademy/
Our Blog - https://pisanacademy.com/blog/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/pisanacademy

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Atlanta area homeschool co-op teacher and board president Kelly Elmore is back for part two of our interview with her and this time, we talk about her ideas about education from her perspective as a teacher.

We talk about the importance of welcoming mistakes, a philosophy she calls "Yippee, Mistakes!" We also talk about how the skill of critical thinking can't be taught in a vacuum and teachers can model the behavior through their actions.

If you'd like to learn more about the homeschool co-op she helped to found, check out their website here:
https://www.stacofga.org/

We're proud to announce the start of live online classes through the Pisan Academy. If you're frustrated that the modern education system isn't living up to your expectations, and you need help teaching your child the basics like cursive handwriting, and grammar, we can help! 
Small online group courses with no more than six students per class will start soon. 
Additional language arts classes such as writing and research will be added as well.

Sign up now to get alerts at:
https://www.pisanacademy.com/classes

Find us on social media!
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pisanacademy/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pisanacademy/
Our Blog - https://pisanacademy.com/blog/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/pisanacademy

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Kelly Elmore is a teacher, homeschool co-op founder, and longtime homeschool mom.
In the first part of a two part conversation, we talk about her personal experiences as a homeschool mom with a teaching background.
If you're in the Atlanta area, you can find out more information about her co-op here:
https://www.stacofga.org/

Interested in a classic literature curriculum for your middle or high school student?
Sign up for a free trial of the Literature Plus program from The Pisan Academy. You'll get everything you need to teach the greatest works of Western Civilization, along with additional readings of history and philosophy to add context and make the works come alive.
https://www.pisanacademy.com/free

Let us know what you think! Send us an email!
[email protected]

Find us on social media!

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pisanacademy/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pisanacademy/
Our Blog - https://pisanacademy.com/blog/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/pisanacademy

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Deanna's back to talk about what we're seeing with virtual schooling, one week in. Some problems have been solved, but others will never be fixed.
We also talk about alternatives.

If you're a parent and you're considering homeschooling, but feeling a little overwhelmed, take a look at this free guide that contains actionable steps, lists of issues to consider, as well as planning checklists:
https://www.pisanacademy.com/8-steps

Interested in a classic literature curriculum for your middle or high school student?
Sign up for a free trial of the Literature Plus program from The Pisan Academy. You'll get everything you need to teach the greatest works of Western Civilization, along with additional readings of history and philosophy to add context and make the works come alive.
https://www.pisanacademy.com/free

You can find more of Deanna at the Passionate Homeschooler YouTube Channel here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4poqV4r3PEN-SITXjGtTRw

Let us know what you think! Send us an email!
[email protected]

Find us on social media!
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pisanacademy/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pisanacademy/
Our Blog - https://pisanacademy.com/blog/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/pisanacademy

Support the show

Leonydus Johnson is a blogger, podcaster, and a cultural commenter arguing to, as he puts it, "help dismantle the ever-threatening push toward socialism, help break our culture's obsession with skin culture, and move into a truly post-racial society."

He and his wife have recently chosen to homeschool their four children. We chat about his thoughts on education, why he chose to take them out of the public school system, and the importance of reason and critical thinking in education.

You can find his website here:
https://leonydusjohnson.com/

And you can also find him on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/leonydusjohnson

Interested in a classic literature curriculum for your middle or high school student?
Sign up for a free trial of the Literature Plus program from The Pisan Academy. You'll get everything you need to teach the greatest works of Western Civilization, along with additional readings of history and philosophy to add context and make the works come alive.
https://www.pisanacademy.com/free

Let us know what you think! Send us an email!
[email protected]

Find us on social media!

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pisanacademy/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pisanacademy/
Our Blog - https://pisanacademy.com/blog/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/pisanacademy

Support the show

Co-Founder Deanna joins us for a conversation about the modern classroom from the perspective of the late public school teacher and education activist John Taylor Gatto.

We talk about a speech he gave, republished in his book "Dumbing Us Down," in which he details the real lessons he taught his students by working within the classroom system, lessons like confusion, emotional and intellectual dependency, and indifference.

If you'd like to read the speech yourself, you can find it here:
http://the7lessonteacher.com/

You can find more information about John Taylor Gatto here:
https://www.johntaylorgatto.com/

Interested in a classic literature curriculum for your middle or high school student?
Sign up for a free trial of the Literature Plus program from The Pisan Academy. You'll get everything you need to teach the greatest works of Western Civilization, along with additional readings of history and philosophy to add context and make the works come alive.
https://www.pisanacademy.com/free

Let us know what you think! Send us an email!
[email protected]

Find us on social media!
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pisanacademy/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pisanacademy/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/pisanacademy
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4poqV4r3PEN-SITXjGtTRw

Support the show

Jason Crawford is the creator of an online program for high school students called the Progress Studies for Aspiring Young Scholars, which teaches a unique approach to the study of history by examining the scientific and technological achievements that made progress and prosperity possible.

In this episode, we discuss the forces that drove civilization to reach the heights of prosperity that we see today, and we ask why it's taken for granted, instead of revered.

You can find more information about his program at:
https://progressstudies.school/

Interested in a classic literature curriculum for your middle or high school student?
Sign up for a free trial of the Literature Plus program from The Pisan Academy. You'll get everything you need to teach the greatest works of Western Civilization, along with additional readings of history and philosophy to add context and make the works come alive.
https://www.pisanacademy.com/free

Let us know what you think! Send us an email!
[email protected]

Find us on social media!
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pisanacademy/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pisanacademy/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/pisanacademy
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4poqV4r3PEN-SITXjGtTRw

Support the show

Co-founder Deanna, and High School teacher Luc Travers are back to talk about a unique genre in literature and storytelling that he calls "The Optimistic Outsider Wins Over the Hearts of the Cynical."

This discussion was sparked by a new TV show on Apple TV+ called Ted Lasso, which seems like a simple fish out of water situation comedy, but shares certain elements with great works of literature like Jane Eyre, even adding twists that we argue are revolutionary.

Here, we discuss the lessons we can learn from Ted Lasso, and perhaps get some ideas on the kinds of works we can teach to students.

You can find more of Luc at his website:
http://www.literatureatourhouse.com/

You can also see Deanna at the Passionate Homeschooler YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4poqV4r3PEN-SITXjGtTRw

Interested in a classic literature curriculum for your middle or high school student?
Sign up for a free trial of the Literature Plus program from The Pisan Academy. You'll get everything you need to teach the greatest works of Western Civilization, along with additional readings of history and philosophy to add context and make the works come alive.
https://www.pisanacademy.com/free

Let us know what you think! Send us an email!
[email protected]

Support the show

Co-founder Deanna is back for another Founder's Chat in which we talk about online, or "distance" learning. With many states still in shutdown and schools attempting to reopen using video conferencing, what are the challenges that they'll face?

Deanna was an early adopter of distance education, and even trained and coordinated distance learning programs at her campus. As much as we like to dream about the science fiction scenarios of the teacher appearing on a video screen while the class watches on their devices, it's not quite so easy. Deanna argues that it's impossible to recreate the classroom in a virtual setting, that new methods need to be used, and both parents and students will need to own more of their education.

Download our free guide to get started with homeschooling, available here:
https://www.pisanacademy.com/8-steps

Find more of Deanna on our YouTube channel here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4poqV4r3PEN-SITXjGtTRw

Interested in a classic literature curriculum for your middle or high school student?
Sign up for a free trial of the Literature Plus program from The Pisan Academy. You'll get everything you need to teach the greatest works of Western Civilization, along with additional readings of history and philosophy to add context and make the works come alive.
https://www.pisanacademy.com/free-trial

Find out what the regulations are in your state. Check out the Homeschool Legal Defense Association website:
https://hslda.org/

Let us know what you think! Send us an email!
[email protected]

Support the show