Classical Et Cetera

In this episode of Classical Et Cetera, we tackle one of the most common objections to homeschooling: socialization. Are homeschoolers actually missing out socially? Do children really need classrooms and constant peer interaction to grow into mature, capable adults? We discuss the fears many parents face, the assumptions behind modern schooling, and what truly forms children. From co-ops and friendships to peer culture and family life, we explore how homeschooling shapes social development and why “socialization” may not mean what most people think it does. Join us for a thoughtful conversation on homeschooling, community, and raising well-formed children.
 
*What We're Reading* from This Episode: 
"Time of the Child" Niall Williams (Kathy)
"The Dean's Watch" Elizabeth Goudge (Kathy)
"This is Happiness" Niall Williams (Tanya)
"The Labours of Hercules" Agatha Christie (Tanya)
"The Violent Bear It Away" Flannery O'Connor (Paul)

In this episode of Classical Et Cetera, we discuss the “how” behind classical education. Why do we emphasize memorization, repetition, teacher-led classrooms, and rigorous books? Are these methods outdated, or are they essential to meaningful learning? We explore the purpose behind what we do, respond to common criticisms, and discuss how structure, discussion, discipline, and intellectual formation work together to shape not just knowledgeable students, but thoughtful and virtuous human beings.
 

In this episode of Classical Et Cetera, we ask a foundational question: What actually makes an education “classical”? Is classical education simply a collection of methods and old books, or are there essential pillars that cannot be removed? The Core Four discuss Latin, literature, moral formation, the Western tradition, and why classical education is more than a modern curriculum with classical decorations added on. Join us as we explore what belongs at the center of a truly classical education.
*What We're Reading* from This Episode: 
"Galahad and the Grail" Malcom Guite (Martin)
"The Last of the Mohicans" James Fenimore Cooper (Martin)
"Smiling Through the Cultural Catastrophe" Jeffery Hart (Martin)
"The Sea Hawk" Rafael Sabatini (Paul)
"Mary Poppins" Pamela Lyndon Travers (Paul)
"The Confederacy of Dunces" John Kennedy Toole (Paul)
"A Tale of Two Cities" Charles Dickens (Tanya)
"Fountains of Silence" Ruta Sepetys (Jessica)

In this episode of Classical Et Cetera we continue our series on the best books of each era by turning from ancient Greece to ancient Rome. From Virgil’s Aeneid and Cicero’s orations to Roman historians, poets, philosophers, and early Christian writers, we consider the works that reveal Rome’s ideals of order, duty, virtue, and piety—and the world-changing arrival of Christianity.
 
Whether you’re new to Roman literature or looking to revisit the classics, this conversation offers guidance on what to read, why it matters, and how these books help us understand the foundations of Western civilization. Join us as we explore the essential works of ancient Rome, from empire to Augustine, and consider where to begin your reading.
*What We're Reading* from This Episode: 
"Mary Poppins" Pamela Lyndon Travers (Paul)
"The Confederacy of Dunces" John Kennedy Toole (Paul)
"84, Charing Cross Road" Helene Hanff (Jessica)
"The Sea Hawk" Rafael Sabatini (Tanya)
"The Little Colonel Stories" Annie Fellows Johnston (Tanya)
"Educational Wastelands" Arthur E. Bestor (Martin)
 
 
*Reading List for Ancient Rome*
Virgil- Aeneid- Other poetry
 
Cicero- Catilinarian Orations- The Republic- The Laws- On Duties / On Obligations- Pro Archia Poeta_ / _For Archias the Poet
 
Lucretius- De rerum natura_ / _On the Nature of Things
 
Marcus Aurelius- Meditations
 
Julius Caesar- Gallic Wars
 
Roman Historians- Works by Livy- Works by Tacitus- Works by Suetonius- Plutarch - _Parallel Lives
 
Roman Poetry- Works by Ovid- Works by Horace- Other poetry by Virgil
 
Early Christian Writings of the Roman Era- Didache- Writings by Clement of Rome- Writings by Ignatius of Antioch- Writings by Polycarp- Writings by Justin Martyr- Writings by Irenaeus- Writings by Tertullian- Writings by Origen- Writings by Eusebius
 
Augustine- Confessions- On Catechizing the Uninstructed- City of God

This week’s Classical Et Cetera is a special one. We recorded this episode live at the 2026 Great Homeschool Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio! You’ll find all the familiar elements—what we’re reading and listener questions—along with something new: questions taken directly from the convention floor. From classical education to art, math, and more, this is a wide-ranging, unscripted conversation with listeners just like you.
 
*What We're Reading* from This Episode: 
"Mary Poppins" Pamela Lyndon Travers (Paul)
"The Sea Hawk" Rafael Sabatini (Tanya & Paul)
"The Collected Bowdrie Dramatizations" Louis L'Amour (Martin)
"Coal Camp Girl" Lois Lenski (Martin)
"The Women" Kristin Hannah (Jessica)

In this episode of Classical Et Cetera we consider what it means to read well. Is it enough to simply read what we enjoy, or should we aim for something more? We discuss the idea of a “reading diet” and the importance of variety—balancing fiction, philosophy, theology, and more. Along the way, we reflect on how different kinds of books shape us, and why a broader reading life can deepen both understanding and enjoyment. Reading widely isn’t a rule, but it may be the key to a richer intellectual life.
 
*What We're Reading* from This Episode: 
"The Confederacy of Dunces" John Kennedy Toole (Paul)
"Why Literature Still Matters" Jason Baxter (Martin)
"Christian Paideia" Brian Welter (Martin)
"The Teach Like a Champion Guide to the Science of Reading" Doug Lemov (Martin)
"Theo of Golden" Allen Levi (Tanya)
"Mouse House" Rumer Godden (Tanya)
"Boxcar Children" Gertrude Chandler Warner (Tanya)
"The Sea Hawk" Rafael Sabatini (Tanya)
"The Correspondent" Virginia Evans (Jessica)

In this episode of _Classical Et Cetera_ we explore how reading with your child should grow over time, from first books to the great classics. What should you read at each stage? When do things begin to change? We discuss the role of read-alouds, building habits, and why reading together remains essential long after a child learns to read.
*What We're Reading* from This Episode: 
"The Shadows of Men" Abir Mukherjee (Martin)
"The Other Bennet Sister" Janice Hadlow (Tanya)
"Remarkably Bright Creatures" Shelby Van Pelt (Jessica)
"The Fountains of Silence" Ruta Sepetys (Jessica)
"The Correspondent" Virginia Evans (Jessica)
"The Old Man in the Corner" Emmuska Orczy (Paul)

In this episode of Classical Et Cetera we tackle a common question: should students read abridged classics? Are they helpful, or do they take away from the original work? From children’s retellings to difficult texts, we explore when abridged books can serve a purpose and when they should be set aside. The answer isn’t simple, but one principle remains: the original always matters.
What We're Reading from This Episode:"Momo" Michael Ende (Martin)"The Black Wolf" Louise Penny (Tanya)"He Leadeth Me" Walter Ciszek (Tanya)"The Christian Idea, Volume 1" W. Brian Welter (Paul)