A True Good Beautiful Life
Happy New Year to you all! Welcome to "A True Good Beautiful Life" podcast where we talk about life-long flourishing through the lens of Charlotte Mason and Classical educational philosophies. Perhaps my favorite thing to talk about is Literature and History and today I hope you will be as excited as I am about our topic of discussion. When I thought about doing an episode on Jane Austen, I was both giddy and terrified. There is so much that could be said, from her biography to her novels, from the Regency era to her juvenilia. And so I decided to take my favorite of her novels, which...
info_outline Human Flourishing: The Goal of EducationA True Good Beautiful Life
Merry Christmas! Hello and welcome to A True Good Beautiful Life. I am your host, Jennifer Milligan and this podcast explores the ideas and practices of a Charlotte Mason and Classical Education. Today I am treated to a fascinating conversation with the Dean of , Dr. Brian Williams. We will discuss the telos or purpose of education and how to incorporate seven different areas of formation in the lives of our students (as well as ourselves) to promote long-term human flourishing. The areas of formation include the Intellectual, Moral, Aesthetic, Spiritual, Physical, Practical, and Social. Dr....
info_outline Spotting DyslexiaA True Good Beautiful Life
Welcome! On last month’s episode, I had the honor of talking with of Templeton Honors College and Eastern University on her book, . She shared about the "why" of education and the "how" of implementing telic attention and a doxological classroom for everyone. So if you missed that one, please go back and check it out after you listen to this as you will certainly benefit from it. And so to piggyback on her talk, on today’s episode, I will be continuing our discussion on disabilities and learning differences, by taking a dive into one particular learning issue - Dyslexia, with Barton...
info_outline Disability & Classical EducationA True Good Beautiful Life
Welcome to A True Good Beautiful Life podcast! Today my guest and I will take some of you down an unknown path of life, for others maybe an all too worn path, and perchance even for others one that some have ventured a little ways in but yet do not know their way through or what is beyond the bend. We are going to talk about disabilities and how understanding disabilities is essential to human flourishing, Classical Education, and Charlotte Mason’s First Principle - “children are born persons.” In the past, I briefly described what Charlotte Mason meant when she said that “children are...
info_outline The Knowledge of God: How to Study the Bible & Ancient ArtA True Good Beautiful Life
Welcome back to a new episode! The new school year has begun and I am sure you are filled with wonderful dreams and maybe a few nervous jitters! Fall is a wonderful time to begin educational endeavors fresh with new books, supplies, friends, and lesson plans. And while reading one’s Bible tends to always start in January, in our first segments on the TRUE and the GOOD, I am going to propose to you something a little more in depth that can be started anytime, including right now as autumn’s leaves start to color and fall. It’s a step-by-step Bible Study plan that you can use at home, in...
info_outline Tolkien & FantasyA True Good Beautiful Life
New this week is a conversation about J. R. R. Tolkien and the genre of Fantasy literature. I have back with me special guest Dr. Fred Putnam, recently retired professor from and Eastern University in eastern Pennsylvania. We provide a brief biography of this famous writer and teacher, share some fun ideas on how to teach Tolkien in your classes, explain the benefits of reading Fantasy literature, and discuss the wonderful program offered to high school students in . There are a few little spoilers so if you haven't read the Lord of the Rings or watched the movies, beware! Maybe take...
info_outline Common Arts Education with Chris HallA True Good Beautiful Life
Are you familiar with the Common Arts? Could you describe them if someone asked you the difference between the Liberal Arts, the Fine Arts, and the Common Arts? This month's podcast is going to delve into the definition of the Common Arts and practical activities you can incorporate into your schools and homes that nurture these vital arts. Today’s episode is going to be a little different. For the first time in this podcast, I am going to share with you a lecture I recorded this past month during one of Templeton’s special evening lectures that was open to students, faculty, and the...
info_outline Reading C. S. LewisA True Good Beautiful Life
Welcome to A TRUE GOOD BEAUTIFUL LIFE podcast! Here we discuss all things Charlotte Mason in light of the ideas of the TRUE, the GOOD, and the BEAUTIFUL! I am your host, Jennifer Milligan, and throughout this series I share with you how to find and cultivate various elements of TRUTH, GOODNESS and BEAUTY in our homes and classrooms through conversations with homeschooling parents and classroom teachers; interviews with experts, entrepreneurs, and artists; discussions regarding the great books, great minds, and great resources; fun travel and field trip summaries; and practices and...
info_outline Citizenship with AHG & Valley Forge NPA True Good Beautiful Life
Welcome to A TRUE GOOD BEAUTIFUL LIFE podcast! A few episodes ago I introduced us to the topic of citizenship, something Charlotte Mason was very keen on instilling in her students. I highlighted one of the avenues of teaching this subject to students with Rachel Lebowitz of which is the study of Plutarch's Lives, an ancient piece of writing highlighting lives of the Greeks and Romans. Today, I will continue that topic by focusing on a modern way of learning about citizenship and cultivating the wonderful virtues that this subject inspires. I will be digging into a fantastic girls...
info_outline Books, Chess & Legos, Oh My!A True Good Beautiful Life
Charlotte Mason’s motto is “Education is an atmosphere, a discipline, a life.” In today’s podcast, for our TRUTH and GOODNESS segments, we are going to focus in on the “life” part by talking about what Miss Mason claimed in her 8th Principle: “In saying that ‘education is a life,’ the need of intellectual and moral as well as of physical sustenance is implied. The mind feeds on ideas.” And we will do this by talking to Elementary and Middle School teacher at Brittany Mountz. We discuss take-aways from Tony Reinke’s book, Lit! A Christian Guide to Reading Books, as...
info_outlineWelcome to A TRUE GOOD BEAUTIFUL LIFE podcast!
Here we will discuss all things Charlotte Mason in light of the ideas of the TRUE, the GOOD, and the BEAUTIFUL! I am your host, Jennifer Milligan, and throughout this series I will share with you how to find and cultivate various elements of TRUTH, GOODNESS and BEAUTY in our homes and classrooms through conversations with homeschooling parents and classroom teachers; interviews with experts, entrepreneurs, and artists; discussions regarding the great books, great minds, and great resources; fun travel and field trip summaries; and practices and creative experiences that embody the TRUE, the GOOD, and the BEAUTIFUL life. Over 100 years ago, British educator, Charlotte Mason, declared that, "Education is an atmosphere, a discipline, and a life," and so today, I hope you will join me on this adventure in education.
ON THIS EPISODE
What can houseplants teach you? Lots, and they are therapeutic as well. In our segments on the TRUE and the GOOD, my amazing sister-in-law Marianne Tolosa of White Peach Pottery tells us all about how to care for her favorite houseplants and how to propagate babies and treat pests. In our segment on the BEAUTIFUL, Brittany Ryan of Kimberton Dance Academy shares with us the benefits of taking a class like Dance and the steps you can take to introduce your children to the activity.
Some Easy Houseplants to Start With:
- Scindapsus
- Philodendron
- Spider Plant
- Snake Plant
The Benefits of Dance:
- allows us to be creative
- uses different parts of our brain
- tends to help with time management, school studies, understanding of their bodies
- it's an athletic endeavor so their bodies are stregthened and toned
- opportunity to show themelves in a different way -- a social environment, a creative outlet, a chance to express themselves
- practice with multi-tasking
- demonstrates that there is a process to progress and accomplishing goals, as well as disappointments
- good habits
- it's just beautiful
Two Types of Dance Studios:
- Competition Dance Studios - focuses on developing a competition team
- Concert Dance Studios - focuses on outside performances like recitals and "The Nutcracker," some may have a performance Dance Company that performs for charities and such . . .they provide opportunities that do not involve competition
Some of our Favorite Resources:
- Plantopedia: The Definitive Guide to Houseplants by Lauren Camilleri
- Growing Joy : The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla
- "Bloom and Grow" Podcast by Maria Faila
- "The DMV Beneficials" FaceBook Group
- The KEW Gardener's Guide to Growing House Plants by Kay Maguire
- Miniature Terrariums by Fourwords
- Miniature Moss Gardens by Megumi Oshima and Hideshi Kimura
- Schuylkill Valley Regional Dance Company (for the annual "Nutcracker" in Phoenixville, PA)
COMMONPLACE QUOTES
. . . give a child a single valuable idea, and you have done more for his education than if you had laid upon his mind the burden of bushels of information . . . - Charlotte Mason, Volume 1: Home Education, p. 174
APPLICATION
- Consider purchasing a houseplant like a philodendron or spider plant and bring a little bit of nature and joy into your home. Already have some houseplants? Try propagating some and give them to your student's teachers or tutors for the first day of school for a fun twist on the traditional apple.
- Dance isn't just for littles and teens. Kimberton Dance Academy also offers Adult Ballet and Tap classes. You can also sign up for a local adult class on Ballroom or Swing dancing or watch some YouTube videos and kick up those feet! You'll love it and learn a new life skill in the process. For our teens, it'll be a hit at next year's Prom!
- Plan to attend your local production of "The Nutcracker" this winter. It is always a spectacular experience.