Poem: “Ox Cart Man,” by Donald Hall Statement of the Whole: Amazing to think about, but Backporch Education Podcast is now beginning its fourth Season! Jason and Steve take a few minutes to lean back and think about where we have been, where

The Whole and Its Parts

Aug 24th, 2021 43m 7s

Poem: “Work without Hope” by Samuel T. Coleridge Statement of the Whole: Moving from the image of a car engine spread out on the back lawn to the inner workings of the inquisitive mind, Jason and Steve discuss how analysis and synthesis are b

Of Church, School, and Family

Aug 10th, 2021 40m 45s

Poem: “The Hippopotamus” by T.S. Eliot Statement of the Whole: When we began a while back to separate our lives into various spheres, especially as we moved education in the schools away from any form of religion, a new set of questions were b

What are School Administrators Good For?

Jul 27th, 2021 51m 6s

Poem: “Sonnets from the Portuguese, #23” by Elizabeth Barrett Browning Statement of the Whole: Would a teacher’s life be better or worse if Administrators disappeared from the Earth? So begins a lively repartee between Jason and Steve, both o

Teaching the Love of Literature

Jul 13th, 2021 37m 3s

Poem: “To a Critic” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge Statement of the Whole: In this episode, an article sparks lively discussion between Jason and Steve on what it will take to revive the love of literature in our day. Why do so many people dislike

Vacuous Art

Jun 29th, 2021 39m 21s

Poem: “The Third Day” by Edith Lovejoy Pearce Statement of the Whole: Recently an Italian artist sold an “immaterial sculpture” for about $18,000 and the Backporch dudes let the fun begin. Join them in a far-ranging discussion about this mome

Margins in the Classroom

Jun 15th, 2021 51m 41s

Yet Another Farming Metaphor Poem: from “The Church Porch” by George Herbert When thou dost purpose aught, within thy power, Be sure to do it, though it be but small: Constancy knits the bones, and makes us stour / When wanton pleasures becko

What to do When a Student Does Not Get It

Jun 1st, 2021 48m 26s

Poem: “The Master Speed,” by Robert Frost Statement of the Whole: Every teacher knows that moment when one or many students demonstrate that the lesson was not learned, or misunderstood, or missed. What do we do when this happens? What are

Have You Met? Lisa Bailey and Classical Conversations

May 18th, 2021 44m 53s

Poem: “Story Telling” by Edgar A. Guest Statement of the Whole: Home schooling can be daunting to those considering for their children, but it can also be one of the most rewarding adventures of you and your child’s life. Join Steve as he in

Honoring Teachers?

May 4th, 2021 47m 3s

Our Annual Teacher Appreciation Week Episode Poem: “Like Snow” by Wendell Berry Statement of the Whole: In our annual “Teacher Appreciation Week” show, we discuss what it means to appreciate, to show honor to, our teachers. What is the differ

Standardized Testing and the Home School

Apr 20th, 2021 36m 41s

Poem: “Haec Fabula Docet,” by Robert Frost Statement of the Whole: Anxiety can radically change behavior. This is a predominant issue in education today in part due to the over emphasis placed on the standardized test. What should home scho

Have You Seen? Man Without a Face

Apr 6th, 2021 33m 21s

Poem: “Ode to My Goldfish” by Ogden Nash “Oh, wet pet.” Statement of the Whole: It is often through analogy and metaphor that we can see relationships between humans most clearly. The relationship between a tutor and his pupil is a hard … Co

When Learning is Interrupted

Mar 23rd, 2021 47m 15s

“Thoughts About the Covid Gap” Poem: “On Nature,“ by Parmenides Statement of the Whole: Given the current concerns about what happens when disease or some other factor shuts down education in the land, the Backporch boys go on safari through

Children of the Screen

Mar 9th, 2021 44m 26s

“The Dive into Digital Media” episode Poem: “Bed in Summer” by Robert Louis Stevenson Statement of the Whole: Education is now afloat in the digital sea. How have screens improved education and are there things that are better off without t

Help Me Assess My Assessment

Feb 23rd, 2021 42m 1s

Poem: Quote from Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare “Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once. Of all the wonders that I yet have heard, It seems to me most strange that men should fear; Seeing th

Homeschooling on a Hundred Bucks

Feb 9th, 2021 41m 4s

Poem: “November, 1806” by William Wordsworth Statement of the Whole: Many today believe that success in education is determined by the budget given to it. The home schooling movement is pushing back on that adage. Jason and Steve conduct a

The Voices of Others in Your Own Writing

Jan 26th, 2021 45m 2s

Poem: “To ____” by Edgar Allen Poe Statement of the Whole: How does what you read affect how you write? Is it good or bad writing to see something of other writers show up in your writing? How does this question affect the teaching … Contin

Finding Space for Learning

Jan 12th, 2021 41m 23s

Poem: “How to Be a Poet” by Wendell Berry Statement of the Whole: How do you find the right environment that promotes good learning? Is there just one type of such place? Does the place learning occurs matter any more or less … Continue read

Christmas Carols

Dec 31st, 2020 37m 49s

Our Annual Incarnation Special Poem: none (the whole thing is about Christmas lyrics, which are afterall, poems) Statement of the Whole: What does singing Christmas songs have to do with education? A lot and very little. Jason and Steve t

Have You Read? Walker Percy’s “Love in the Ruins”

Dec 15th, 2020 46m 50s

Reading a difficult book Poem: none, instead Steve reads a quote from the work: “Comes again the longing, the desire that has no name. Is it for Mrs. Prouty, for a drink, for both: for a party, for youth, for … Continue reading →

Pedagogical Scaffolding vs. Handholding

Dec 1st, 2020 45m 51s

Poem: The Glove and the Lions, Leigh Hunt Statement of the Whole: Where is the line between scaffolding and handholding? Educators build steps of mastery into their curricula, but doing so well (like our awesome guest, Tim Kemper!) requires be

Top Ten Books of All Time? Really?

Nov 17th, 2020 47m 53s

Our Top Ten List of Books Everyone Should Read A Question from Josie P Statement of the Whole: A listener poses the challenge and Jason and Steve almost refuse to respond. But a lot of fun ensues when they try … Continue reading →

How Do You Teach Several Students at Once?

Nov 3rd, 2020 42m 31s

Poem: none Statement of the Whole: This question, from a listener, has elements of several issues in it. What do we do when we have multiple students learning in a given classroom with differing levels of performance and ability? And what d

Estimating Your Student Rightly

Oct 20th, 2020 43m 10s

Poem: Leaves Compared With Flowers, by Robert Frost Statement of the Whole: Expectations come from our estimate of what a student should be able to do. How do we avoid either over or under estimating our students? Jason and Steve respond to

The Joy of Choice in Home Education?

Oct 6th, 2020 42m 37s

Poem: Introduction to Poetry, By Billy Collins Statement of the Whole: Some folk copy the state school curriculum and just teach at home. Some call almost any activity a part of the curriculum. One of the great joys of home educating is the