“Everyone needs a mentor,” our good friend said. In this episode of From Cradle to Calling podcast, we are talking to a dear friend and homeschool veteran about how she uses the classics to mentor students.

One of the most inspiring parts of the conversation is her definition of what qualifies as a classic!

“Books are never too busy for you, and really, isn’t it time that we weren’t too busy for them.”

Doreen Morgan, nicknamed Mrs. M by her beloved students, is currently president and director of my MGM Academy located in Sarasota, Florida. She has traveled throughout the United States speaking at a variety of home educator and women's conferences on a variety of topics with a dash of humor sprinkled in whenever she can. Previously, Mrs. M was the owner and operator of a large retail educational store. She is an avid reader and storyteller everywhere she goes.

This episode wraps up our inaugural series, which has been all about reading. In this final episode in the series, Doreen offers some practical advice for homeschooling parents on how to use literature in every aspect of education (even math!), and how stories are powerful tools for educating the whole child.

The classics are all around us, Doreen says, and even anti-heroes like Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn have powerful lessons to teach our kids. Stories can help students find common ground with a wide range of humanity, offering them opportunities to grow in compassion and character.

“Everyone’s always talking about being relaxed and unschooled and doing your thing, and that’s all great, but there can still be a systematic approach to doing it, and we believe it’s through literature.”

Doreen Morgan

During this episode, Doreen shares an awesome suggested reading list. Here are links if you want to check them out. We’ve added a few of these to our own reading lists:

• Miss Manners Excruciatingly Correct Behavior by Judith Martin
• You’re Grounded for Life And 49 Other Crazy Things Parents Say by Joey O’Connor.
• Dancing with Deception by Chuck Colson
• Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
• Johnstown Flood by David Mc Cullough
• Forged Coupon, a short story by Tolstoy.
• Hidden Art by Edith Schaeffer
• The Nine Tailors by Dorothy Sayers

As you tune in, you’ll get to hear our super cool theme music. All of the music on the C2C Podcast was written, performed and produced by Jenni’s daughter Sky. Be sure to visit her on Instagram.

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