What exactly IS Practical Paideia?
For the ancient Greeks, education was rooted in the concept of Paideia. Paideia is the process of establishing our children in the traditions of a society with the hope of forming and maintaining a strong, flourishing culture. This site is dedicated to providing practical ideas and resources for classical educators so that together, we can bring up our students in the way they should go.
We invite you to refer to the ‘How Can We Help?’ section where you will find a variety of topics that highlight practical ideas, pedagogical tips, and helpful resources to help you build paideia in your classroom. Check out our Contact Us tab if you have questions or would like to contribute some of your own ideas or resources.
“Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel”
-Socrates
The ‘why’ behind Practical Paideia:
As the classical Christian movement has blossomed over the past decade or so, the focus has primarily been on building excitement about the big picture. There are a lot of books, blogs, podcasts, and articles that address the philosophy of CCE, but much less material that addresses the practical side. We know why we’re doing what we’re doing, but it’s not always clear on how to do it. My hope is that this site does just that. If you have a resource that you feel would be helpful for fellow CCE teachers or administrators – please let me know. Lets work together to make paideia practical.
-Lindsey Ralls (Upper School Head, Summit Christian Academy)
What we’re all about
Pai·deia (noun) – The upbringing of a child
Prac·ti·cal (adjective) – Concerned with the actual doing or use of something rather than with simply theory and ideas
Paideian – A paideian is an individual shaped by or committed to the principles of paideia,
How can we help?
- Black History Month
- Catechisms
- Chapel
- Encouraging Struggling Students
- Five Common Topics
- Instilling Wonder and Cultivating Intellectual Curiosity
- Integrating the Bible Well
- Latin
- Lesson Plan Examples
- Ordering Our Affections
- Practical Ideas for Grammar School Teachers
- Practical Ideas for Humanities Teachers
- Primary Sources
- Ratus and Viridis
- School Culture
- Student Engagement
- Teachers Need Encouragement Too!
- The Art of Argument
- The Art of Persuasion and Strong Rhetoric
- The Seven Laws of Teaching
- Virtue in the Classroom



