Practical Paideia

Making Pedagogy Palpable

Lindsey Ralls

July 10, 2023

Upper School Chapel Theme Ideas

by Lindsey Ralls (Summit Christian Academy) Picking a chapel theme for the year can feel like a pretty daunting task. It’s hard to find something that will a) last the entire year without feeling repetitive, b) resonate with middle school and high school students, yet isn’t too basic, and c) allow a variety of speakers… Continue reading

Chapel, Integrating the Bible Well, School Culture, Virtue in the Classroom

argument, bible, biblical, Chapel, christian, high school, integration, rhetoric, theme, vice, virtue
July 7, 2023

But I did all that work!

When I walked into Algebra 1B today, the 9th and 10th graders were learning how to multiply polynomials. Mrs. Wissmann (always fun and creative), had brought in ‘algebra tiles’ so that the students could create a table for their notebooks to help them visualize this mathematical concept. I’m sure this idea took significant time and preparation. There was the… Continue reading

Encouraging Struggling Students, Instilling Wonder and Cultivating Intellectual Curiosity, Lesson Plan Examples, Student Engagement, Teachers Need Encouragement Too!

activities, algebra, engagement, humility, math, teaching
July 7, 2023

Can you measure culture?

“The power of culture is measured by the degree in which it is taken for granted.” Wow. What a bold, but also very true, statement. Just this morning for example, my kids did not not tell me thank you when I woke them up on time, handed them their full lunchboxes, or made them breakfast. I wasn’t offended… Continue reading

School Culture, Virtue in the Classroom

classical, culture, education, pedagogy, school
June 30, 2023

Practical Ideas for Incorporating Argument by Example into the classroom

Lindsey Ralls (Summit Christian Academy) General Ideas that work across all subjects Continue reading

Practical Ideas for Grammar School Teachers, Practical Ideas for Humanities Teachers, Student Engagement, The Art of Argument, The Art of Persuasion and Strong Rhetoric
June 30, 2023

Gazing…and Aristotle’s Five Common Topics

Lindsey Ralls (Summit Christian Academy) Incorporating Aristotle’s Five Common Topics into a lesson on gazing Painting: Flood Panel on the Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo Step 1: Provide students with a brief bio of Michelangelo as well as a brief summary of the painting itself. Bio: Michelangelo was an italian sculptor, painter, architect and poet. He… Continue reading

Five Common Topics, Instilling Wonder and Cultivating Intellectual Curiosity, Integrating the Bible Well, Lesson Plan Examples
June 30, 2023

Sample Lesson Plan – Speech

Lindsey Ralls (Summit Christian Academy) Lesson Overview Homework Objectives/Standards Organizing a speech-the six parts of speech organization according to Cicero Read Chapter 8 in textbook for Monday SPCH 1.6 – Establish credibility and build rapport with the audience Enduring Understanding: Effective communicators must establish trust, rapport, and credibility with their audience. Unit Essential Questions: How does skill in… Continue reading

Integrating the Bible Well, Lesson Plan Examples, Practical Ideas for Humanities Teachers, The Art of Persuasion and Strong Rhetoric
June 29, 2023

It’s all well and good…

Lindsey Ralls (Summit Christian Academy) One of the things I find myself often correcting my students (and my own kids) on, is their use of the word ‘good’. Frequently they say things like, “I think I did pretty good on that math test” or “practice went good”. I always remind them that they’re using the… Continue reading

Integrating the Bible Well, Teachers Need Encouragement Too!, Virtue in the Classroom
June 29, 2023

We’re at our best when we’re not teaching at all…

Lindsey Ralls (Summit Christian Academy) Today I substituted for 8th and 10th grade Latin. I actually don’t know any Latin (it was not a course option for the Upper School back in the day), so I went into it thinking that because I didn’t have the skills needed to teach the subject, the students would probably… Continue reading

Instilling Wonder and Cultivating Intellectual Curiosity, Latin, Practical Ideas for Grammar School Teachers, Practical Ideas for Humanities Teachers, Student Engagement
June 29, 2023

Virtue Based Participation

Lindsey Ralls (Summit Christian Academy) See below for a rubric that connects class participation with the four cardinal virtues. Continue reading

Virtue in the Classroom
April 8, 2023

Screwtape Letters Meets Professional Development

Lindsey Ralls (Summit Christian Academy) Viridis,You are correct. While it’s helpful to understand the purpose of what you are doing as a classical teacher, it actually leads to more questions rather than answers. Now you find yourself asking ‘how’. How do you teach in a way that instructs your students to love what they ought… Continue reading

Ordering Our Affections, Teachers Need Encouragement Too!

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

Post of the Week!

Gazing…and Aristotle’s Five Common Topics

Lindsey Ralls

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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

Post of the Week!

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