Practical Ideas for Humanities Teachers

Humanities teachers unite! Here you’ll find ideas for discussion, assessment resources, and other tips directly related to teaching the humanities.

August 23, 2025

In Ten Words Or Less

by Lindsey Ralls Chances are, at some point in the last week you told someone that your kids just started school and that it’s a classical school. And chances are, they probably asked you what that means. “ “Well… ” you began. And then it got kind of tricky. Is it about paideia? (You’re pretty sure you’ve… Continue reading

Instilling Wonder and Cultivating Intellectual Curiosity, Practical Ideas for Humanities Teachers, Virtue in the Classroom

biblical, classical, integration, paideia, rhetoric, school, wonder
January 20, 2024

Flourishing In The Face Of Injustice

Bringing Black History Month to a Classical School – Lindsey Ralls The attached document outlines several ways in which a classical school can honor black history month while also moving their dialectic and rhetoric students towards making connections between history, injustice, and the idea of human flourishing. While there are multiple ways in which this… Continue reading

Black History Month, Practical Ideas for Humanities Teachers, School Culture

black, classical, dialectic, history, ideas, month, rhetoric, school
August 14, 2023

Dialectic Lesson Plan Sample

Emily Thomeer and Lindsey Ralls (Summit Christian Academy) Below is a sample lesson plan that incorporate classical techniques, dialectic goals, biblical integration, virtue, and wonder. It is based off of a 90 minute course that is on a block schedule and is geared towards 7th grade students. Continue reading

Instilling Wonder and Cultivating Intellectual Curiosity, Integrating the Bible Well, Lesson Plan Examples, Practical Ideas for Grammar School Teachers, Practical Ideas for Humanities Teachers, Student Engagement, The Art of Argument, Virtue in the Classroom

argument, classical, dialectic, example, lesson plan, template, virtue
August 14, 2023

Lesson Plan Framework

by Lindsey Ralls (Summit Christian Academy) Sometimes it’s helpful for new (and even experienced) teachers to have a framework for what a good lesson plan should look like, as well as the things it should include. A sample framework can be found below. Continue reading

Lesson Plan Examples, Practical Ideas for Grammar School Teachers, Practical Ideas for Humanities Teachers

classical, education, framework, lessson, objectives, plan, warm-up
August 1, 2023

Creating a Framework

by Lindsey Ralls (Summit Christian Academy) I learned something this week that has been happening all year and I wish I’d known about it earlier! Our first grade teacher has been focusing on a unique attribute of God every week throughout the year in first grade. She began with the letter A and has made it all the way… Continue reading

Instilling Wonder and Cultivating Intellectual Curiosity, Integrating the Bible Well, Practical Ideas for Grammar School Teachers, Practical Ideas for Humanities Teachers

attributes, biblical, c.s. lewis, classical, english, god, integration, lesson, lewis, math, school, science
July 19, 2023

Embracing the mishaps

by Lindsey Ralls (Summit Christian Academy) On Tuesday afternoon I asked one of our new teachers how his first day went and he said it was awesome. I asked him the same question the next day and his response started with “well…”. On day two, as Bible class began, he realized that his printer wouldn’t… Continue reading

Instilling Wonder and Cultivating Intellectual Curiosity, Integrating the Bible Well, Practical Ideas for Humanities Teachers, Teachers Need Encouragement Too!, The Seven Laws of Teaching

bible, classical, dialectic, gregory, law of the teacher, seven laws, society for classical learning, teaching, translation, wonder
July 17, 2023

Inspired Toward Discovery

by Lindsey Ralls – Summit Christian Academy My plan, was to sit in 9th grade history for about five minutes and then move on to other things. What happened, was that I stayed for nearly thirty minutes because I couldn’t pull myself away. Mr. Christian does such a great job at Socratic discussion that I didn’t want to leave… Continue reading

Instilling Wonder and Cultivating Intellectual Curiosity, Practical Ideas for Humanities Teachers, The Art of Argument, The Seven Laws of Teaching

classical, classroom, dialectic, gregory, history, law of the teaching process, milton, seven laws, socratic
July 11, 2023

Cultivating Humility Through Literature

by Lindsey Ralls In Esther, we ask ourselves what situation have we been created for “such a time as this“. In Genesis we remind ourselves that, like Joseph, what man intended for evil, God intends for good. In Samuel, we can relate to the fact that regardless of what the world thinks about us, God… Continue reading

Integrating the Bible Well, Practical Ideas for Humanities Teachers, Virtue in the Classroom

biblical integration, bilbo, classical, classroom, corrie, literature, school, smaug, teacher, the bible, the hiding place, the hobbit
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

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

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

Practical Paideia

Making Pedagogy Palpable

In Ten Words Or Less

Flourishing In The Face Of Injustice

Dialectic Lesson Plan Sample

Lesson Plan Framework

Creating a Framework

Embracing the mishaps

Inspired Toward Discovery

Cultivating Humility Through Literature

Practical Ideas for Incorporating Argument by Example into the classroom

Sample Lesson Plan – Speech

Practical Ideas for Humanities Teachers

Popular Posts

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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