Practical Paideia

Making Pedagogy Palpable

Virtue in the Classroom

April 7, 2026

A Curriculum Guide with Purpose

by Lindsey Ralls More often than not, our curriculum guides look a lot like the ones in the public school classroom down the street. But, if we want our classrooms and our students to be different, then our curriculum guides should as well! The attached guide is for a Chorus Unit. Notice it’s connections to… Continue reading

Ordering Our Affections, Virtue in the Classroom, Lesson Plan Examples, paideia

classical, curriculum, guide, practical, standards, standards of learning, SOLs, unit, essential questions, enduring understanding
November 23, 2025

Look at Your Music

Lindsey Ralls While sitting in seventh grade chorus this week, I listened as the students practiced a piece for the Christmas concert. After the song ended, one of the boys raised his hand and said, “I just don’t think I can hit that last high note—my voice just won’t do it!” The teacher responded by saying, “I… Continue reading

Encouraging Struggling Students, Integrating the Bible Well, Ordering Our Affections, Virtue in the Classroom

bible, biblical, chorus, christianity, classical, dialectic, education, faith, god, integration, jesus, music, worldview
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
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
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
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

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 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

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
September 20, 2022

Lesson Plan Example – Introducing The Cardinal Virtues

Lindsey Ralls (Summit Christian Academy) Lesson Plan Homework Objectives/Standards – Introduction to English 7- Introduction to the four cardinal virtues Vocab Quiz this Friday E7.1: The student will participate in and contribute to conversations, group discussions, and oral presentationsE7.1b: Ask probing questions to seek elaboration and clarification of ideas Objective :Enduring Understandings: The four cardinal virtues… Continue reading

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

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

Virtue in the Classroom

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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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