education
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Pedagogical Principle #2- Formation vs. Information
“To promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness”. These are the first few words of the United States’ Department of Education’s mission statement. At first glance, they sound pretty good. As parents, teachers, and citizens, we want our students to be high achievers, to be prepared for the future. But if you look more… Continue reading
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Pedagogical Principle #1 – A Givenness to the Universe
Few people today would argue against the existence of natural laws. Gravity, energy, and thermodynamics are generally accepted as realities that govern the world around us. We accept them as constant, as true, and as given. Yet, the idea of givenness ends there. The world often stops short of recognizing what those laws reveal: that… Continue reading
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So many books, so little time
by Lindsey Ralls Having just returned form a summer conference, the title of this post is very much how I’m feeling. There’s so much I want to read but so little time to do it! And I don’t know about you, but for me the summer feels like this little window of opportunity that shouldn’t… Continue reading
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Making your Portrait of a Graduate Practical and Effective
by Lindsey Ralls Many schools have a Portrait of a Graduate, (though sometimes it’s referred to as a “Profile of a Graduate” ): a document that outlines what the school hopes to cultivate in their students by the time they graduate. The challenge, of course, is that much like a strategic plan, a Portrait of… Continue reading
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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
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Ratus and Viridis (Screwtape Letters meets Classical Education)
by Lindsey Ralls (Summit Christian Academy) (1) Viridis, Why is it when we start a new job, that we are tempted to view questions as a sign of weakness? We don’t want to ask too many questions because then maybe those that hired us will second-guess their decision. Nothing could be less true. Einstein was… Continue reading
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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
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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!
Gazing…and Aristotle’s Five Common Topics
Practical Paideia 