A glimpse inside Hillsdale College's network of classical schools across the country.
Last month, my students performed their formal recitation for the semester in front of their parents. This is a day of great anticipation and, sometimes, anxiety for the students. When we had finished our performance and returned to our classroom, my whole class was a bundle of excitement, adrenaline, and relief. We still had about 10 minutes before they needed to head to music class, plenty of time to fit in some math fact review or to go over our spelling list.…
One of the benefits of being an educator is witnessing the students’ progress. Effective parent communication is one way to help foster that growth, helping to create an environment of support for the student. Communicating well allows parents to stay informed about their child’s advancements and allows them to support you as their child’s educator.
Communication can come in many forms, and implementing an array will help ensure its effectiveness.…
My third year teaching, I had a sophomore in my fifth period class who I’ll call Andrew. Andrew was one of those students who literally could not sit still. At his desk, his heels would rapidly tap the floor, causing his legs to frenetically bounce up and down. Simultaneously, his fingers, or the writing utensil they held, would be drumming on the top of his desk, his shoulders often bumping up and down to the rhythm.…
In the best classical schools, students are immersed in a curriculum that is both deep and wide. They study Latin, Ancient Rome, Shakespeare, astronomy, trigonometry, and all sorts of wonderful things.
But the books don’t teach themselves. It takes an educated and engaging teacher to bring them to life. That’s why teacher training–not just in the curriculum, but in the principles of classical pedagogy–is so important.…
Why do we memorize things? There are many reasons, but the first, I think, is that when you have something committed to memory, it belongs to you forever. It becomes a part of you.
At Hózhó Academy, at 3rd grade recess, I asked a third grader casually if he knew the Declaration of Independence. At the drop of a hat, the whole class lined up and was prepared to recite.…
What happens to a student who has received a classical education? Parents of young people across the country take the leap to Hillsdale’s classical schools in the hopes that their sons and daughters will become young men and women of virtue. At some of our more established schools, we are already getting to see the results.
Basil Inman was the salutatorian at Founders Classical Academy of Leander in 2017.…
Please enjoy our new video introduction to Hillsdale College’s work in K-12 classical education. …
After making an appearance at grammar school assembly this morning to entertain our Kindergarten-5th grade students, Mr. Stiglich’s high school string ensemble held a little concert for the front office. The acoustics in the foyer are beautiful, and as they performed a piece from Bach, I was amazed at their skill.…