A glimpse inside Hillsdale College's network of classical schools across the country.
Prior to working as a teacher at a Hillsdale College-affiliated BCSI school, I held several different jobs in traditional public education. Working with students from Pre-K through 12th grade, I served as an ESL paraprofessional, library aide, and preschool recess monitor, among other roles. I had the privilege to observe many experienced, compassionate educators and… Continue reading Prior to working as a teacher at a Hillsdale College K-12 school…
When I was gathering school supplies in my classroom as a first-year teacher, I had no idea how important the humble ruler would be. Of course it would be used when we learned about inches and centimeters, or even serve as a ramp when we studied motion and force in science. But I didn’t think… Continue reading Drawing the Ruler Sword
Petrarch, the fourteenth century Italian monk, sometimes referred to as the “father of humanism”, famously wrote a series of letters to classical writers such as Cicero, Seneca, Homer, and Socrates. These writers having been dead for more than a thousand years at the time, Petrarch didn't expect a response. But he wrote nevertheless because he… Continue reading Why Our Students Write in their Books
One of my favorite features of the Hillsdale College-affliated schools is that there is an equal focus on teachers educating both the minds and the hearts of their students. The curriculum we teach is ripe with opportunities to discuss virtue and how the choices of different people affect their lives and the lives of those… Continue reading Lancelot Plays Football
"Happiness is a certain activity of soul in accord with complete virtue." - Aristotle Please enjoy our new video introduction to Hillsdale College's work in K-12 classical education.
Kindergarten is so funny, especially in October. The other day I walked out to recess with my camera, something which happens once in a while and which is always exciting to the students because they know that the pictures sometimes make it into the yearbook. Students in the grammar school who have been with us… Continue reading Some Unplanned Kindergarten Portraits at Recess
Under the guidance of Mrs. Panzica and Ms. Hamm, our theater department is really taking off this year. The fall play, Shakespeare's The Tempest, is one of my favorites, and I stopped by rehearsals after school today to take a look at the opening scene in its very early stages. It's a really impressive scene--a shipwreck… Continue reading Rehearsals for Shakespeare’s The Tempest
Dear Founders Families, We are nearing the end of the first quarter, and the school is thriving. Thank you, devoted parents, for your support at home and above all for entrusting us with your students. Being with them each day is a real joy. As we finish up this first quarter of our fifth year… Continue reading Parental Involvement at Founders Classical Academy
How we spent the first two days of school. The first days of school have been so smooth, and it’s wonderful to see our students back on campus. Working in a school without any students in it is a strange thing, and after a productive summer I have loved welcoming our new Kindergarteners and seeing… Continue reading Welcome back, Archers!
Since the first days of our school, the Barney Charter School Initiative has played an instrumental role in the formation of our students and teachers. An outreach program of Hillsdale College, the BCSI helps schools like ours educate young men and women for lives of citizenship and independence. Every summer our teachers attend training in… Continue reading Introduction to the Barney Charter School Initiative
The Classical Classroom 