Online Summer Conference

Session No. 1 

How to Set Your Classroom Apart as Sacred Space

​

Curriculum matters, but so do mood and atmosphere. Many teachers struggle to develop an atmosphere in their classrooms which is consistent with contemplation and conducive to learning virtue. In this lecture, we will explore the habits and ceremonies that set the classroom apart from merely secular space. 

​

Session No. 2 

How to Write, Implement, Explain, And Defend a Classroom Catechism

 

This lecture both summarizes and expands on the ideas presented in Something They Will Not Forget. In it, I offer a concise presentation of everything related to classroom catechisms, from authoring a good catechism to repairing a broken catechism mid-year.

​

Session No. 3 

How to Fix Your Faculty Development Program (and Attract Better Faculty)

 

Most classical Christian schools have faculty development programs because their accreditation depends on it, and yet most high school teachers (rightly) regard faculty development programs as a waste of time. This lecture proposes dramatic changes to the average faculty development program—the sort of changes that will attract interesting, higher caliber teachers to your school.

​

Session No. 4 

How to Fight Senioritis

 

Seniors at all schools tend to become lethargic and bored well before the school year ends and classical Christian schools have many untapped resources to fight senioritis. Learn how adjustments to your curriculum and your senior thesis program can fight this problem.  

​

Q&A session No. 1

​

Session No. 5 

A Primer on Teaching Difficult Old Books

 

Old books require something of the reader which new books do not require, which means that old books come with a steeper learning curve. How do you teach a book which requires patience to students with profoundly atrophied attention spans? How do you teach something contemplative to students enthralled by raw sensuality? This lecture offers a few strategies for teaching to a tech-savvy generation.

 

Session No. 6 

A Primer on Teenage Psychology

 

It is not a sin to be a teenager. Nonetheless, many high school teachers become frustrated by teenage weaknesses and fail to capitalize on teenage strengths. In this lecture, I explore the teenage worldview and teenage prejudices with an eye toward helping teenagers understand maturity, marriage, and the virtues that make adulthood pleasant.

 

Session No. 7 

A Case Study on Teaching Theology to Middle School Students

 

It is difficult to teach middle school students any subject, but theology is particularly tough. Middle school students tend to be dogmatic in their opinions, despite having little experience of the world and almost no knowledge of the Bible. This lecture proposes several changes to your middle school theology classes that can help cultivate wonder and humility in 7th and 8th grade.

​

Session No. 8

Rethinking Your School’s House Program

 

Most classical Christian schools divide their student body into various houses (just like they do in the Harry Potter books) but student interest in house programs tends to run low. Why? This lecture explores the origins of the house program, the reticence most classical Christian schools feel over using houses the way they were intended, and what your school can do about it. 

​

Q&A Session No. 2 

​

Q&A Session No. 3

​