I have never been big on new year resolutions. It always seemed odd to me to make a drastic change in any area just because the calendar year flipped. To me, change should happen at any time, and frequently, especially when there is a need. One of the many areas I consult on is standardized…
Last post, we looked into why teachers need buy-in and training for the classical model. The next component is parent buy-in. I recently had a conversation with an administrator who said during his first presentation to families as a new administrator to his school, he touched on all the major aspects of classical: truth, beauty,…
E. Nev. I recently had a conversation with an administrator who considered themselves to be classical school. After further discussion, it appeared that the school was more of a hybrid. I think this is pretty common as some classical methods and strategies, especially in elementary school, appear to have traditional components. Regardless, it made me…
By: Sandra Burgess We are ten weeks into the school year, and I am actually enjoying my Wednesday game days. No one is more surprised to read that sentence than me! I am embracing the miniscule amount of mayhem I’ve allowed into my orderly classroom. My current fifth graders are loving life; my former fifth graders pass by the…
By Sandra Burgess I have finally seen the value of a dash of fun in my classroom after 27 years of teaching. I have a new appreciation for the movement that students need in order to enjoy and learn! If you want to read more about my philosophy and what changed my heart on this matter, go…
As the state of Texas invoked a new rule for cell phones in public school, many private schools have followed suit. Many classical schools limit or restrict technology and device use completely. Having taught through many changes in the education sector, I can definitely vouch for the detriment of screentime. Children and young adults growing up with the…
As enrollment increases for many independent schools, the question arises for how to maintain culture, while still growing the school. Grow too fast, you shift the culture, grow too slowly you miss opportunities for building a solid program. Every school has a different system for marketing, outreach, and strategies for growth. But the question remains- what are the…
By: Sandra Burgess I teach middle school. I love structure. I expect calmness. I require silence throughout much of the day. I adore a perfectly written sentence in neat, well-formed cursive. I get chill bumps when I see annotations done beautifully with colorful pens and highlighters. For years, I thought, “Yes! I have standards!” This summer I realized something…
How do we support our students and staff when they tend to personalize much of what is said to them? When I figure it out, I will let you know! Okay, but in all seriousness, I think this is an issue I am seeing more with both student’s and teachers, and I am no stranger…
When I decided to start a consulting company, I wanted to give it a name that summed up who we are as a team and our overall goals. That is when I came across Speranza, the Italian name for hope. No matter where we are in life, what we’ve accomplished, or what we’ve lost, as…