Developing Classical Thinkers

Classical education strives to preserve the past to give hope for the future. We recognize that the more we know about the past, the more confident our hope is that the future will be better, brighter, and more full of the joy and opportunities we hope to see in the world. The Christmas season is a particularly important time to reflect on such things, given the distance between what Christmas is and what Christmas has become–a byword for a shopping season that if you include the time needed to return unwanted gifts, stretches from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Eve. This Christmas, don’t celebrate with empty materialism but give gifts in imitation of the God who gave Himself. Now that’s a reason to celebrate!Special thanks to Josh Herring and Shawn Crownover for contributing to this episode. Merry Christmas, everyone!Today's theme music is available under the following terms:Hark! The Herald Angels Sing by Dee Yan-Key is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

In this episode, Winston Brady, Josh Herring, and Matt Ogle discuss their favorite Christmas books and Christmas movies. Along the way, they discuss the true meaning of Christmas, as rooted in the message of the birth of Jesus Christ, how Christmas traditions have changed over the past centuries, and how the consumerism of current Christmas traditions can be distracting and unhelpful.Then, they discuss their favorite books including the likes of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," "A Christmas Carol," and "The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey." And providing they have the criteria of a Christmas film right--takes place at Christmas, includes Christmas iconography, and has a redemptive story arc--their favorite movies include "A Muppet Christmas Carol," "It's a Wonderful Life," and even "Die Hard." From the team at Developing Classical Thinkers, we hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!Today's Theme Music: Ⓒ CC BY 4.0, Twin Musicom (twinmusicom.org), available at http://ow.ly/zYom30h6ZfA

In this episode, Winston speaks with Hilary Herman-Pagliolo, senior administrator and longtime Thales Academy teacher and leader. Building on her talk from the Fall Classical Summit, Mrs. Herman talks about the importance of looking at student data and using that information to make decisions for their students. Mrs. Herman received a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master’s of School Administration from North Carolina State University. Prior to serving Thales Academy, Mrs. Herman spent seven years teaching in public and charter schools.

The process of learning involves cooperation between the teacher and the student. Teachers traditionally spend a lot of time and energy learning and practicing their skills of communication and class management in order to improve their own ability to teach. It is less common that students put in the time to learn and practice the skills or best practices of learning itself. There are many potential reasons this is the case, but at Thales Academy, we advocate for students to take responsibility for their own learning since, after all, it is impossible to have a proxy do it for you. In this webinar, Matt Ogle and Winston Brady will present some findings from modern scientific research about how we learn and take in information, along with studying tips to help students make the most of their time in school. Learning is not accomplished unless information can remember that information when they need it, and we hope to inspire all students to learn more effectively and make durable lasting memories.

In this episode, Winston interviews Richard Dryer, the longtime band director and history teacher at Thales Academy Apex. Richard explains how to listen to classical music, some important concepts and ideas to consider when choosing a piece of music, and what to look for (or listen for) when listening to a piece of beautiful music. Mr. Dryer holds a B.M.E. from Butler University and a M.M. in Clarinet Performance from Kent State University. Mr. Dryer teaches Band.Theme music is from John Harrison and Witchita State University Chamber Players.

In this episode, Winston Brady speaks with Benjamin Quinn about the life and education of Augustine of Hippo, a 5th c. AD theologian and philosopher. This episode is adapted from a talk Dr. Quinn gave at the Fall Classical Summit in October 2022, where he presented an overview of the life of Augustine and his educational journey from a rebellious teenager to one of the foremost writers of Late Roman Antiquity. Benjamin Quinn serves as the Associate Professor of Theology and History of Ideas and the Associate Director of the Center for Faith and Culture at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest. He earned his doctorate at the University of Bristol on Augustine and the wisdom tradition.

According to tradition, the first Thanksgiving was celebrated at Plymouth Plantation in 1621. Check out this episode to hear a brief history of the holiday and some lessons gleaned from a classical education. Theme music from John Harrison and the Wichita State University Chamber Players.

On today's episode, Winston interviews Kerry McDonald, a Senior Education Fellow at the Foundation for Economic Education and host of the LiberatED podcast, a podcast on recent trends in education. Kerry's work has appeared in FEE, the Cato Institute (where she is also an adjunct scholar), and Forbes, with her columns focusing on school choice, educational entrepreneurship, and alternatives to conventional schooling. Find out more about her work at FEE here: https://fee.org/people/kerry-mcdonald/and more about her book, "Unschooled: Raising Curious, Well-Educated Children Outside the Conventional Classroom," on Amazon, available here: https://amzn.to/3ExxH74Today's theme music is from John Harrison and Wichita State University Chamber Players.

In this episode, Winston Brady speaks with Ashley Bahor on classroom management and pedagogy and the means by which teachers can create a welcoming and enriching classroom environment. Theme music from John Harrison and Wichita University Chamber Players.

Founder of Thales Academy and Thales College Bob Luddy discusses Adrian Bejan's book "Freedom and Evolution". Bejan is a J. A. Jones Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Duke University, a notable author, and a leading scientist in the field of thermodynamics. In his work, Freedom & Evolution, Dr. Bejan explores the relationship between freedom and evolution through the lens of physics and thermodynamics and notably grounds freedom in the observable, natural world.Bob's Book Review is a periodic webinar led by Bob Luddy, the founder of Thales Academy, Thales College, and CaptiveAire. Learn more about upcoming webinars and all Thales Press events at https://www.thalesacademy.org/resources/thales-press