Academy for Classical Teachers

The Academy for Classical Teachers (ACT) provides online enrichment for classical teachers who seek to teach in their classrooms according to the principles of a traditional Liberal Arts Education. ACT is a collaborative initiative of Great Hearts Academies and our partner institutions in both higher education and classical K-12. Courses are designed to help teachers dive deeply into content, with an eye toward both theory and practice. Faculty are drawn from our friends in higher education, expert teachers, and scholars who have chosen to teach within the public K-12 arena because of the unique opportunities it affords.

All ACT courses fit into one of two categories: fully asynchronous courses that are available year-round through our partnership with ClassicalU, and live, virtual courses that meet via Zoom and are typically held during the summer. Courses are designed to help teachers dive deeply into content, with an eye toward both theory and practice. Faculty are drawn from our friends in higher education, expert teachers, and scholars who have chosen to teach within the public K-12 arena because of the unique opportunities it affords.

We invite you to explore our offerings and hope you find a course that meets your needs, whether you are looking for enrichment on pedagogical practices, specific content deep dives, or leisurely learning that serves to fuel to soul.

For further questions, please contact us at PD@greatheartsamerica.org.

All Courses are FREE for Great Hearts employees: use voucher code ghemployee (case sensitive) at checkout.

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Featured Courses

An Introduction to Alexis de Tocqueville: Selections from Works and Letters

This course introduces students to some of the key ideas and arguments in the life and works of Alexis de Tocqueville--the great French aristocrat and statesman who toured America in the 1830s and wrote, "Democracy in America," a work often said to be the best book written about America and about democracy. We will read excerpts from this large two-volume work, as well as from some of his other writings, including a handful of personal letters. No prior knowledge of Tocqueville is required.

$125.00

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Classical Theorems and Proofs: An Introduction to Elegant Mathematics for Great Hearts Employees and Affiliates

In this self-paced course, veteran mathematics teacher and leader Jake Tawney provides a clear and engaging introduction to the beauty of Mathematics. This course does not propose a specific curriculum. It does, however, present a list of “those things from mathematics you should have learned but probably didn’t.”

$125.00

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Classical Theorems and Proofs: An Introduction to Elegant Mathematics for Non-Great Hearts Employees/Affiliates

In this self-paced course, veteran mathematics teacher and leader Jake Tawney provides a clear and engaging introduction to the beauty of Mathematics. This course does not propose a specific curriculum. It does, however, present a list of “those things from mathematics you should have learned but probably didn’t.”

$125.00

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Essentials of Drawing for Great Hearts Employees and Affiliates

In this course, Brighton Demerest-Smith (a classically trained artist and veteran educator with Great Hearts Academies) moves from how to teach the elements of drawing up through still life and master study. Grounded in fundamentals and close observation of subjects, his methods of teaching drawing are traditional and time-tested.

This version of the course is for Great Hearts employees and affiliates only.

$125.00

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Essentials of Drawing for Non-Great Hearts Employees/Affiliates

In this self-paced course, Brighton Demerest-Smith (a classically trained artist and veteran educator with Great Hearts Academies) moves from how to teach the elements of drawing up through still life and master study. Grounded in fundamentals and close observation of subjects, his methods of teaching drawing are traditional and time-tested.

$125.00

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Herodotean Inquiries: The Central Argument

In this course we will read and discuss selections from Herodotus’ Histories. While our seminars will be open conversations, the hope is that we will be able to discover something of Herodotus’ core teaching. This is, of course, on the hypothesis that his Histories is a coherent whole, despite all of its apparently accidental digressions, a hypothesis which we will not be able to test in full but which hopefully may be supported by a representative selection.

$125.00

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Journeys in Geography

In this course, we will explore the nature and value of geography and ways to incorporate it in K-12 classical education. We will survey an eclectic selection of readings and maps, and in each session, we will discuss key geographic concepts and specific ideas for activities and projects to use in the classroom.

$125.00

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Student Behavior and Classic Literature: Story and Self-Mastery

This course invites classical educators to explore student behavior not merely as a matter of compliance or noncompliance, but as a look into the interior disposition of their soul.

$125.00

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The Teacher's Playbook for Great Hearts Employees and Affiliates

In this self-paced course Jerilyn Olson connects classical principles to practical techniques that teachers can employ in the classroom.

$125.00

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The Teacher's Playbook for Non-Great Hearts Employees/Affiliates

In this self-paced course Jerilyn Olson connects classical principles to practical techniques that teachers can employ in the classroom.

$125.00

View Course

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