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

A Journey with the Brontë Sisters

The Brontë sisters, Agnes, Charlotte, and Emily, each contributed significant works of literature to the Western canon, following Jane Austen's influential works. In this course, we will go on a journey through some notable works of the three Bronte sisters through seminar. We will focus on Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre, Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights, and Agnes Brontë's The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.

$125.00

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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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Chestertonian Education

In this course, participants will read one of G.K. Chesterton’s seminal works, Orthodoxy, along with selections of his essays. We will use these to explore many themes that occupied Chesterton’s thoughts, such as the human being, storytelling, paradox, tradition, wonder, and joy. His wit and wisdom have a timeless effect, for, as Chesterton himself wrote, “What a man can believe depends upon his philosophy, not upon the clock or the century.” And thus, a century later, we are left to ask ourselves: How might our schools—and our culture at large—recapture some of this Chestertonian ethos?

$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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Curdie Finds His Way

In this course, we will read The Princess and Curdie closely, appreciating MacDonald’s beautiful descriptions of the natural world and observing Curdie’s evolution as a human being who comes to know Truth. The goal of this course will not be how to teach the book, but rather what it can teach us as we mentor and guide the developing human beings in our care.

$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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Journeys in Classical 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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The Road Goes Ever On: Embracing Teaching as a Journey

Through key readings and reflective activities, teachers will examine their own calling towards education, marked by self-sacrifice, service, moral courage, humility, and strength found in the leading of self and of others. The course emphasizes the importance of pursuing a calling from conviction, faithfulness, and temperance, while addressing the real challenges of authority, failure, and solitary decision-making. In the end, teachers can expect to be able to articulate a personal teaching mission, learning to identify and leverage student strengths, and have faith in future filled with hope and not always seen.

$125.00

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