Why Study Literature? A concise answer

This year at the school where I am a headmaster I am teaching a combined history, literature, and writing class to Jr. High students. As an introduction to my students and parents I have composed a brief document explaining as simply as possible why we take the time to read "stories" in our school and am sharing it here in this space as well.

Introduction to Literature Class

Let me let you in on a little secret.

There are only a few things we try to accomplish in a literature class, only a few things that actually need to get done.

The Basic Principles of History

This year at the school where I am a headmaster I am teaching a combined history, literature, and writing class to Jr. High students. Over the past few months I have been compiling a number of what I would call "Principles of History" mostly out of my own contemplation but also stemming from my recent readings of history. My plan is to discuss these principles everyday with my class, giving them the basic list only and not the writing that goes with it. Each day I will let them pick the principle they are most curious about as a discussion starter. May they be an aid to starting your own discussions...

Planning the First Weeks of School: tips and guidelines

The talk I heard during today's teacher training at the Rockbridge Academy was so good and full of so much material I thought I'd share it here.

The talk was called "The First Two Weeks of Grammar School" by Roy Griffith, grammar school principle at Rockbridge.

The principles (no pun intended) he lays out here are especially useful for the grammar age (preschool-5th grade), but much of what he said can be applied to any classroom setting. For my school in particular (Aletheia Christian School) I am hoping this can be a resource for our teachers there.