Hillsdale College K-12 Classical Education Podcast
Episodes
Success in Teaching Modern Language in Classical Schools
27 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Diana Kinser, French teacher at Seven Oaks Classical School in Ellettsville, Indiana, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss teaching a modern language at...
Kathleen O’Toole and Charles R. Kesler: The Declaration of Independence
20 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Kathleen O’Toole, associate vice president for K-12 Education at Hillsdale College, is joined by Charles R. Kesler to discuss the Declaration of...
The Virtue of Ambition: A Panel Discussion
13 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Join Michael Berndt, director of curriculum at the Hillsdale College K-12 Education Office, Allison Postell, assistant professor of Philosophy at Hill...
Vision for a Classical School
06 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Kayla Cruthers, Upper School Humanities teacher at Cincinnati Classical Academy in Cincinnati, Ohio, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss the importance...
In Defense of Logic
30 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Paul Mittermeier, Upper School Humanities teacher at Cincinnati Classical Academy in Cincinnati, Ohio, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss the importan...
Kathleen O’Toole and Matthew Spalding: The Making of the American Mind
23 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Kathleen O’Toole, associate vice president for K-12 Education at Hillsdale College, is joined by Matthew Spalding to discuss his new book, The M...
Norms & Nobility
16 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Join John Peterson, lecturer in education and politics at Hillsdale College, Jonathan Gregg, assistant professor of education at Hillsdale College, Ke...
The Generational Impact of a Classical School
09 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Tina Bolin, literacy coordinator at Treasure Valley Classical Academy in Fruitland, Idaho, and a literacy trainer with Hillsdale College K-12 Educatio...
The Primary Source You Can Hang on the Wall
02 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Sonja Bindus, teacher support lead for Hillsdale College K-12 Education, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss teaching students how to appreciate art, l...
Contrasting Classical and Progressive Education
23 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Joshua Villarreal, teacher support lead at Hillsdale College's K-12 Education Office, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss the classical themes in the f...
Kathleen O'Toole & James Hankins: The Golden Thread & Teaching the Western Tradition
16 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Kathleen O’Toole, associate vice president for K-12 Education at Hillsdale College, is joined by James Hankins to discuss the first volume of hi...
Modeling Excellent Instruction: Hillsdale’s Master Teacher Program
09 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Julie Apel, assistant headmaster at Hillsdale Academy in Hillsdale, Michigan, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss Hillsdale’s Master Teacher Prog...
Beyond Mere Fact: The Rhetorical Nature of History
02 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
John Peterson, assistant director of curriculum at Hillsdale College's K-12 Education Office, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss the concept of histor...
From Hillsdale K-12 to Hillsdale College: Vivian Stewart and Atlanta Classical Academy
26 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Vivian Stewart, a student at Hillsdale College and graduate of Atlanta Classical Academy in Atlanta, Georgia, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss...
Apprenticing Excellence: Inside Hillsdale's School Leader Fellowship Program
19 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Benjamin Payne, Director of School Leader Support at Hillsdale College’s K-12 Education Office, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss the Hill...
Kathleen O’Toole and Robert Pondiscio: Combating Doom and Gloom in the Classroom
12 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Kathleen O’Toole, associate vice president for K-12 Education at Hillsdale College, is joined by Robert Pondiscio to discuss a recent essay he w...
Classical Education 101
05 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Julie Apel, assistant headmaster at Hillsdale Academy in Hillsdale, Michigan, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss what makes classical education differ...
Mastering Art: Using Narration to Boost Engagement and Mastery
29 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Abigail Teska, lower and upper school art teacher at Seven Oaks Classical School in Ellettsville, Indiana, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss using na...
How IEW Helps Students Enjoy Reading
22 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jennifer Jackett, a fifth grade teacher at Seven Oaks Classical School in Ellettsville, Indiana, and Julia McNeely, director of Title I at Seven Oaks ...
Virtue and Reframing for Students
15 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Payne, director of leader support for Hillsdale College's K-12 Education Office, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss helping students build emotion...
Kathleen O'Toole & Christopher Nadon: The Tension between "Lived Experience" and Student Learning
08 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kathleen O’Toole, associate vice president for K-12 Education at Hillsdale College, is joined by Christopher Nadon to discuss a recent essay he ...
Starting a Classical School In Alaska
01 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Stephen Cox, a founding board member of Thomas Moore Classical School in Anchorage, Alaska, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss his role in s...
Cultivating the Moral Imagination Through Stories: An Introduction to Core Virtues
24 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Gabrielle Lewis, a teacher support lead and Core Virtues director at Hillsdale College’s K-12 Office, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss the rel...
Teaching Students the Elements of Analysis
17 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Justin Jackson, English professor and Edrie Seward Kennedy Chair in English at Hillsdale College, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss his upcoming co-a...
How to Teach a Short Story
10 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Benedict Whalen, associate professor of English at Hillsdale College, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss why short stories are worth studying, how to ...
Writing Letters of Recommendation and Advising Resume Creation
03 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jenny Pridgeon, director of field recruitment for the Admissions Office at Hillsdale College, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss the art of writing a ...
On the Least Interesting Parts of Great Books: Melville and Homer
27 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jason Lund, upper school humanities teacher and senior thesis coordinator at Treasure Valley Classical Academy in Fruitland, Idaho, joins host Scot Be...
Dr. Kathleen O'Toole Discusses Self Authoring for High School Students with Dr. Daniel Higgins
20 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel Higgins, one of the founders of the Self Authoring and Understand Myself programs, joins Kathleen O’Toole, associate vice president for K...
Leading Idaho Novus Classical Academy
16 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Vincent Kane, head of school at Idaho Novus Classical Academy in Boise, Idaho, delivers a lecture on how classical education helps bolster Western Civ...
OptimalWork Applications at the K-12 Level
13 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Colin Mullaney, director of operations at Hillsdale College’s K-12 Education Office, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss Dr. Kevin Maje...
Leading Cincinnati Classical Academy
09 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Michael Rose, headmaster and superintendent at Cincinnati Classical Academy in Cincinnati, Ohio, delivers a lecture on the rewarding life of a classic...
Anti-Aging Research and its Implications
06 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Andrew Russell, associate professor of biology at Hillsdale College, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss developing research in anti-aging methods, the...
Leading Orange County Classical Academy
02 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Semi Park, headmaster at Orange County Classical Academy in Orange County, California, delivers a lecture on how to lead students to truly pursue happ...
Forming a Student’s Affection for Beauty in Art
29 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Monica Dix, art teacher at Naples Classical Academy in Naples, Florida, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss developing a student's aesthetic sensibilit...
Leading Pineapple Cove Classical Academies
25 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kelly Gunter, director of school operations at Pineapple Cove Classical Academy in Brevard County, Florida, delivers a lecture on insti...
Dr. Kathleen O'Toole Discusses New Digital Writing Tool, Essay.app, with Julian Peterson
22 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Julian Peterson, son of bestselling author and clinical psychologist Jordan Peterson, joins Kathleen O’Toole, associate vice pres...
Leading Lake Country Classical Academy
18 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Margaret Hagedorn, head principal at Lake Country Classical Academy in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, delivers a lecture on how leadership helps build a healt...
Leading Atlanta Classical Academy
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Joshua Andrew, Head of School at Atlanta Classical Academy in Atlanta, Georgia, delivers a lecture on the joys and difficulties of leading a classical...
Navigating the College Application Process
10 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Megan Wagner, college councilor at Lake Country Classical Academy in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss what parents and teache...
Celebrating Constitution Day
08 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Zak Dombrowski, upper school humanities teacher at Golden View Classical Academy in Golden, Colorado, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss how teachers ...
Leading Seven Oaks Classical School
04 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Stephen Shipp, headmaster at Seven Oaks Classical School in Ellettsville, Indiana, delivers a lecture on the rewarding life of a classical school lead...
The Aristotelian Conception of Habit
01 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Allison Postell, assistant professor of philosophy at Hillsdale College, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss how we develop habits, the Aristotelian un...
The Foundation of Western Civilization: Ancient Greece and Rome
28 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kenneth Calvert, professor of history at Hillsdale College, delivers a lecture on the intellectual roots of western civilization. This lecture was giv...
How Can Mathematics Help Develop a Moral Compass?
25 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
David Yu, dean of students at Ascent Classical Academy of Northern Colorado in Windsor, Colorado, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss how mathematics h...
Teaching Literature to Elementary Students
21 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Karissa Moschel, 4th grade teacher at Seven Oaks Classical School in Ellettsville, Indiana, delivers a lecture on the importance of high-quality liter...
How to Maintain a Rich and Well-Ordered Learning Environment
18 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jenny Mulvey, fourth grade teacher at Golden View Classical Academy in Golden, Colorado, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss maintaining a rich and wel...
Teaching American History to Middle and High School Students
14 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Steven Battaglia, history and Latin teacher and assistant headmaster of the Upper School at Seven Oaks Classical School in Ellettsville, Indiana,...
Mission-Driven Extracurriculars
11 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ian Nugent, assistant principal and philosophy teacher at Atlanta Classical Academy in Atlanta, Georgia, and Aaron Schepps, upper school principa...
Using Labs in Upper School Science Class
07 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Claire Marie Huff, science department chair and upper school dean of students for girls at Atlanta Classical Academy in Atlanta, Georgia, delivers a l...
The Children's Garden: Integrating Nature and Literature
04 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kimberly Miller, librarian at Hillsdale Academy in Hillsdale, Michigan, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss the importance of outdoor activities to ped...
Teaching Poetry in Grammar School
31 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Elizabeth Offord, curriculum director at Lafayette Academy in Lake St. Louis, Missouri, delivers a lecture on how teach poetic recitation to students ...
The History of American Education
28 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
John Peterson, Assistant Director of Curriculum at Hillsdale College's K-12 Education Office, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss the history of Americ...
Teaching Literature Through the Seminar Method
24 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
John Peterson, assistant director of curriculum at Hillsdale College's K-12 Education Office, delivers a lecture on how the seminar method improves li...
What Makes an Award Winning School?
21 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Stephen Shipp, headmaster at Seven Oaks Classical School in Ellettsville, Indiana, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss Seven Oaks winning The Henr...
Using Labs in Elementary Science Class
17 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jennifer Jackett, 5th grade teacher at Seven Oaks Classical School in Ellettsville, Indiana, delivers a lecture on how to use labs to enhanc...
Supporting Art Instruction over Summer Break
14 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Abigail Teska, art teacher at Seven Oaks Classical School in Ellettsville, Indiana, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss summertime art instruction, sim...
Why Grammar Instruction Matters in Elementary School
10 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Penny Jenson, dean of lower school at Cincinnati Classical Academy in Cincinnati, Ohio, delivers a lecture on the importance of grammatical instructio...
Supporting P.E. Instruction Over Summer Break
07 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Przemyslaw Grzesiak, physical education teacher at Hillsdale Academy in Hillsdale, Michigan, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss summertime physical ed...
Why You Should Read and Teach Dante
03 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Stephen Smith, dean of the humanities and professor of English at Hillsdale College, delivers a lecture on the themes of freedom, education, and leade...
Supporting Science Instruction Over Summer Break
30 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Lisa Roberts, science teacher at Hillsdale Academy in Hillsdale, Michigan, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss summertime science instruction, how keep...
The Principles of Literacy Instruction
26 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jennifer Mills, Title I coordinator at Seven Oaks Classical School in Ellettsville, Indiana, delivers a lecture on the importance of phonics as the fo...
Supporting History Instruction Over Summer Break
23 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Bryce Horswell, teacher support lead for Hillsdale College K-12 Education, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss summertime history instruction, summer a...
Grammar as a Liberal Art
19 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Benjamin Beier, chairman and associate professor of education at Hillsdale College, delivers a lecture on grammar and the development of the liberal a...
Supporting Literature Instruction Over Summer Break
16 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sam Foat, dean of upper school at Treasure Coast Classical Academy in Stuart, Florida, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss summertime literature instru...
The Middle Ages: Their Meaning and Enduring Significance
12 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Charles C. Yost, assistant professor of medieval history at Hillsdale College, delivers a lecture on how the Middle Ages were instrumental in developi...
Supporting Math Instruction Over Summer Break
09 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Nikki Teeple, lower school math specialist at Atlanta Classical Academy in Atlanta, Georgia, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss summertime mathematics...
Forming the Imagination Through Literature
05 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Joshua Villarreal, Teacher Support Lead for Hillsdale College K-12, delivers a lecture on how literature forms a student's moral imagination. This lec...
Summer Break for the Classical Teacher
02 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tomek Grzesiak, fourth grade teacher at Hillsdale Academy in Hillsdale, Michigan, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss how classical teachers can best u...
Whitman, Melville, and the Poetry of the Civil War
29 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kelly Scott Franklin, associate professor of English at Hillsdale College, delivers a lecture on the Civil War poetry of Walt Whit...
Supporting Virtue Instruction Over Summer Break
26 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Colin Mullaney, assistant director for school leader development for Hillsdale College K-12 Education, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss summertime v...
Practical Structures for Teaching Close Reading
22 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Aaron Schepps, upper school principal at Atlanta Classical Academy in Atlanta, Georgia, delivers a lecture on practical tips for teaching student...
Hallmarks of a Classical Summer
19 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sonja Bindus, teacher support lead for Hillsdale College K-12 Education, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss making the most of the summer, minimizing ...
The Value of Diagramming Sentences
15 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel Coupland, dean of the Diana Davis Spencer Graduate School of Classical Education and professor of education at Hillsdale College, del...
The Necessity of Summer Break
12 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Mike Roberts, headmaster at Hillsdale Academy in Hillsdale, Michigan, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss why summer break helps support students,...
Practical Tips for Teaching Western Civilization in Elementary School
08 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kenneth Calvert, professor of history at Hillsdale College and former headmaster of Hillsdale Academy, delivers a lecture on making the ancient w...
Governing a Hillsdale Classical School
05 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jed Hartings, founder and current board chair of Cincinnati Classical Academy in Cincinnati, Ohio, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss how to build a s...
The Progressive Revolution
01 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Paul Moreno, the William and Berniece Grewcock Chair in Constitutional History, professor of history, and dean of social scie...
Portrait of a Graduate
28 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Stephen Shipp, headmaster at Seven Oaks Classical School in Ellettsville, Indiana, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss developing a "Portrait of a Grad...
Discussions for Discovery in Mathematics
24 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sam Clausen, upper school mathematics teacher at Atlanta Classical Academy in Atlanta, Georgia, delivers a lecture on how to use discussion as a tool ...
Why Is There So Much Math in Science Class?
21 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Michael Tripepi, assistant professor of physics at Hillsdale College, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss the daily realities of teaching in a sci...
History: The Most Humanizing of the Arts
17 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Wilfred McClay, the Victor Davis Hanson Chair in Classical History and Western Civilization at Hillsdale College, delivers a lecture on how history he...
Inspiring Teachers to Inspire Students
14 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Steven Battaglia, history and Latin teacher and assistant headmaster of the upper school at Seven Oaks Classical School in Ellettsville, Indiana, join...
Chemistry in a Classical Curriculum
10 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Matthew Young, dean of natural sciences and professor of chemistry at Hillsdale College, delivers a lecture on how chemistry and t...
The Legacy of Calvin Coolidge
07 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Vincent Kane, head of school at Idaho Novus Classical Academy in Eagle, Idaho, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss president Calvin Coolidge's upbr...
Teaching The Little Prince
03 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
J. A. Jackson, chair and professor of English at Hillsdale College, delivers a lecture on how to teach The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exup&eacu...
The History and Philosophy of Physical Education
31 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Michael Roberts, headmaster at Hillsdale Academy in Hillsdale, Michigan, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss the development of physical education in a...
Enduring Principles of the American Founding
27 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Paul Moreno, the William and Berniece Grewcock Chair in Constitutional History and professor of history at Hillsdale College, deli...
The Path to a Classical School – One Student’s Tale
24 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Lindsay Horton, institutional advancement associate at Hillsdale College, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss her family’s decision to move ...
Science and the Modern Spirit
20 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Michael Berndt, director of curriculum in the Hillsdale College K-12 Education Office, delivers a lecture on how to reconcile science and mo...
Reclaiming Science Through Classical Education
17 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Emily Williams, dean of faculty at Kootenai Classical Academy in Post Falls, Idaho, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss her journey from public to clas...
Mathematics and Humor
13 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
David Gaebler, associate professor of mathematics at Hillsdale College, delivers a lecture on how to use humor to help students un...
Raising the Standard for Standardized Tests
10 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jonathan Gregg, assistant professor of education at Hillsdale College, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss how standardized tests can help supplement a...
Teaching American History to Elementary Students
06 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sarah Martin, curriculum coach at St. Johns Classical Academy in Fleming Island, Florida, delivers a lecture on teaching American history to elementar...
An Explanation of English Spelling
03 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Elizabeth Offord, curriculum director and literacy specialist at Lafayette Academy in Lake St Louis, Missouri, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss why ...
Teaching Science Classically in the Modern World
27 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Emily Williams, dean of faculty at Kootenai Classical Academy in Post Falls, Idaho, delivers a lecture on the history of science education and how tea...
“February Freeze” on Screen Time: A Student-Led Initiative
24 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Josh Andrew, head of school at Atlanta Classical Academy in Atlanta, Georgia, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss Atlanta Classical's "February Freeze"...
Why I Lead a Classical School
20 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Josh Andrew, head of school at Atlanta Classical Academy in Atlanta, Georgia, delivers a lecture on the need for quality leadership in classical schoo...
Engaging Students in Math Class Through Storytelling
17 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Carrie O’Brien, assistant director of Teacher Support in the Hillsdale K-12 Office, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss her work with the Teacher...
Teaching 'Tales From Shakespeare'
13 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Benedict Whalen, associate professor of English at Hillsdale College, delivers a lecture on how to teach Tales From Shakespeare by Charles and Mary La...
Teaching Music History: A Classical Approach
10 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Noah Bush, music teacher at Orange County Classical Academy in Orange, California, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss what attracted him to teaching a...