The Strengths of Using a Classical Curriculum with Headmaster Josh Longenecker

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Today, I focus on a classical curriculum. Can using a classical curriculum approach to teaching students in pre-school through grade12 increase student reading and overall academic achievement? Reading and math rates across the nation are spiraling down with no end in sight. It begs the question; how did we get here as a nation and what can we do to fix it?

Education reformer E.D. Hirsch stated in 2016 that the devolution of America’s education outcomes is the result of abandoning knowledge, or core, factual content, particularly during the elementary years. He fought for knowledge-based education rather than the latest educational fads. He argued that the ongoing disparity between advantaged and disadvantaged students is because students lack the same background information, vocabulary, and story knowledge that are necessary for subsequent knowledge building. According to Hirsch (2016), it is the job of the school in a free republic to ensure that all citizens have a common storehouse of knowledge from which to draw. Hence, it is necessary that the elementary years be devoted to learning— often by rote and by drill—large swaths of information that are available and common to all.

While this has not been a popular stance in education over the past almost 100 years, with the notable decline in reading outcomes, it is gaining attention. At a national level, knowledge-based curriculums are gaining attention with phrases like the “Science of Learning,” “Science of Reading” and even now the “Science of Math.”
In line with this knowledge-based curriculum and Hirsch's theory, there is the classical curriculum. Classical education presents itself in contrast to the dominating utilitarian philosophy of education, emphasizing rather disciplines that are believed to produce good humans over those who are simply college and career-ready. It uses a rigorous content-rich core with a 2,500-year history.

Here to discuss classical curriculum is Josh Longenecker. He is the co-founder of The Classical Academy of Sarasota with his wife Harmony, as well as the H

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Visit my website for resources: http://www.drlisarhassler.com
The music in this podcast was written and performed by Brandon Picciolini of the Lonesome Family Band. Visit and follow him on Instagram.
My publications:
America's Embarrassing Reading Crisis: What we learned from COVID, A guide to help educational leaders, teachers, and parents change the game, is available on Amazon, Kindle, and Audible, and iTunes.
My Weekly Writing Journal: 15 Weeks of Writing for Primary Grades on Amazon.
World of Words: A Middle School Writing Notebook Using...

Capíttulos

1. The Strengths of Using a Classical Curriculum with Headmaster Josh Longenecker (00:00:00)

2. Classical Curriculum (00:02:05)

3. Meet Josh Longenecker (00:02:30)

4.  (00:05:20)

5. Creating Logical Students With Virtuous Hearts (00:08:00)

6. History Curriculum Cycle (00:10:46)

7. Science Design Cycle (00:13:00)

8. Math Structure Across Campus (00:15:05)

9. Reading Instruction Aligned With Science of Reading (00:18:35)

10. What's Wrong With Education (00:22:31)

11. Low to No Tech Approach (00:26:36)

12. Is It Right For Me? (00:31:23)

13. Call to Action (00:33:39)