5 Must See Sessions at Symposium Facebook Twitter Email This Post Great Hearts Institute February 9, 2023 The 2023 National Symposium for Classical Education, the Great Hearts Institute‘s flagship conference, is just around the corner. On February 22-24, more than 600 classical educators, school leaders, and families will join 70+ scholars, philanthropists, and leaders of the classical renewal at the Phoenix Convention Center for an unprecedented convocation of the entire movement. The National Symposium for Classical Education is designed to enrich our understanding of the classical, liberal arts in both the theoretical and practical dimensions of curriculum and pedagogy. Beginning with curated presentations from select scholars and practitioners, we provide school leaders and master teachers with some of the best thought on the subjects under consideration. With so many great sessions, you will probably want to study the online program and prioritize and come up with your game-plan to make the most out of this year’s symposium. Here are a few of our picks for “must-see” sessions: Making Your Math Course Feel More Human with Francis Su Thursday, February 23rd at 1:30 PM Really, any session with Francis Su is a treat. He can bring complicated theorems and mathematical equations down to a human level like no other. Sometimes math classes don’t seem to embrace our humanness. In this workshop, Su will give you practical ways to shape your courses to meet human desires for beauty, exploration, play, and truth. He’ll discuss ways to encourage the development of mathematical virtues, not just skills, and develop ways to assess these things. This workshop will focus on Grades 6-12. Essentials of Drawing: Studying the Masters with Brighton Demerest-Smith Friday, February 24th at 10:30 AM Smith has been a Great Hearts teacher for 10 years. In this session, He will introduce how to approach analytical observational drawing, as well as traditional materials and approaches of drawing. Mr. Smith will spend time discussing philosophical and practical approaches of how and why working from the Masters is vital to the development of a child and ourselves as artists and educators. We will look at and work from artists such as John Singer Sargent, Diego Velazquez, Raphael, Vigee-Lebrun, and many more. The Essential Impulse of Hope with Liz Huntley Friday, February 24th at 12:30 PM We more encouraging stories of hope like Liz Huntley’s inspiring journey. Huntley is the co-founder of The Hope Institute whose mission is to partner with school leaders to create strategies that help them develop a culture that promotes character development. This plenary luncheon session will also be livestreamed. To watch this session live (MST) online, register here. Read about other sessions available online here. Jane Austen: The Novelist-Pedagogue with Paula Byrne, Devoney Looser, and Colleen Sheehan Friday, February 24th at 9:30 AM Who doesn’t love Jane Austen? This panel of authors, who have each published works about Austen and her novels, will illustrate how Jane Austen encourages us to be better readers, not only of the printed book, but of people. “I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book! When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.” (Pride and Prejudice) From Copywork to Composition: Teaching Writing through Imitation with Andrew Pudewa Thursday, February 23rd at 11:30 AM Pudewa is the Director of the Institute for Excellence in Writing. In this session, he will lead you to contemplate the underestimated value of simple copywork, discover the power of text reconstruction, experience the delight of author imitation, and learn the surprising relationship between text analysis and creativity. These are, of course, just a short list of the many incredible sessions that you will not want to miss at this year’s symposium. You can explore the entire 3-day program with 70+ speakers, 80+ talks, workshops, and panels in the detailed 2023 Symposium Program. For more information, visit www.greathearts.institute or reach out to us at symposium@greathearts.institute. Do you have a story or know of a story that you would like to see featured at Great Hearts? Please contact jmoore@greatheartsamerica.org.
