"Classrooms should be fundamentally thoughtful places, environments where students are taught a wide range of higher order conceptual skills to complement the traditional basics of reading, writing, and computation." (Terry Roberts)

ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF A PAIDEIA SCHOOL

Teaching and Learning:

• All teachers in the school use Paideia seminars as a central teaching/learning device.
  
• All teachers in the school use product-oriented coaching techniques for the majority of the instructional program.
  
• All teachers in the school use relatively little didactic teaching and that which is used actively engages students.
  
• The school stresses the same integrated core curriculum for all students, including fine arts, music, foreign language, and the manual arts, giving students the opportunity to explore these areas as they relate to the core academic subjects.
  
• Assessment of students and teachers is individualized in addition to standardized: emphasizing portfolio and narrative assessments in conjunction with traditional grading and appraisal. Individual growth is consistently stressed.

Culture:

• The school is dedicated to the lifelong learning of all children and all adults.
• Since the goal of schooling is to foster lifelong learning in all involved, the school is full of adults and children who view themselves as constantly growing and learning, whose self-assessment is both demanding and fluid.

Leadership:

• School leaders consistently articulate a common vision aligned with the Paideia philosophy.
• Decisions are made democratically on the basis of what is best for students.
• Students in the school learn to become self-governing, both as individuals and as a group. Students are active participants in the democratic process.
• Leadership is shared such that organizational management and instructional leadership are of the highest quality.

Community Involvement:

• The school is the center of a larger learning community.
• Community members participate in teaching and learning.

Scheduling:

• The school allows instructional needs to shape scheduling and scheduling flexibility is the rule rather than the exception.