Paideia teachers use three instructional techniques:

1. didactic instruction for increasing students’ factual recall,
2. intellectual coaching for developing students’ literacy skills, and
3. seminar dialogue to strengthen students’ conceptual understanding.

Sample Paideia Seminar Dialogue plans:
The newest versions of Paideia Seminar Dialogue plans include expanded pre- and post-seminar process and content sections that emphasize the potential for teaching a full range of literacy and thinking skills. See the examples below:

• The American Flag and the Pledge of Allegiance
• The Gettysburg Address

Upcoming Learning Opportunities Register Online or Download the Institute Registration Form (PDF Form -- type and print)
National School Leadership Institute Chapel Hill, North Carolina	June 24-26, 2008
Introduction to Paideia Seminar Chapel Hill, North Carolina	July 14-16, 2008
Introduction to Paideia Project Chapel Hill, North Carolina	July 14-16, 2008
Teaching Math and Science through the Paideia Seminar Chapel Hill, North Carolina	July 17-18, 2008
Advanced Seminar Facilitation Chapel Hill, North Carolina	July 17-18, 2008
Introduction to the Paideia Seminar Chapel Hill, North Carolina	July 28-29, 2008
Teaching History via the Paideia Seminar Chapel Hill, North Carolina	July 28-29, 2008
Teaching History via the Paideia Project Chapel Hill, North Carolina	July 30-Aug 1, 2008
Advanced Seminar Facilitation Chapel Hill, North Carolina	July 30-Aug 1, 2008

In Paideia classrooms, all students are involved in a wide range of academic work and social practices needed to achieve the following objectives:

to become good citizens,
to earn a decent living,
and to lead a good life.

Paideia classrooms feature seminar dialogue to teach critical and creative thinking. Paideia schools are built on the idea that public schooling is preparation for becoming educated over the course of one’s life time.

The National Paideia Center is a not-for-profit organization affiliated with the University of North Carolina since 1988. The Center supports a world-wide network of educators through training, technical support, and publications.

Questions or comments about Paideia? Issues with our website? We maintain a broken link checker.
Send email to info@paideia.org or call 919 962 3128.

NEWS

15th Annual Paideia Conference

View the Town Hall Results and 
Download the Declaration of Dialogue!

Visit the Picture Viewer for the
2008 Conference.

March 27 & 28, 2008
Paul J. Rizzo Conference Center
Chapel Hill, NC

Paideia Video

Visit with students and teachers engaged in Paideia Seminar dialogue and Paideia Projects.

Doctoral Dissertation
submitted by Donna J. Robinson
University of Massachusetts
Lowell, Massachusetts
2006
The Paideia Seminar: Moving Reading Comprehension from Transaction to Transformation

The National Paideia Center improves the ability of adults and students to think and communicate so that each might become a good citizen of the world, earn a decent livelihood, and lead a good life. Our Vision is that The National Paideia Center will become a campus of learning dedicated to the exploration of ideas in support for active lifelong learning.

The Paideia Seminar is a collaborative, intellectual dialogue facilitated by open ended questions about a text.

Sample Paideia Seminar
Dialogue Plans
(Expanded Version)

• The American Flag and the Pledge of Allegiance (PDF)
• The Gettysburg Address (PDF)