K-12 Classical Education Archives

Atlanta Classics Academy student at desk

Well-Designed Assessments: Tips for Creating a Path to Success

While the content of tests and quizzes is clearly important, did you know that the format of a test can make a big difference in student success? Becky Holland, director of Curriculum and Instruction for the Barney Charter School Initiative, explains.

BCSI Teacher Spotlight—Betsy Helton

Mrs. Betsy Helton teaches third grade at Seven Oaks Classical Academy in Ellettsville, Indiana. Learn how one teacher changed her perspective on history in the small moments of everyday teaching.

The Real Treasure in Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island

Shiver my timbers! Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic book, Treasure Island, codified the language of pirates that remains a staple of pop culture. But Treasure Island offers more than a high-seas adventure with swashbuckling characters, as Professor of Education Dan Coupland explains.

A Special Relationship: The British and the Americans—Lessons from the Colonial Period

There’s something unique about the relationship between Americans and the British—one that has endured for centuries through war and peace. Indubitably, that relationship stems from the fact that the first […]

BCSI Staff Spotlight—Becky Holland

Director of Curriculum and Instruction Becky Holland serves as a mentor to countless teachers at Barney Charter Schools, offering training, observation, and encouragement.

The Scarlet Pimpernel: More Than Meets the Eye

Middle-school students will enjoy the action and adventure in The Scarlet Pimpernel. But like the novel’s namesake character, The Scarlet Pimpernel goes deeper and offers more than what one sees on the surface.

Golden View Classical Academy Graduation

BCSI Teacher Spotlight—Sarah Kiesewetter

Sarah Kiesewetter teaches fifth grade at Golden View Classical Academy in Golden, Colorado. Golden View Classical Academy emphasizes seven core virtues: courage, moderation, justice, responsibility, prudence, friendship, and wonder. […]

Henry V: Studies of a Young King

Unforgettable speeches, excellent rhetoric, epic convention, and a young king taking the throne: See why high school students benefit from a study of Shakespeare’s Henry V.

Studying Virtue in Painting and Poetry

Each year, millions flock to Vatican City to view the art that defined the Italian Renaissance—including the Raphael Rooms in the Vatican Museums. While marveling at the artistry of these […]

The Wonder and Enjoyment of E. B. White’s Charlotte’s Web

By Carin Harner Barney Charter School Initiative Instructional Coach Charlotte’s Web is the wonderful story of a young girl, a young pig, and a spider. It is a story about friendship, […]

The Original “Selfie”: Beyond the Surface of a Rembrandt Portrait

These days, it’s easy to take a “selfie.” One tap of your phone screen, and you’ve got it. Self-portraits in paint, on the other hand, are difficult—a thousand brush strokes, […]

young students saluting the flag academy

BCSI Staff Spotlight—Eric Coykendall

By Katarzyna Ignatik, ’20 Eric Coykendall has been with the Barney Charter School Initiative for five years—watching the program grow from a staff of three to a staff of 15. […]