The History of CSLA

The Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts opened in 1991 due to the earlier success of Chattanooga School for Arts and Sciences. It is based on Mortimer Adler’s The Paideia Proposal. Paideia is a Greek word meaning the upbringing of the child. All classroom instruction stresses the three columns of teaching and learning – didactic (lecture and giving of information), coaching (remediation and enrichment of skills ability), and Socratic questioning (evaluation, analysis, and application of material). CSLA is the only school in Hamilton County that serves kindergarten through the eighth grade. Offering a one track, liberal arts curriculum for all children, we serve a broad, multicultural population from Hamilton County.

THREE COLUMNS OF INSTRUCTION

1. Didactic Instruction is the most efficient way to present a body of information to students.

2. Intellectual Coaching guides and supports students’ development of curricular skills

while applying information.

3. Paideia Seminars provide a setting for students to understand-to analyze, synthesize,

evaluation, and internalize-ideas, concepts, and values inherent in the

curriculum.

The Three Columns of Instruction represent the seventh and eighth Paideia Principles. Thoroughly describing the methods of instruction in order that they be utilized in various learning settings is to a large degree the mission of the National Paideia Center.

Didactic Instruction is the delivery of factual information. Lecture, demonstration, videos, and reading are common forms of Didactic Instruction. The goal of Didactic Instruction is for students to acquire the basic “must know information” about a subject. Because Didactic Instruction typically puts students in a passive role, the National Paideia Center advocates limiting Didactic Instruction to 10-15% of instructional time and using graphic organizers consistently. Assessment and evaluation of Didactic Instruction and factual learning is effectively conducted through traditional short answer and multiple choice tests.

Intellectual Coaching is guidance through modeling and questioning, Intellectual Coaching may begin with a teacher modeling writing a sentence, reading a paragraph, solving a problem, or hypothesizing about a reaction. Intellectual Coaching often happens by questioning as well as both positive or corrective feedback. The goal of Intellectual Coaching is for students to acquire expertise in skills of learning, such as reading, writing, calculating, and observing. Developing skills in a relevant context occurs in a Paideia Classroom through teacher’s development and use of units called Coached Projects. Intellectual Coaching ideally occurs 60-70% of instructional time. Assessment and evaluation of Intellectual Coaching is conducted through performance tasks and project work, often with the use of checklists and rubrics.

Paideia Seminar is a collaborative, intellectual dialogue facilitated by open-ended questions about a text. The goal of Paideia Seminar is for students to expand their understanding of ideas and values within the curriculum. The Paideia Seminar nurtures both intellectual and social skills. Paideia Seminars occur approximately 15-20% of instructional time. Assessment and evaluation of Paideia Seminars occurs through pre- and post- seminar tools and processes including self identified goals, discussion, and writing.