Teaching Philosophy

Alexander Wilder was a theosophist, journalist, and prolific writer in his day; being heavily recognized as one of the leading Platonists in America at the time. This piece was originally published in 1897 and offers a brief overview of some of the concepts explored by Plato, with some focus on religion, goodness, evil, and truth.

Madame Helena Blavatsky, in two introductory essays, offers students of Theosophical beliefs a wide-reaching and worldly outlook on the Ancient Mysteries. While demonstrating that much like Rosicrucian and Masonic philosophy, Theosophy has, at the heart of its doctrine, the concept of a Universal Brotherhood, she by no means forgets to include numerous Eastern influences, which help set apart the distinctive path of Theosophy, from other arenas of esoteric study...

Higher education has seen better days. Harsh budget cuts, the precarious nature of employment in college teaching, and political hostility to the entire enterprise of education have made for an increasingly fraught landscape. Radical Hope is an ambitious response to this state of affairs, at once political and practical - the work of an activist, teacher, and public intellectual grappling with some of the most pressing topics at the intersection of higher education and social justice.

Classic ideas and ancient concepts broken down for the modern age. A non-academic approach to better living and greater happiness. Philosophy doesn’t have to be pointless and boring. If we can cut through the difficult language and roundabout reasoning, we’ll find a treasure trove of knowledge and enlightenment. But don’t worry, this is no textbook.

This is an essay on the unique teaching of J. Krishnamurti. It starts with the question "What is consciousness?" - and carefully proposes a holistic definition, after reviewing the various psychological and spiritual theories that deal with this subject. The author actually goes a step ahead and focuses on a more particular issue, a provocative question asked by K: “How to empty consciousness of its content?”

In Small Teaching K-8, a team of veteran educators bridges the gap between cognitive theory and the K-8 classroom environment, applying the same foundational research found in author James Lang's bestselling Small Teaching to the elementary and middle school setting. The book demonstrates how to integrate simple interventions into pre-existing pedagogical techniques to dramatically improve student outcomes.

Are you an educator, instructional leader, or lifelong learner curious about artificial intelligence—but not sure where to begin? AI in Education: Harnessing Artificial Intelligence Tools to Transform Teaching and Professional Practice is your go-to audio companion for navigating the future of education with clarity and confidence. Whether you're driving, walking, or relaxing at home, this audiobook brings the world of AI to life with practical insights, real classroom examples, and visionary strategies designed to support your growth.

Ron Ritchhart's new book, Cultures of Thinking in Action, takes the next step in helping listeners not only understand how a culture of thinking looks and feels, but also how to create it for themselves and their learners. Arguing that no set of practices or techniques alone is sufficient to create a culture of thinking in and of itself, Ritchhart explores the underlying beliefs that motivate the creation of cultures of thinking, presenting key mindsets every educator and leader needs to embrace.

This audio course examines the major periods in the history of Western political thought and questions the political and social order. It considers the ways in which thinkers have responded to the particular political problems of their day, and the ways in which they contribute to a broader conversation about human goods and needs, justice, democracy, and the proper relationship of the individual to the state. One aim will be to understand the strengths and weaknesses of various regimes and philosophical approaches in order to gain a critical perspective on our own.

Black education was a subversive act from its inception. African Americans pursued education through clandestine means, often in defiance of law and custom, even under threat of violence. They developed what Jarvis Givens calls a tradition of "fugitive pedagogy"—a theory and practice of Black education in America. The enslaved learned to read in spite of widespread prohibitions; newly emancipated people braved the dangers of integrating all-White schools and the hardships of building Black schools.

The Stoic philosopher Musonius Rufus was one of the most influential teachers of his era, imperial Rome, and his message still resonates with startling clarity today. Alongside Stoics like Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius, he emphasized ethics in action, displayed in all aspects of life. Merely learning philosophical doctrine and listening to lectures, they believed, will not do one any good unless one manages to interiorize the teachings and apply them to daily life.

American college teaching is in crisis, or so we are told. But we've heard that complaint for the past 150 years, as critics have denounced the poor quality of instruction in undergraduate classrooms. Students daydream in gigantic lecture halls while a professor drones on, or they meet with a teaching assistant for an hour of aimless discussion. The modern university does not reward teaching, so faculty members at every level neglect it in favor of research and publication.

According to Banner and Cannon, to be an effective teacher requires much more than technical skill. Great teaching is an art that combines a wide range of intellectual, moral, and emotional components. This classic work explores the qualities of mind and spirit that are essential for those seeking to help others acquire knowledge and understanding. It analyzes the specific qualities of successful teachers: learning, authority, ethics, order, imagination, tenacity, compassion, patience, character, and pleasure.

The college classroom is inevitably influenced by, and in turn influences, the world around it. In the United States, this means the complex topic of race can come into play in ways that are both explicit and implicit. Teaching Race in Perilous Times highlights and confronts the challenges of teaching race in the United States—from syllabus development and pedagogical strategies to accreditation and curricular reform.

Reform the schools, improve teaching: these battle cries of American education have been echoing for 20 years. So why does teaching change so little? Arguing that too many would-be reformers know nothing about the conflicting demands of teaching, Mary Kennedy takes us into the controlled commotion of the classroom, revealing how painstakingly teachers plan their lessons, and how many different ways things go awry. Teachers try simultaneously to keep track of materials, time, students, and ideas.

The Teaching of the Heart has been given to Mankind as a Great Revelation of the Cosmic Light Forces standing guard over not only the planet Earth, but the entire Solar System too. The Messengers of Distant Worlds and unknown star systems, the Masters of Wisdom have Revealed the secret Treasures of Shambhala to you that store secret scrolls since time immemorial.

In the United States, the Prosperity Gospel’s tenets, spread widely by many Protestant preachers, have crept into the Catholic Church. Where did the “Prosperity” Gospel come from? And how has it embedded itself so deeply in this country? In this book, Thomas Storck demonstrates the deep roots that the unrestrained desire for gain has in this country. He argues that the exclusion of serious religious discourse from American public life has led to the public square being emptied of all transcendence, reducing every aspect of social life to material gain.

Teaching should never be color-blind. In her compelling and unapologetic memoir, Teaching While Black: A New Voice on Race and Education in New York City, teacher and writer Pamela Lewis urges her fellow educators not only to acknowledge race but to consider both the traumatic and healing impact that curriculum, pedagogical practice, and social interaction can have on students and colleagues of color.

Trying to reason with a Republican (or Democrat) is like teaching a snapping turtle how to chew bubblegum. This conclusion birthed the title of my book. Teaching Snapping Turtles is an opinionated nonfiction book about American society in the 21st Century. The problem with politics is that both parties believe they're right. No matter what. Only the other person needs to change. The shell is a happy place.

Ever since Socrates, teaching has been a difficult and even dangerous profession. Why is good teaching such hard work? In this provocative, witty, and sometimes rueful book, David K. Cohen writes about the predicaments that teachers face. Like therapists, social workers, and pastors, teachers embark on a mission of human improvement. They aim to deepen knowledge, broaden understanding, sharpen skills, and change behavior. One predicament is that no matter how great their expertise, teachers depend on the cooperation and intelligence of their students, yet there is much that students do not know.