A Simple and Practical Guide for Mothers Many mothers wonder how to teach reading at home in a simple and effective way. This is one of the most common concerns in homeschooling. Yet, reading can be taught simply, peacefully, and successfully—even with several children at once. The Classical Liberal Arts Academy’s English Reading Gospel of … Continue
Questions concerning who should attend college, for what purpose, and by what means are of great importance, for many young adults are making decisions that require decades to recover from. It is necessary to begin by correcting a common and costly misunderstanding concerning the nature of modern higher education. Many today continue to speak of … Continue
It is necessary for Catholic parents to consider carefully what they mean when they speak of education. In many conversations today, one hears confident references to methods, programs, and well-known educational figures, as though these were sufficient guides for forming children. Parents compare curricula, adopt labels, and align themselves with prevailing trends, yet rarely pause … Continue
In most places today, civics education languishes in a culture of ignorance and irrational feeling. It presents political life as an arena in which men and women battle for the control of public resources. It makes no effort to establish a clear view of the nature of man or the true purpose of society. Students … Continue
In this debate, cognitive psychologist Steven Pinker and New York Times columnist Ross Douthat explore whether a secular society can truly sustain itself. For years, many intellectuals predicted that as religion declined, society would become calmer, more rational, and more scientific. Instead, modern politics often feels just as fervent—driven by new forms of moral conflict, … Continue
In the Classical Liberal Arts Academy, we provide rigorous comprehension assessments that challenge students to thoroughly study lessons and demonstrate their understanding of important concepts. These assessments will be difficult for most students because they require careful study and thoughtful, well-written responses. Students may benefit from seeing a model for imitation. This morning, I completed … Continue
Many young mothers begin family life with good desires, but without firm principles. They love their husbands. They love their children. They want a peaceful Catholic home. They want reverence at Mass. They want ordered sleep, happy children, and time for prayer. Yet many find themselves, after a year or two, living in disorder. The … Continue
Summary Young Catholic couples should not feel pressured to have large families by cultural or political messaging. Decisions about children must be made prudently and privately by husband and wife, based on their real circumstances, including health, finances, and social environment. Large families are not a requirement of Catholic teaching, and having many children should … Continue
One tool I use daily for study and writing is Verbum, which is one of the largest digital libraries available for Catholic books. I’m happy to announce that Verbum has added the Classical Liberal Arts Academy to its list of recognized colleges, seminaries and universities, and offers 30-50% off on its academic software for enrolled … Continue
In the present age of artificial intelligence, it has become common to assert that man is superior to machines. This claim is often made as though it were obvious, needing no defense. Yet when examined carefully, it becomes clear that such a statement is usually made in a generic and theoretical sense rather than in … Continue
Summary Living with strong convictions in a free and diverse society requires a clear distinction between private and public life. In private life, individuals may order their actions entirely according to their own beliefs. In public life, however, they must respect the equal rights and freedoms of others and cannot treat shared spaces as extensions … Continue
Summary Modern education suffers from two extremes in physical training: on one side, sedentary and undisciplined children who are weak and unhealthy; on the other, overtrained athletes engaged in excessive, specialized sports that do not contribute to a well-lived life. Neither extreme is reasonable. Drawing on Aristotle, physical education must aim at a golden mean—a … Continue
In my work in the Classical Liberal Arts Academy I receive contacts from schools that acknowledge their awareness that the current school model is not sustainable and that improvement is needed. They are ready for change but there is a problem: being educated in modern schools themselves, and having no idea where to look for … Continue
When Holy Week Feels Out of Reach Holy Week has come, and the Church grows quiet. The readings grow heavy, and we are invited to walk with Christ in His Passion—to watch, to pray, and to remain with Him. The Church slows down and asks us to look closely at suffering, love, and sacrifice. Yet … Continue
The relationship between the Bible, philosophy, and classical education is often misunderstood in modern discussions, especially among Christians. It is commonly assumed that the Bible replaces all other forms of knowledge, or that the world before Scripture was largely ignorant and in need of correction. From this assumption, it follows that children should be taught … Continue
Dear Parents, Each Wednesday evening at 9:00 PM (EST), my wife and I host an open Zoom meeting for CLAA families. All parents—both prospective and currently enrolled—are warmly invited to attend. There is no cost to participate, though registration is required. The meeting room opens promptly at 9:00 PM. I begin with a brief update … Continue
Before any student can profit from the study of the arts and sciences, he must understand that knowledge does not fall from heaven, nor is it to be obtained by memorizing information put in front of us. All true learning depends upon a right order of inquiry, and the sciences themselves were originally established by … Continue
Modern enthusiasm for “Great Books” programs rests on an assumption that deserves careful examination—namely, that it’s good for students to read all of history’s influential literature. It is suggested that by immersing students in the works of Homer, Plato, Shakespeare, Dickens, etc., they will learn to “think for thmselves” and become wise men and women. … Continue
In modern circles, especially where we find people talking about classical education, Socrates is spoken of as if he were a martyr. He’s spoken of as a hero of Western civilization who is to be honored and imitated. And yet, if we think about the life of Socrates carefully and accurately, and think about what … Continue
When Life Feels Uncertain There are seasons in a mother’s life when everything feels uncertain. Plans shift, news comes that we did not expect, and the future feels unclear. Yet at the same time, the dishes remain, the lessons must be taught, meals must be made, and prayers must still be said. Lent often meets … Continue
In the Oxford English Dictionary, we find the following definition: liberal arts (n.) – Originally: the seven subjects of the trivium (grammar, rhetoric, and logic) and quadrivium (arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy) considered collectively (now historical). In later use more generally: arts subjects as opposed to science and technology. The term “liberal arts” has not … Continue
Paul Abelson’s The Seven Liberal Arts explains that the liberal arts were originally a fixed and ordered curriculum designed for the intellectual formation of free men, consisting of the Trivium and the Quadrivium as studied in the Classical Liberal Arts Academy today. Abelson shows that these arts were not a loose collection of subjects but … Continue
It’s remarkable to look back at the curricula of colleges and universities, even as far back as the early 1900s, and observe the heavy emphasis on classical studies. A college education was synonymous with Greek and Latin studies, philosophy, theology, reasoning, and rhetoric. Education meant proficiency in classical studies. However, this began to change in … Continue
What is commonly called “curriculum work” today is not curriculum work in the proper sense. It is simply the listing of topics to be studied, or the selection and arrangement of study materials. Textbooks, videos, and worksheets are gathered into grade level and subject containers, and this is called a “curriculum.” However, it lacks the … Continue
One of the revealing problems in the “classical education movement” is that those involved in it cannot define the term “classical education” in a way that is to be expected from men and women with a classical education. It does not seem that the essence of “classical education” is actually known. It is simply a … Continue
Yesterday, I posted a talk answering some questions on classical education—what is classical curriculum, and so on. You can see that talk published on March 20. In the midst of that talk, toward the end actually, I discussed a topic that I think is pretty important, and I even received some feedback on that part … Continue
Last night, I received an email from a contact who had some questions about the Classical Liberal Arts Academy curriculum, and as I looked at the questions, I thought they might actually be questions that others would like answers to. So what I’m going to do in this talk today is answer those questions in … Continue
The Protestant Reformation has led many Catholics to believe that marriage and child-bearing is the chief end of the Christian life. A common political message today, presented from what is considered a “Christian” perspective urges Christians to “Get married and have babies!”. A romanticized message of family life is promoted which denies the consequences of … Continue
Yesterday, I received a message from a Catholic mother who models a virtue needed to learn about and enjoy an authentic classical Catholic education. This virtue is valuable in all areas of life, especially when matters are confusing and immediate reactions would be ignorant and emotional. I wanted to share this letter as an example … Continue
The Catholic Church has always taught that the faithful must “test the spirits” (1 John 4:1) before accepting any claim of divine origin. This principle is vividly illustrated in the Gospel of Luke, where the Blessed Virgin Mary both questions the angel Gabriel at the Annunciation and then travels to confirm Elizabeth’s pregnancy. Both actions … Continue
In recent decades, interest in classical education has grown rapidly. Many schools now describe themselves as classical academies or classical learning programs, and parents increasingly seek education rooted in the intellectual traditions of Western civilization. Yet the meaning of the term classical education is often unclear. Schools that identify as classical may offer very different … Continue
In recent years the term classical school has become increasingly common in educational discussions. Many schools now identify themselves as classical academies or classical learning programs. Yet the meaning of the term is often unclear. Some schools adopt the label because they teach Latin. Others emphasize great books or Western history. Some include courses in … Continue
In recent years, the language of education has become increasingly confused. Many schools now describe themselves as “classical schools,” yet the meaning of the term varies widely. Some institutions apply the label because they teach Latin. Others emphasize great books or Western history. Some introduce courses in logic or rhetoric while otherwise retaining a modern … Continue
The video above was published by the White House on March 13, 2026. In it, Bishop Barron explains the philosophical principles on which American society was established. It is strongly recommended for all Academy students. God bless your studies,Mr. William C. Michael, O.P.HeadmasterClassical Liberal Arts Academy
The Classical Liberal Arts Academy is pleased to announce the development of a new degree program: the Bachelor in Classical Christian Studies (BCCS). This program represents the culmination of many years of research and curriculum development at the CLAA and provides a structured course of study in the classical liberal arts rooted in the Catholic … Continue
The error of Protestantism can be understood very easily. We simply need to understand the context of the New Testament writings. The New Testament was written before 70 AD, when the Jewish temple was still in full operation. The temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. The Catholic Church was founded in 33 … Continue
As a father of 10 children, one lesson that I learned early in my parenting experience was that it’s very easy to have a peaceful, happy family. It’s very easy to have a happy wife. It’s very easy to have happy children, really. It’s very easy to have everyone happy with me if I never … Continue
One of the most common concerns among Catholic homeschooling families is the cost of education. Parents want to provide their children with a faithful and intellectually serious education, but many families must also manage the financial realities of raising and supporting a household. As a result, many parents search for an affordable Catholic homeschool curriculum … Continue
The high school years are one of the most important stages of a student’s intellectual formation. During these years young people move beyond basic literacy and arithmetic into deeper studies that prepare them for adult life. For Catholic homeschooling families, choosing a Catholic homeschool high school curriculum requires careful thought. Parents want their children to … Continue
The rapid growth of online education has created new opportunities for Catholic homeschooling families. Parents who once relied entirely on printed textbooks and manual grading can now make use of online learning systems that assist with lessons, assessments, and recordkeeping. For families seeking an online Catholic homeschool curriculum, the challenge is not merely finding digital … Continue
Today is Saturday, March 7, 2026 and I’m William Michael, the headmaster of the Classical Liberal Arts Academy. If you’d like to learn about what we’re doing to restore classical Catholic education, and if you’d like to join us and study at no cost, check out our website at classicalliberalarts.com. This morning, I was thinking … Continue
Dear friends, Providing our children with the best curriculum content is the first challenge in classical Catholic education. The solution to that problem in solved with enrollment in the Classical Liberal Arts Academy. The second challenge is providing our children with expert guidance, support and accountability to make sure that students complete modern K-12 requirements … Continue
Today is Thursday, March 5, and this is William Michael of the Classical Liberal Arts Academy. One of the most important mistakes that parents make is seeking to find a school that provides everything that their children need to grow and develop well. Parents look for schools to provide not only academic instruction and assessment, … Continue
Today, the following image was posted was made on social media: The image was spread around by men and women who were interested in criticizing the Second Vatican Council. The argument goes like this: 1. Whatever happens after Vatican II was caused by Vatican II.2. The decline in religious priests and sisters happened after Vatican … Continue
Most Catholic mothers know the importance of reading the Bible. The Word of God teaches us how to live and reveals God’s plan for our salvation. Many mothers also read the Catechism so they can understand the teachings of the Church and pass them on to their children. Yet the Church offers another great source … Continue
Recently, I’ve been engaged in a number of interesting discussions with Protestants who deny that the papacy was established by Christ in the person of St. Peter. And as I’ve been engaged in these discussions for several days, I’ve been just jotting some thoughts down and organizing my own thoughts on the topic, studying the … Continue
I’d like to take some time today to talk about a plan for homeschooling that I would recommend for homeschooling parents who have no idea what they’re doing. When I say homeschooling parents who have no idea what they’re doing, I’m not being negative or critical. I’m being honest. I’m talking to Christian parents who … Continue
This talk is intended for parents and students of the Classical Liberal Arts Academy who are trying to understand how Catholic students should think about the study of the natural sciences, with a Catholic mindset, with a coherent system of Catholic thought. Many think that there’s a choice to be made between Classical Studies and … Continue
In this talk, I’d like to share a response to the Protestant teaching of sola scriptura, or the Protestant idea that everything necessary for the Christian life must be present in Sacred Scripture, or must be proven from Sacred Scripture and from scripture alone. Any time that Protestants and Catholics attempt to speak to each … Continue
Catholic families who hope to live faithfully and raise their children well in the modern world must begin with realistic goals. The conditions under which Catholic parents now live are not those of medieval Christendom, nor even those of nineteenth-century America. They live under the influence of compulsory education laws. They live in an economy … Continue
Schism in Christianity is usually explained in terms of personalities, politics, scandals, or discipline. But those explanations never seem to reach the root of the problem. In this talk, I argue that the deepest cause of schism in the Church is not moral or historical, but philosophical. Beneath many modern disagreements—between Protestants and Catholics, and … Continue
On Wednesday, January 28th, we celebrate the memorial of St. Thomas Aquinas, O.P. (1225-1274). I’d like to share the text of an encyclical titled “Aeterni Patris” (Of the Eternal Father), published by Pope Leo XIII in 1879, which both honors St. Thomas and directs us in our work of Catholic education. The restoration of Christian … Continue
Parents who enroll their children in the Classical Liberal Arts Academy often do so with serious intentions. They desire a real education, grounded in truth, discipline, and intellectual formation rather than entertainment or credentialism. Yet even with the best intentions, confusion often arises about what education can and cannot accomplish. Many parents assume that if … Continue
Help for those seeking an ordered, disciplined, and complete approach to classical studies. You may find yourself drawn to the classical liberal arts because you sense that something essential is missing from modern education and perhaps from your own intellectual formation. You read, listen, and explore ideas, yet feel no real progress. What you likely … Continue
Help for those who feel they were never properly educated and wish to remedy that lack You may have reached adulthood with a persistent and uncomfortable sense that your education was incomplete. You may hold degrees, have professional experience, and function competently in daily life, yet still feel intellectually underdeveloped. You sense gaps that were … Continue
Help for those who can read books but lack a disciplined method of serious study You may be able to read books with ease and even enjoyment, yet still feel that your reading rarely produces lasting understanding. You finish chapters, underline passages, and recognize important ideas, but little remains with you afterward. You sense that … Continue
Help for those who are professionally successful but feel intellectually underdeveloped You may have achieved professional success, built a career, and fulfilled many practical responsibilities, yet still feel intellectually immature. You function competently in your field, solve problems efficiently, and meet expectations, but sense that your understanding of deeper questions remains shallow or uncertain. This … Continue
Help for those trained to collect information rather than to think You may feel that much of your education trained you to gather information, recall facts, and reproduce conclusions, but not to think clearly and independently. You learned how to locate answers, summarize arguments, and follow instructions, yet you were rarely taught how to reason … Continue
A step-by-step guide to enrolling in the Classical Liberal Arts Academy and starting your classical Catholic education journey. Introduction Starting your classical Catholic education journey with the Classical Liberal Arts Academy (CLAA) is designed to be straightforward and accessible for families of all backgrounds. This article walks you through the essential steps to begin studies, … Continue
The Classical Liberal Arts Academy (CLAA) is both an online program AND a homeschool support system. It provides accredited online courses that homeschool families use to create a complete classical Catholic education at home. How CLAA Works CLAA operates as a self-paced online learning platform that supports homeschool families. When you enroll your daughter, you … Continue
Why Understanding Words Like “Genus” and “Species” Matters To begin with, we need to understand why Porphyry wrote this short work called the Introduction, or Isagoge in Greek. Porphyry was a philosopher in the third century after Christ, and he wanted to help readers approach the Categories of Aristotle—an important work in ancient logic. But … Continue
Introduction: Wonder Begins with a Question Every scientific inquiry begins when we stop and ask a question. How far away is that star? How heavy is this rock? How fast is that bird flying? These questions don’t belong only to scientists. They belong to anyone who notices the world and wants to understand it. For … Continue
Introduction: Why the Baltimore Catechism Still Matters When we speak of catechesis in the Catholic tradition, we are referring to a sacred and structured effort to hand down the teachings of Jesus Christ. The word “catechesis” comes from the Greek word katecheo, meaning “to echo” or “to resound.” It captures the Church’s mission to proclaim … Continue
Introduction In the renewed interest in classical education, Memoria Press has emerged as one of the most influential curricula in the Anglophone world. Founded by Cheryl Lowe and rooted in the American Protestant tradition, it has provided many families with a structured, language-centered educational alternative to modern pedagogies. In their 2024 article, Three Pillars Upon … Continue
Introduction: True Knowledge Begins in Wonder The Catholic tradition has long held that faith and reason are not adversaries but allies. In fact, St. Thomas Aquinas taught that all truth is from God, and therefore no true discovery in the natural world can ever contradict divine revelation. When we investigate nature through scientific methods, we … Continue
A Catholic Reflection on Nicomachus’ Arithmetic, Book I, Chapter 7 What can the even and the odd teach us about truth? To modern minds, such a question may seem trivial—fit for grade school, not for theology. But to Nicomachus of Gerasa, and to the philosophical tradition he represents, even and odd are not mere labels. … Continue
A Catholic Reflection on Nicomachus’ Arithmetic, Book I, Chapter 8 In the eighth chapter of Arithmetic, Nicomachus brings our attention to one of the most orderly and structured types of numbers: what he calls the even-times-even. He doesn’t simply list them or explain how to calculate them. Instead, he reflects on how their structure reveals … Continue
A Catholic Reflection on Nicomachus’ Arithmetic, Book I, Chapter 4 Why should arithmetic come first? Among the sciences of number, shape, music, and motion, what gives arithmetic its primacy? In Book I, Chapter 4 of his Arithmetic, Nicomachus of Gerasa offers an answer that is not merely logical—it is theological. He explains that arithmetic is … Continue
A Catholic Reflection on Nicomachus’ Arithmetic, Book I, Chapter 6 From the stars above to the rhythms of time, from the patterns of leaves to the proportions of the human body—there is a deep and undeniable order woven into all creation. In Chapter 6 of his Arithmetic, Nicomachus of Gerasa contemplates this order and declares … Continue
A Catholic Reflection on Nicomachus’ Arithmetic, Book I, Chapter 5 At the heart of creation is not chaos, but order—not randomness, but reason. In the fifth chapter of his Arithmetic, Nicomachus of Gerasa continues his exaltation of number, showing how it lies at the foundation of the sciences and the structure of the universe. For … Continue
In every age, those who seek truth must ask how the mind rises from confused perception to clear understanding. Nicomachus of Gerasa, in Book I, Chapter 3 of his Introduction to Arithmetic, offers a precise and orderly answer. He does not present mathematics as a collection of “useful” skills, but as the necessary path to … Continue
Throughout the history of the Catholic Church, theologians and faithful alike have wrestled with the relationship between conscience and Church authority. In an age that champions personal autonomy and moral subjectivism, the tension between obeying one’s conscience and submitting to the Church’s authoritative teaching seems greater than ever. However, within the Catholic tradition, these two … Continue
Understanding the Catechism of the Catholic Church: An Introduction In the life of the Catholic Church, few resources are as central, as trustworthy, and as transformative as the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It is a gift from the Church to the world, offering a clear and complete summary of Catholic doctrine for believers of … Continue
In this lesson, we take our first steps into the study of grammar by learning about the basic elements of thought and language. Before we can understand how words work in sentences, we need to understand what we use words for. We begin by exploring how we come to know things—through our five senses and … Continue
What Is a Syllable? A syllable is a single unit of sound in a word. In Greek, every syllable must have a vowel or a diphthong, which is a pair of vowels sounded together. Therefore, the number of syllables in a word equals the number of vowels or diphthongs it contains. For example, in the … Continue
Every Toddler Is a Gift from God God gives children to families as blessings, not burdens. A toddler is not an interruption to the homeschool day, but a soul entrusted to you for care and formation. In the Classical Liberal Arts Academy, we teach mothers to educate their children in the same spirit that guided … Continue
The Assumption Fra Angelico (c. 1430) This Friday, August 15, we will celebrate the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary—a feast full of hope for every Catholic mother. The Church teaches in the Catechism that “the Immaculate Virgin… was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, when her earthly life was finished, and exalted … Continue
Catholic apologetics is the work of explaining, defending, and sharing the truths of the Catholic faith. It is a work that has always been important, but in today’s world, it is more necessary than ever. Many Catholics find themselves unprepared when questioned about their beliefs. They may know that the Church teaches something, but they … Continue
A Mother Cannot Give What She Does Not Have If a mother wants to raise wise and virtuous children, she must first become wise and virtuous herself. This is not an insult to our efforts but a sober reminder of reality: no one can give what they do not have. The Catechism teaches that parents … Continue
Saturday, August 9Saturday of Week 18 in Ordinary TimePsalter Week IIOptional Memorial: Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, Virgin and MartyrEvening Prayer I is for the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Sunday, August 10Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary TimePsalter Week III Monday, August 11Memorial of Saint Clare, VirginProper of SaintsPsalter: Common of Virgins Tuesday, August 12Tuesday … Continue
Elene by Cynewulf Translated by Lucius Hudson Holt 1. THE EMPEROR CONSTANTINE. There had passed in the turn of years, as men mark the tale of time, two hundred and thirty and three winters over the world since the Lord God, the Glory of kings and Light of the faithful, was born on earth in … Continue
One of the biggest challenges for new families is knowing where to begin. The Classical Liberal Arts Academy can feel large and unfamiliar, and it’s easy to worry about “doing it wrong.” The good news is that you don’t need to have everything figured out from the start. This article will guide you through the … Continue
Today is August 13, 2025, and I’m William Michael, the headmaster of the Classical Liberal Arts Academy. If you’d like to learn about the work we do in making real classical Catholic education available for students of all ages, visit our website at classicalliberalarts.com. I’d love to have you join us for studies. When I … Continue
In modern Catholic schools, the problem is not that the curriculum aims too high or tries to cover too much. The problem is that the curriculum itself is too small. The modern structure restricts the scope of education to a narrow set of utilitarian ends, and then fills the school day and year with unnecessary … Continue
Transcript I’d like to share a message with anyone working in private school administration—especially Catholic school administration—who is looking at the state of affairs in Catholic private schooling, examining their own school, and realizing that there are problems that need to be fixed. If you’re interested in discussing what the solution to those problems might … Continue
Today is September 26, 2025. This is William Michael. I’m the headmaster of the Classical Liberal Arts Academy. I received an email this evening that expresses a concern that I am pretty confident is shared by most adults living in America, especially Catholic adults, who, through their spiritual and intellectual interests, come to value communication … Continue
Many parents today feel a quiet worry that their children are falling behind in school. You see other kids moving ahead, hear teachers talk about “grade levels” and “curriculum standards” and wonder if your son or daughter is where they should be. That worry can grow heavy, and it often leaves parents feeling helpless. But … Continue
Today is September 26, 2024, and this is William Michael of the Classical Liberal Arts Academy. Day to day, throughout the week, I spend a lot of time speaking with homeschool parents through consultations and things like that, and almost every conversation that I have with homeschooling parents begins with questions that reveal a lack … Continue
Summary William Michael, headmaster of the Classical Liberal Arts Academy, addresses the common parental concern about the pace at which homeschool students should progress. He explains that the question stems from a modern school mindset, where artificial deadlines and schedules create unnecessary pressure. Homeschooling, however, offers freedom from such constraints, allowing families to work 365 … Continue
