Volume, pitch, pace, tone, inflection: the human voice is our primary teaching instrument. The spoken word has not just a logos and an ethos but an embodied and personal quality—which comes with enormous advantages.

This week, twenty-five-year Heights veteran Tom Steenson shares a valuable reflection on the human voice and how we use it in the classroom. He includes many practical examples of how to engage students, express expectations, correct without disruption, and love your students by using your voice with intention.

3:11 The humanity of voice

5:14 The science of volume and pitch

6:56 Your reading and teaching voice

9:04 Speech as love, not punishment

10:46 Voice for humor and engagement

13:54 All the advantages of spoken word

16:25 A unique, live meeting of minds

20:26 Control without yelling

27:05 Enjoying your students

30:17 Song and poetry in the classroom

33:04 The value of the voice in-person

Teaching the History of Our "Strange New World": The History of Western Thought Course featuring Austin Hatch and Michael Moynihan

The Ritual of Reading in the Classroom featuring Tom Steenson

Classroom Ambience by Joseph Bissex

Classroom Tone and Culture featuring Tom Steenson

The Art of Teaching Boys Conference at The Heights School (May 6-8, 2026) – waitlist

Teaching Essentials Workshop at The Heights School (June 22-26, 2026)

Convivium Conference for Teaching Men at The Heights School (November 2026) – link coming soon

When we join a school community, it should be to join forces with teachers, administrators, and other families in the "conspiracy for the good" of our children. In this multi-engine partnership, how do parents best play their role as the stewards of their child's whole-person formation?

In this rebroadcast from 2022, Headmaster Alvaro de Vicente covers the idea of wise, willing, and informed partnership with your children's school; what it really means to the "primary educators"; how a school can be compatible with that philosophy; and the importance of parent friendships.

2:56 Entering a school partnership wisely
6:50 Entering the partnership fully
11:57 Parents' task: formation of the whole person
14:06 Ask what the teachers see
15:18 Match school culture with home culture
17:23 Your child's friendships
20:44 Parent friendships
26:39 Parent-teacher collaboration
32:04 When to pick up the phone, and the "conspiracy for good"

Building Parent-Teacher Rapport featuring Kyle Blackmer

On Home as Social Hub: The Importance of Hosting Our Sons and Their Friends featuring Tom Royals

Family Culture featuring Alvaro de Vicente

Creating a Culture of Learning in the Home by Alvaro de Vicente

Parents as Primary Educators by Michael Moynihan

Ways to Foster a Family Culture by Alvaro de Vicente

Does a talented person have a duty to serve others? What do leading citizens really need to live well, freely, impactfully—even greatly? How do we, parents and educators, order the educational goods?

"When I think of Thomas More's life, writings, and example, I think: here are the materials we need to answer those questions."

So says Dr. Stephen Smith, professor at Hillsdale College and co-director for the Center for Thomas More Studies. St. Thomas More not only provided a robust theory of education and duty in his writings, but also a praxis of that education by his heroic actions at the Tower of London in 1535. Dr. Smith joins us this week to discuss how More's life and education can be a pattern for our one-day leading citizens.

Chapters:

2:32 The living image of a great man

8:49 More's philosophy of learning

12:50 Virtue in the first place

16:25 Love of good advice

18:48 Leading citizenship: skill and integrity

24:51 Pride as the enemy

29:32 On modern times: "Do not abandon the ship"

35:14 Mentorship: time and attention

46:39 Hope and humor

54:21 Thomas More as a father

Links:

The Center for Thomas More Studies, featuring video courses, teaching resources, and the written works of Thomas More

The Last Riddle: Advice on Living and Dying Well by Stephen Smith, pre-order for June 2026

The Essential Works of Thomas More edited by Gerard Wegemer and Stephen Smith

A Thomas More Sourcebook edited by Gerard Wegemer and Stephen Smith

On Duties by Cicero

Thomas More: A Portrait of Courage by Gerard Wegemer

"Letter to William Gonell, 1518" by Thomas More

Young Thomas More and the Arts of Liberty by Gerard Wegemer

"A Dialog of Comfort against Tribulation" by Thomas More

"Erasmus on Thomas More" by Erasmus

Also on the Forum:

Elon Musk and Mother Teresa Schools by Nate Gadiano

Teaching the History of our "Strange New World" featuring Michael Moynihan and Austin Hatch

Learning for All Seasons: What We Owe to Thomas More by Dr. Matthew Mehan

The Arts of Liberty – Part I featuring Dr. Matthew Mehan

Featured Opportunities:

The Art of Teaching Boys Conference at The Heights School (May 6-8, 2026) – sold out

Teaching Essentials Workshop at The Heights School (June 22-26, 2026)

Conference for Teaching Men at The Heights School (November 2026) – link coming soon