How do we maintain high standards in the classroom while also encouraging and supporting our students? CenterForLit director Adam Andrews addresses this question with an inspiring explanation of Grace: the most powerful engine of achievement ever invented. With a mix of demonstrations and discussion, Adam offers step-by-step instructions for unlocking the power of this world-changing principle.

If you had only one hour in which to give your student a complete education, could you do it? If you accepted the challenge, what lesson would you teach? Adam Andrews argues that a complete and profound education can be acquired in one lesson – and then sets out to prove this audacious claim in an eye-opening, inspiring presentation. Adam first demonstrates the lesson using an example from his own subject, Literature. He then shows you how to teach it in your own area of interest. Adam gives examples of the lesson from every subject in the curriculum and invites the audience to contribute their own ideas. The power of this lesson may revolutionize the way you teach on a daily basis – and it only takes an hour!

What is The Socratic Method and how can it make me a better teacher? Is it a separate curriculum? Is it difficult to learn? Is it a lot of work to apply? Can I use it with what I'm already doing? Adam lays out simple answers to these questions by explaining and demonstrating a Socratic discussion to encourage and inspire parents to imitate the ancient philosopher. Parents of kids in K-12 will learn a simple technique can be applied in any subject to dramatically increase the power of contact time. Best of all, there's nothing to buy – all you need is a kid and a kitchen table!

Does literature seem like a mystery? Are you at a loss about how to understand it yourself, much less teach it? This inspiring lecture demonstrates that everything you need to know about understanding and teaching literature is present in your second grader’s bedtime story. Adam reads a classic children’s story and leads a discussion of eternal literary themes. Learn how you can do the same at home by following five simple steps. Your literature curriculum – to say nothing of family story time – will come alive. You’ll never put the kids to bed the same way again!

Does the subject of literature seem like a mystery? Are you a loss about how to understand it yourself, much less teach it to your kids? This inspiring lecture demonstrates that everything you need to know about understanding and teaching literature is present in your second grader's bedtime story. Adam reads a classics children's story out loud and then leads the audience into a discussion of eternal literary themes. Along the way, he shows how you can do the same at home by following five simple steps. Your literature curriculum - to say nothing of family story time - will come alive automatically. You'll never put the kids to bed the same way again!

Juxtaposition, metaphor, symbolism, irony, foreshadowing - HELP! Parents often avoid the subject of literature because of the intimidating vocabulary of literary analysis. The truth is, you don't need a college degree in literature to understand this vocabulary; what you need is a well written children's story. Adam takes the audience on a guided tour of literary devices, making discerning literary analysts out of each and every audience member. Doing the same with your own children couldn't be easier, but beware: soon, they will be finding onomatopoeia everywhere they look.

In an engaging presentation that is as much class discussion as lecture, Adam involves the audience in a lively debate on the definition of the classic. In the process, listeners are encouraged to consider the moral and ethical nature of reading, and invited to suggest candidates for a "class list" of all-time great books. This presentation teaches three important tests to apply to any book in order to determine whether it is worthy - and suggests some reasons why you should even care. So, which books belong on your student's reading list? Come listen and find out!