Thales Press

Need a little guidance before you dig in this year? Check out "Organic Gardening" from Thales Press! Designed specifically for middle school students, "Organic Gardening" is a hands-on workbook that introduces the foundations of gardening and sustainable practices in a practical, engaging way. Students don’t just read about gardening — they do it. With detailed explanations and photos throughout, students explore garden location, soil properties, composting, and much more! Plus, interactive projects like the Seed Saving Activity and the Bean Cup Activity bring learning to life. Whether you're planning a school garden or planting at home, this resource will help cultivate knowledge, responsibility, and a love for sustainable living. Find out more here: thalespress.org/books/organic-…

"A classical education takes for its subject the human being in all the powers of his mind, heart, and soul, to nourish them and to allow them to unfold toward their fulfillment in virtues both intellectual and moral." Excerpt from Anthony Esolen's "Classical Catechism" available now at a.co/d/2uAuGEk

Growing in virtue is a journey — for some of us, it takes all of our lives to get there, but it’s a really good one to follow. And if more people were on this journey, our world would be a much better place. Read more from Dr. Andrew Abela at thalesacademy.org/resources/news…

Our first curated thematic collection of articles from "The Thales Times" explores the theme of freedom and human flourishing, contemplating classical education’s role in fostering them, ever striving toward the goal “that students would know what is good and could persuade others to choose what is good, too.” Available here: thalesacademy.org/resources/news…

"Some disciplines are grounded in history, such as art and music; others, while they have developed over time, are instead grounded in the first principles of a certain manner of thought, such as the mathematical, or in the primary objects of our attention, such as plants and animals are for the biologist. We do not mean that students must begin their study of biology by studying DNA – far from it! We rather believe that they ought to begin by being immersed in the natural world, to learn how to tell a beech from a birch, or Saturn from a nearby star. We mean that all fields must be taken as wholes, and it is with the whole in mind, and the readiness of students to receive what they can, that we plan out each field’s course of study." An excerpt from @AnthonyEsolen's "Classical Catechism," available at a.co/d/0wycKhb

"Literature gives us not the world as it was, but ourselves in imaginative form, yet as we really are. You can say, time and again, that greed is wrong and that it destroys the man who embraces it, but you do not really know it in a human way until it has assumed a human form, in a human story: Fagin, teaching the homeless boys of London how to steal; Mr. Dombey the world-class merchant, believing that money can buy everything, but taken aback by his small son’s simple question, “Father, what is money?” You may know of the love of man and woman from your limited experience, just as your vision is limited by the range of your eyesight, but when you learn of Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy, or of Rosalind and Orlando, the vistas of that reality are opened up as wide as is the story of all mankind." Excerpt from Anthony Esolen's "Classical Catechism," available at a.co/d/clIqg5N

"The classical educator does not look out upon the fields and see a vast wash of undifferentiated facts, equal in their insignificance. He sees that some rise above the plains in glory or, perhaps, they sink beneath it in hollows of shame; he sees that some are the nuclei of meaning for countless others that revolve about them. Thus does he encourage the students not only to remember, but to memorialize: to see and to acknowledge the heights and depths, the gravitational centers; Socrates wittily defying his accusers on the Hill of Mars; Henry II barefoot in the snow at Canossa; Lewis and Clark beholding the mighty Columbia River." Excerpt from Anthony Esolen's "Classical Catechism" available now at a.co/d/2uAuGEk

What's the best way to start class? For starters, teachers should plan for a bellringer. Bell-ringers (also known as bell work, smart starts, or do-now activities) are short, structured warm-up exercises posted on the board for students to begin immediately upon entering the classroom. This simple classroom management strategy sets a consistent routine, eliminates downtime, and helps students transition smoothly from the hallway to focused learning. Read more at thalespress.org/articles/what-…

"A classical education takes for its subject the human being in all the powers of his mind, heart, and soul, to nourish them and to allow them to unfold toward their fulfillment in virtues both intellectual and moral." Excerpt from Anthony Esolen's "Classical Catechism" available now at a.co/d/2uAuGEk

Thank you to @DrPaulKengor and the @amspectator for reviewing Robert Luddy's new book, "Seeking Wisdom." Full review available here: spectator.org/the-case-for-w…

Thank you to Public Discourse for interviewing Thales founder Robert Luddy. thepublicdiscourse.com/2025/12/99746/

"I love teaching and working at Thales Academy because our job is to encourage students to stay on the path of wisdom and virtue, for this path leads not only to virtue but also to happiness—real, lasting happiness. Each day, we can help students develop the character they need to face whatever challenges lie ahead." Winston Brady in "The Virtue of Temperance" thalespress.org/articles/the-v…

"To help teachers improve in their practice, heads of school should identify a standard of excellence, name it with clear, concrete language, and do what it takes to bring that practice into reality across the network." Read Christina Salinas' review of "Leverage Leadership 2.0" at thalespress.org/articles/book-…

Looking to learn some practical, hands-on, around-the-house skills? Check out "Fundamentals of Electronics." a.co/d/2ipsdU4 Free PDFs and ebooks available upon request.

"Students must be encouraged to invest in themselves by learning and forming their character. If we teach them to embody the characteristics below, they will lead more fulfilling and serene lives. To teach this, we must create an environment marked by encouragement, support, and discipline." Thales founder Robert Luddy's "Leading Citizens Initiative" Read more at thalespress.org/articles/the-l…

Fall is here--the perfect time for gardening. Learn new skills and find new projects to beautify your outdoor space with "Organic Gardening." a.co/d/9V2sSXY Free PDFs and epubs available upon request.

"When classroom observations are done well, the entire school benefits. Students are given the best chance at academic success when their teachers continue to learn alongside them. Teachers, both new and experienced, grow and develop their craft in light of consistent and constructive feedback." Zachary Palmer in "How to Build a Peer Coaching Network" thalespress.org/articles/how-t…

In one week, Thales Academy and Thales Press are hosting our Fall Classical Summit, a conference for classical teachers and teaching-parents in the Raleigh area. We want to thank the people who have made this event possible, from everyone working behind the scenes to the educators leading workshops and sessions. Registration is closed, but more information can be found here: thalespress.org/articles/fall-…

"A classical education fosters the memory in its fully human expression. Animals can remember, but only man recollects....a man recalls a geometric theorem and a poetic meter, and for him they are not mere items in a catalogue, but, as it were, fellow citizens in the city of truth." From Anthony Esolen's "Classical Catechism." Available now at a.co/d/7jE8JWb

Students must be encouraged to invest in themselves by learning and forming their character. If we teach them to embody the characteristics below, they will lead more fulfilling and serene lives. To teach this, we must create an environment marked by encouragement, support, and discipline. Read more from founder Robert Luddy on "Leading Citizens": thalespress.org/articles/the-l…