What are the responsibilities and job description for the Middle School Instructor of Great Books & Writing position at The Saint Constantine School?
Responsibilities
The Instructor of Great Books & Writing is responsible for guiding middle school students (grades 6–8) through a rich course of primary source literature, philosophy, and writing rooted in the classical, Christian tradition. This instructor will foster genuine intellectual inquiry, form students in virtue and wisdom, and build the habits of close reading, careful thinking, and clear expression that are central to a Saint Constantine education. The instructor will:
Teaching & Instruction
The Instructor of Great Books & Writing is responsible for guiding middle school students (grades 6–8) through a rich course of primary source literature, philosophy, and writing rooted in the classical, Christian tradition. This instructor will foster genuine intellectual inquiry, form students in virtue and wisdom, and build the habits of close reading, careful thinking, and clear expression that are central to a Saint Constantine education. The instructor will:
Teaching & Instruction
- Lead Socratic seminars and discussion-based classes in Great Books at the 6th, 7th, or 8th grade levels, guiding students through primary texts that range from fairy tales and mythology to Homer, Plato, Tolkien, and Chesterton.
- Teach writing explicitly and systematically through the Progymnasmata sequence.
- Assign and guide meaningful written work that grows students as thinkers and writers.
- Read primary texts carefully and prepare substantive discussion questions that invite genuine inquiry rather than prescribing conclusions.
- Model a love of learning and authentic engagement with the texts.
- Maintain grade books for all students, updating grades and substantive comments on written work at least every two weeks.
- Assess student growth in both reading comprehension, discussion, and writing craft, understanding that the goal is formation of thinkers and writers, not just performance on any single assignment.
- Respond to electronic communications from families and students in a timely manner and be willing to discuss student progress by phone or in person.
- Attend department and faculty meetings as needed.
- Bachelor’s degree in a related field required.
- Teaching experience with middle school students preferred.
- Experience in classical education, Socratic discussion facilitation, or Great Books pedagogy preferred.
- Strong writing ability and a working knowledge of classical rhetoric and the Progymnasmata sequence.
- Excellent rapport with middle school students
- Strong understanding of the ethos and values of The Saint Constantine School.