Live Online Classes

Benefits of Live Online Classes

Designed for middle and high school students, our live, online classes are led by live teachers who guide students through real time instruction and discussion. WTMA chooses live classes because real learning happens through interaction, a core feature of classical education. When students can ask questions in the moment, respond to new ideas, and test their understanding through conversation, they build skills that reach far beyond memorizing information. Live dialogue helps them think critically, evaluate what they hear, and clearly articulate their own viewpoints, which makes learning more active and meaningful.

Components Of Our Live Classes

Instructors are visible and engaged, offering assistance when it’s needed
Your student can chat with the instructor or other students for added social engagement
Lessons are clear, easy to follow, and can change as your student provides answers or input
Simple, easy-to-use buttons allow your student to participate in their education in multiple ways
Accessing related lessons is quick and intuitive to help provide added context to class material

What You Don't See:

Students do not have cameras on during class. Here’s why that makes all the difference:

Fewer visual distractions mean students are able to more fully engage with their instructor and the content of the course.
Students are better able to express themselves and participate freely when they are not self-conscious about their appearance, demeanor, or environment.

Watch Recordings of Our Live, Online Classes

Watch real recordings of classes at the Well-Trained Mind Academy. These recordings gives you a look at how WTMA's live, online classes work: an engaged instructor guiding students through new material in real time, with students asking questions, responding to ideas, and practicing skills.

Class: Grammar II
Instructor: Grammar Specialist Jessica Otto

Class: Music Theory A
Instructor: Sarah Bouse

Class: Algebra I (Problem-Solving Approach)
Instructor: Francine McGlaughlin

Class: Algebra I (Problem-Solving Approach)
Instructor: Kathryn Narvaez

Please note: These are recordings of live classes, so the chat may include occasional typos.

Support Beyond the Classroom

The core of our program is live instruction. In addition, student support continues outside of class. Discussion boards, low-stakes weekly assessments, and semester long projects encourage ongoing engagement. Instructors remain available by email and individual appointment when students need guidance or want to talk through complex ideas. This structure ensures that learning continues between class meetings.

Flexible Class Time Options

While our program is built around live classes, we understand that schedules vary. For families who need more flexibility, WTMA also offers delayed sections. These follow the same curriculum and provide access to recordings of live sessions along with assignments and instructor feedback.

Learn about our delayed lectures

Testimonials

"The whole class was more or less perfect. One of my favourite aspects was workshopping in class; reading what others had written, giving comments, and seeing what classmates thought about your own writing was very rewarding."

Student, Creative Writing for the Rhetoric Stage I

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"Mrs. Buller is not only good at teaching the material - she is really good at interfacing meaningfully with high school students."

Parent, Saxon Pre-Calculus

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"Mr. Hummel was an exceptional teacher. I was so pleased with his feedback and his encouragement. The student feedback was also constructive. I found that workshopping all of our work helped us all improve as a group."

Student, Creative Writing for the Rhetoric Stage I

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"Dr. B is an incredible science teacher. Her passion for the subject comes through to all of the students in the course, and it made the live classes incredibly interesting and enjoyable to have a teacher truly interested in the subject and who genuinely cared about her students learning the material. This course was fantastic."
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Student, Physics

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"Mr. Caro's style of teaching makes the lectures fun and engaging. I think this makes the learning experience not only enjoyable, but it also helps the students to remember the history."

Parent, Story of the Middle Ages

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"Mrs. Ostaff is a very effective teacher, and she is gifted in her ability to relate to middle school-age students. My daughter learned a great deal about geography, but equally important to me was Mrs. Ostaff’s efforts to encourage critical thought. Mrs. Ostaff also creates a sense of community."
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Parent, World Geography

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