Get Thee to a Classical Education Conference!
By Carrie Eben The church is meant to be a body of Christian believers to encourage each other in their faith. Just as Christ’s body of believers gather to fellowship and edify each other around a common belief, classical Christian educators have opportunities to come together and share the same liturgies of Christian education. Although each church, or group of believers, looks different, they all … Continue reading Get Thee to a Classical Education Conference!
Assessment for Classical Schools, Part 2: Relationship, Soul-Orienting Conversations, and Types of Assessors
By Carrie Eben, guest author In the last article about classical assessment, I discussed that assessment needs to align with the purpose of classical education—which is growing in intellectual skill and virtue. This is achieved through a contemplative posture of what Josef Pieper calls “leisure,” otherwise known as “schole” or rest. While this sounds beautiful, what are the important components for contemplative growth in a … Continue reading Assessment for Classical Schools, Part 2: Relationship, Soul-Orienting Conversations, and Types of Assessors
Assessment for Classical Schools, Part 1: A Philosophy of Leisure
By Carrie Eben, guest author Every time I teach a seminar on authentic assessment for classical teachers and homeschool parents, I begin by asking the question, “What is the purpose of education?” following up with, “Who do you want your students to be when they leave your school/home? Without fail, teachers and parents, give answers such as “Lifelong and autonomous learners,” “A person who loves … Continue reading Assessment for Classical Schools, Part 1: A Philosophy of Leisure
My Top 5 Books of 2022 (Kyle Rapinchuk)
As 2022 draws to a close, I have been planning a reading list for next year. Every year I toy with the idea of choosing a prolific author and reading 10-15 of their books. I have never really done that, at least not as I planned it. I did, however, read a lot of P. G. Wodehouse this year—kind of on accident. I was working … Continue reading My Top 5 Books of 2022 (Kyle Rapinchuk)
Writing & Waiting: An Advent Allegory
Following fifteen weeks of instruction, my students sat working on their pinnacle assignment for the semester—a deductive essay on the meaning of words. I spent the last class period before their essay submission giving them one more tool to check for the connection and flow of their ideas, fielding questions about word choice, and shepherding them through the process of final edits. We had labored … Continue reading Writing & Waiting: An Advent Allegory
Prometheus or Prodigal? Aristotle on Einstein
By Brianna Kelly, Guest Author What has changed in natural science from the time of the ancient Greeks? The popular caricature sketches ancient science as a primitive, feeble natural fiction with little relevance to today’s students and scientists. In this narrative, Aristotle and the ancients groped stupidly in the cold dark until modern demigods such as Einstein delivered the hidden fire of truth to mortals. … Continue reading Prometheus or Prodigal? Aristotle on Einstein
The Educator as Sherpa
By Jarred Pike, Guest Author In the formidable landscape of learning, students need an advocate who has scaled the ridge for themselves. Sherpas have gained renown for providing specialized support for foreign trekkers and mountain climbers. The Tibetan people who live on the Himalayan slopes serve as apt models of effective teaching in large part because climbers’ lives depend on it. The personal relationship between … Continue reading The Educator as Sherpa
Proposing a Framework for an Education toward Virtue
By Josh Dyson In the section on Justice in his The Four Cardinal Virtues, Josef Pieper states, “Fundamental truths must constantly be pondered anew lest they lose their fruitfulness. In this lies the significance of meditation: that truth may not cease to be present and effective in the active life.”[1] A couple pages later he continues, “… human actions are properly human because they have … Continue reading Proposing a Framework for an Education toward Virtue
Closing the Gap
By Eric Cook, Guest Author “For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.” Psalm 103:14 Not long into my time as a Head of School, I faced a challenging scenario. One of our middle school students was struggling immensely. He worked very hard, but he was spending an exorbitant amount of time on his work. Even when he did complete it, there … Continue reading Closing the Gap
It Sounds Like Singing
By Kelly Garrison, Guest Author It sounds like singing! As a description of sound, singing most often refers to the human voice. Birds chirp and machines whine, but people sing. In terms of creation, people are sacredly set apart and created to know, understand, and seek. For the Children’s Sake reminds us that Charlotte Mason specified children as persons, and in her teachings she respected … Continue reading It Sounds Like Singing
Climbing Trees
By Christine Norvell, Guest Author Since we’ve moved to Siloam Springs, I’ve spent plenty of time watching my cat happily climb the old dogwood tree by our garage. Bark chips off as he climbs higher. He often looks back at me as if he wants to know whether he should jump or keep going on his elevated scratching post. It brings to mind the wonder of tree … Continue reading Climbing Trees
Science, Natural History, or Natural Philosophy: What Exactly Are We Calling It These Days?
By Dr. Brian Polk, Guest Author I recently asked a group of science educators that work for Christian Classical Schools if they prefer the term science or natural philosophy, and I’d like to pause to ask you the same. I prefer Natural Philosophy for a few reasons, and some explication is warranted. However, most of it has to do with the meaning, literal and implied, … Continue reading Science, Natural History, or Natural Philosophy: What Exactly Are We Calling It These Days?
The Classical Thistle 