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
By Christine Norvell, Guest Author I confess. I have asked students to make revisions to their essays. In fact, I may have casually said, “You just have some light revision work,” or “This needs heavy revision.” It sounds flippant to my ears now. Trite. But those comments all beg the same question—what does it really mean to revise our writing? One of my former students … Continue reading Re-Visioning Our Writing
Book Review By Christine Norvell Experience humbles us. So does sin. In My Divine Comedy: A Mother’s Homeschooling Journey, Missy Andrews not only presents an educator’s memoir but also a spiritual trek, one reminiscent of Petrarch’s “Ascent of Mount Ventoux.” Andrews details the failures of relying on ourselves as parents and educators. Those failures spoke to me as a mother and as a teacher because … Continue reading Book Review – My Divine Comedy: A Mother’s Homeschooling Journey
By Christine Norvell This time of year seems to both sadden me and lighten my heart. In the school year, I grow sad because I realize that my time of influence with my students is even shorter. Only months remain, not an entire school year. Yet I’m grateful for a two-week reprieve. Not seeing each other for a time does help us appreciate each other … Continue reading Halfway: Moments That Sadden and Gladden
By Christine Norvell Poetry is boned with ideas, nerved and blooded with emotions, all held together by the delicate, tough skin of words. —Paul EnglePaul The more we read poetry, the more we appreciate what we read. Whether we read poetry for ourselves or teach it in any grade or subject, reading, appreciating, and understanding it is a skill that grows with experience. Over the … Continue reading Teaching Poetry
The following is one of the sessions from our 2019 Conference co-hosted by School of the Ozarks and held at the College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, MO. Tales within Tales It is a storyteller’s privilege. As readers, we delight in knitting our imagination to that of characters’ to hear a story within the plot as joint audience. We sit a spell at the … Continue reading Tales within Tales
By Christine Norvell James V. Schall, S.J. “The Metaphysics of Walking.” The Life of the Mind: On the Joys and Travails of Thinking. Wilmington: ISI Books, 2006. Our society is completely dependent upon not only technology, but also the quickness and ease with which we get what we want —information, entertainment, things. Within most of us, the natural consequence is a pervasive impatience, a quickness … Continue reading Walking with James Schall
The Classical Roundup is a group of worthwhile articles, videos, and podcasts that I have found helpful on our journey of exploring classical Christian education in the 21stcentury. What Charlotte Bronte Got It Right – Guest author Christine Norvell provides us with several reasons Jane Eyre is worth the time. Sorting Truth From Fiction – Headmaster Christopher Stevens from Cornerstone Classical reminds us through the struggles of … Continue reading Classical Roundup – November 30th, 2018
School of the Ozarks & The Classical Thistle Annual Classical Christian Education Conference March 8-9, 2019 College of the Ozarks 100 Opportunity Avenue, Point Lookout, MO 65726 School of the Ozarks and The Classical Thistle will once again join together on March 8-9, 2019, to host our annual Classical Christian Education Conference. Our conference explores the practical aspects of teaching classically within today’s classrooms. Through … Continue reading 2019 Conference
The Classical Roundup is a group of worthwhile articles, videos, and podcasts that I have found helpful on our journey of exploring classical Christian education in the 21stcentury. The Teacher Who Makes the Difference – Dr. Christopher Perrin provides great reminders to how we should begin the year as teachers as he highlights hope and prudence. When Teachers Fail – 5 Ways to Help – From … Continue reading Classical Roundup – September 14th, 2018
By Christine Norvell How do you teach beauty? The concept of beauty is not a light thought but a worthy one. As I attended a summer seminar on teaching and writing about beauty, I quickly realized how much is contained in a single word. Many rich books were referenced, and one book in particular captured me by its title alone, The Fragrance of God. As … Continue reading Book Review, The Fragrance of God
The following is one of the sessions from our 2018 Conference co-hosted by School of the Ozarks and held at the College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, MO. The full collection of presentations can be found at https://theclassicalthistle.com/2018-conference/. Daily Bread Christine Norvell, Regent Preparatory Jesus taught us to pray and to ask for our daily bread in Matthew 6. Like the Israelites in Exodus 16, we … Continue reading Daily Bread (2018 Conference Presentation)
The Classical Thistle 