Reaching Educational Outliers: Partnering with Parents to Classically Educate All Students Well (2018 Conference Presentation)
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/. Reaching Educational Outliers: Partnering with Parents to Classically Educate All Students Well Sara Osborne, College of the Ozarks & The Classical Thistle Prompted by questions and ideas from … Continue reading Reaching Educational Outliers: Partnering with Parents to Classically Educate All Students Well (2018 Conference Presentation)
Classical Roundup – June 1st, 2018
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. Abraham Martin from School of the Ozarks delivers his Chrysostom speech that earned him first place. These videos inspire and remind classical Christian educators to what students are truly capable of achieving. Five Important Differences Between Charlotte Mason … Continue reading Classical Roundup – June 1st, 2018
An Education of the Head, Heart, and Hands
Classical Christian education is often said to be a pursuit of the good, the true, and the beautiful. Others have built upon this idea to say that we are aiming to produce wisdom and eloquence in our students. Still further, classical Christian education has been said to be an exploration and instillation of virtue. Likely the most common statement regarding the goals of classical Christian … Continue reading An Education of the Head, Heart, and Hands
King George or King Jesus?
(Picture taken moments before the events narrated below). Note: On Memorial Day, I took my three kids and my niece to the park. It was a little less than a year ago that I did the same thing, after which I wrote the piece below. I’m re-posting it today because it was a good reminder for me. On a recent afternoon I took my three … Continue reading King George or King Jesus?
The Journey
Not surprisingly, the journey is perhaps the theme more than any other at the heart of the Great Books of literature. The Odyssey, The Divine Comedy, The Canterbury Tales, and many more are centered upon a journey, a journey that changes the characters for both good and ill. I think as Christians we do well to read these journeys, to enter into them along with the characters and learn as they learn, to learn what they learn, and oftentimes learn the lessons how they learn them. In the following examples, I want us to journey together to learn alongside the characters, and then see how Jesus, too, takes us on a journey from which we learn a lesson more profound than all the rest. Continue reading The Journey
Classical Roundup – May 24th, 2018
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. How Can I Raise My Grade In This Class? Joshua Gibbs creates a fictional conversation that highlights some of the problems with students asking for higher grades at the end of the year. Clever, funny, and full of … Continue reading Classical Roundup – May 24th, 2018
Lust—The Second Circle of Hell
“O race of men, born to fly heavenward, how can a breath of wind make you fall back?”[1] The Divine Comedy: Purgatorio Canto XII, lines 95-96 In his Confessions, Augustine reflects upon the disorder[2] of his love, manifested through his intense lust. He had said to the Lord in the midst of his lust, “‘Grant me chastity and continence, but not yet.’ I was afraid … Continue reading Lust—The Second Circle of Hell
2nd Grade Wonder
“Numbers have no beginning or end. Numbers are kind of like God. I just realized that.” From the mouth of babes. These are the words that make a classical-educator-dad proud. This is what my 2nd grade son tells me on the way to school the other day. A couple minutes later, he spouts off another timeless question: “Numbers greater than zero are positive. Numbers less … Continue reading 2nd Grade Wonder
The Choice of Things to Be Read (Monday Musings)
As I have been preparing my book requests for next school year, I have revisited something I’ve shared before regarding some principles for choosing reading material for classes. In “The Three Columns Revisited,” Mortimer Adler goes into greater detail on the nature of leading seminars in order to help correct some misconceptions about his previous discussion on the three columns from his great work The … Continue reading The Choice of Things to Be Read (Monday Musings)
Get Ready for Summer! Part 5—Latin and Other Languages
By Sara Osborne Warmer temperatures and longer days are building excitement for students and their families as summer approaches. We’re all eager for a change of pace and a break from the burn-out often associated with the end of the school year, yet we worry about our kids losing their skills over the summer. This need not be the case, however, if parents consider the … Continue reading Get Ready for Summer! Part 5—Latin and Other Languages
Get Ready for Summer! Part 4—History and Geography
By Sara Osborne Warmer temperatures and longer days are building excitement for students and their families as summer approaches. We’re all eager for a change of pace and a break from the burn-out often associated with the end of the school year, yet we worry about our kids losing their skills over the summer. This need not be the case, however, if parents consider the … Continue reading Get Ready for Summer! Part 4—History and Geography
Get Ready for Summer! Part 3—Reading/Writing/Grammar
By Sara Osborne Warmer temperatures and longer days are building excitement for students and their families as summer approaches. We’re all eager for a change of pace and a break from the burn-out often associated with the end of the school year, yet we worry about our kids losing their skills over the summer. This need not be the case, however, if parents consider the … Continue reading Get Ready for Summer! Part 3—Reading/Writing/Grammar
The Classical Thistle 