“These are my favorite days,” I whispered to my daughter as we watched her siblings from the back porch, “—careening down the slide on cardboard boxcars, digging in the rocks with dinosaurs, reading a book under the umbrella. Don’t forget moments like these—they’re shaping you, whether you realize it or not.” I’m convinced we need more of this: days without schedules, hours without plans, moments … Continue reading In Support of Rest
The following is an analogy to consider for those who have their kids in government or secular schools. This analogy is intended for those who might raise the objection that if they can teach their kids what things to avoid (e.g. Evolution) then there is no real danger for their children in the public/government/secular schools. I hope that this analogy helps illustrate the flaw in … Continue reading The Hidden Dangers of Spa Water
A nexus is a series of connections linking two or more things. These notes are dedicated to linking us to great content elsewhere out on the web. Weaving Math into a Classical Curriculum – Bill Carey from InsideClassicalEd.com gives helpful insight into a classical math curriculum and how it fits in with other subjects. 8 Ideas for Cultivating a Culture of Memory in the Classroom … Continue reading Nexus Notes–September 15, 2017
Abstract: In “King, Kingdom, and Kingdom People: Classical Christian Education for the Head, Heart, and Hands” Kyle Rapinchuk explores what it means to provide a “Faithful Education” in a classical Christian school. Beginning with the belief that we are loving and liturgical beings, he explores how we can provide a truly faithful education to students a classical Christian schools. He discusses five key factors involved in … Continue reading King, Kingdom, and Kingdom People: Classical Christian Education for the Head, Heart, and Hands
In Beauty for Truth’s Sake, Caldecott provides an excellent defense of the need to infuse wonder and poetic imagination into our education, and through beauty to bring about a re-enchantment in education. Although it is by no means his main point in the book, Caldecott has provided one of the best explanations I have seen for both the beauty and importance of mathematics from a Christian worldview. … Continue reading Beauty for Truth’s Sake by Stratford Caldecott (Book Blurbs)
As we plan for our futures, we are often encouraged to think in terms of 3-, 5-, 15-, or even 20- or 30-year goals. This is considered to be a great way of thinking beyond the present—beyond our needs in the moment—and thinking about what we need for years to come. When we consider the question of education, we should also be thinking in the … Continue reading 10,000 Year Education Plan
A nexus is a series of connections linking two or more things. These notes are dedicated to linking us to great content elsewhere out on the web. Habits Week 8 Habits of Every Great Student – An excellent compilation of habits for students by some of the most well-known classical Christian educators. My 7 Least Productive Habits – A great list by Mark Dance of … Continue reading Habits: Nexus Notes–September 1, 2017
By Josh Dyson, Classical School of Wichita Education in the Storm: An Encouragement to Parents in the Aftermath of Hurricane Harvey As a native Texan I right now sit 500 miles away from my hometown of Houston. And having lived through the flooding of tropical storm Allison, I remember how bad things can get. From what I am told those conditions were surpassed less than … Continue reading Education in the Storm
I had the opportunity to interview Fiona Hubbard, a 2016 graduate of School of the Ozarks, about the impact classical Christian education had on her life. SM: What was the most impactful book, project, or paper that you experienced at school and why was that? FH: Perhaps the most impactful project that I completed while in high school was during junior year, when my Christian … Continue reading An Interview with Fiona Hubbard (Portrait of a Graduate Series)
In his phenomenal work The Abolition of Man, C. S. Lewis writes regarding education what have become some of his most well-known and oft-quoted words: “For every one pupil who needs to be guarded from a weak excess of sensibility there are three who need to be awakened from the slumber of cold vulgarity. The task of the modern educator is not to cut down … Continue reading Monday Musings (August 21, 2017): Irrigating Deserts
Why are You on the Bench? A Look into the Trivium Applied to the Field of Sports by Scott McElvain and Kyle Rapinchuk Today is the day. August 17, 2017. The first day of year six at School of the Ozarks. It’s like opening day—the anticipation building over the off-season months, the preparation and practice that have gone into a good performance, and now it’s … Continue reading Why are you on the bench?
This past Thursday I returned to work. Arriving early and walking down the empty hallways, it’s always an eerie feeling to think how soon they will be filled with hordes of teenagers. I thought about all of the things I needed to prepare before I was ready, and I knew I was further away than I had hoped. In the days that have followed, I … Continue reading Monday Musings (August 14, 2017): A Praying Professor
The Classical Thistle 