It is one thing to be a Christian educator. It’s another to be an excellent Christian educator. As teachers and administrators, we are called to be responsible stewards of the time and resources invested in young lives. Every day we make decisions about how to use that contact time and how to use financial resources. On what basis do we … Read More
Beyond Compliance: The HeartSmart High Five
We make thousands of choices every day. Children do too. How do we help children choose well? The goal is to build character, the ability to make a good choice in any given moment. Sometimes we think that we’re building character in our schools when we’re actually building compliance. Do children choose the same thing when we’re not in the … Read More
Chasing “likes”
“Comparison is the thief of joy.” This quotation is attributed to Teddy Roosevelt as he often demonstrated a joy-filled life in the leadership positions he was called to serve. Given that his life journey was not an easy one, it would have made sense for him to stop and compare, allowing joy to be stolen. He lost his first wife … Read More
What Is Education For? A Conversation About the Impact of Religious Schools
Over the past decade, many of us have been delving into, reading voraciously, and discovering insights from the Cardus Education Survey. This research was first conducted in 2011 in Canada, but then was expanded to the U.S. shortly after. The research is focused on discovering the unique outcomes of Christian and non-religious independent school sector graduates on academic, social, political, … Read More
The Impact of Competition
Early spring is a great season for sports fans. March Madness concluded with the University of Virginia men’s team and the Baylor University women’s team winning the NCAA National Basketball Championships. Tiger Woods completed his improbable golf comeback by winning his fifth Masters Championship. NHL hockey and NBA basketball playoffs have taken off, as well as the MLB regular baseball … Read More
A Year of School Visits: Four Lessons
Since April of 2018, I’ve had an opportunity to visit more than 20 schools as a learner and observer, not as an employee or consultant. This opportunity arose because of two MindShift projects I’ve participated in, but also just out of my own curiosity. Rex Miller, in particular, encouraged me to find the “bright” spots in a dark world, and … Read More
Deeper Learning Conference–Take Two!
It was a great time of learning, connection, and celebration at our second annual Christian Deeper Learning conference held at Legacy Christian Academy in Frisco, Texas on March 6-8! A couple of highlights for attendees were the keynote speech given by one of the deeper learning pioneers in the national movement, Ron Berger from EL Education; and a presentation of … Read More
The Power and Limitations of Executive Function In Schools
I noted in the first post on this topic—the presence and impact of professionalism in private schools—that two upheavals have altered the ways in which professional standards are defined in faith-based schools. The first is the erosion of the social standing of spiritually oriented vocations, including private school teachers. Not only is this trend driven by secularization, but the economics of private … Read More
Deeper Learning: From Hewlett Packard to Jesus Christ
Many of us have just returned from the 2nd annual Deeper Learning Conference at Legacy Christian Academy in Frisco, TX. I was one of over 200 people attending from Canada, the Dominican Republic, Australia, as well as the United States. We were especially inspired by a keynote address by Ron Berger from EL Education and a presentation by students from … Read More
“Professionalism” In Faith-Based Schools: A Brief Primer
When I ask small groups of teachers in faith-based schools why they teach “here and not elsewhere,” invariably someone says, “Because God called me here.” Often, more than one person in the same interview will claim divine direction as their fundamental motivation. Erik Ellefsen, a Senior Fellow at the Center for the Advancement of Christian Education (CACE), asks good questions. … Read More