Blog Posts

Hello all!

Thank you for your time in coming out here to the blog, I really appreciate it! I want to introduce you to a new blog series that just might last the rest of this school year!

At Warner Christian Academy, we believe education is about far more than merely mastering content or earning grades. At its heart, Christian education is formative—it shapes not only what students know, but who they are becoming.

In keeping with our mission and recently approved Vision Statement, our faculty has been working intentionally to teach what are known as Intellectual Virtues. These are habits of mind and heart—such as humility, curiosity, courage, carefulness, and open-mindedness—that help students pursue Truth, think wisely, and engage the world faithfully. Recall that part of the mission is to shape students into the image of Christ. And part of the vision is that we desire to send out graduates who are Christlike and intellectually virtuous.

Teaching for Intellectual Virtues bridges that age old gap in education between (1) Teaching for Academics, and (2) Teaching for Character. Well, I’m here to say why not Both/And?! Let us not look at this issue as a single bobbed pendulum with only one or the other of Academics or Character is observed; rather, let us look at it as a 2-bobbed pendulum where we desire to teach both Academics and Character but in a cohesive manner…not in individual silos.

In classrooms across our campus, teachers are embedding these virtues into daily instruction. Students are not only being encouraged to ask better questions, listen carefully to others, admit when they don’t yet understand, and seek Truth with both confidence and humility, but are having it modeled to them as well…by staff and exemplars from the past and present! These virtues are not taught as a separate subject; rather, they are practiced alongside math problems, science labs, historical discussions, literature analysis, and biblical reflection.

But formation does not stop at the classroom door. As Dr. Glen Shultz says in his book Kingdom Education, the education of children and youth is the primary responsibility of the parents and a 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week process that continues from birth through maturity. He says many other things as well, but I think you’re seeing the point that education does not stop at the dismissal bell!

Because parents are the primary educators of their children, we see the home as a vital partner in this work. What is modeled, discussed, and practiced in everyday family life powerfully reinforces what students are learning at school. For that reason, in the weeks ahead, we will begin sharing short blog posts designed specifically for parents.

Each post will focus on one intellectual virtue at a time and will include:

• A brief explanation of the virtue in everyday language
• Why it matters in the life of a child
• One simple, practical way to encourage it at home
• A conversation starter you can use with your child
• A short Scripture connection

These reflections are not meant to add pressure or create another “to-do list” for families. You do not need to be an expert, and you certainly do not need to turn your home into a classroom. In fact, the most powerful way children learn intellectual virtues is by watching adults practice them—admitting when we don’t know, listening before responding, slowing down our thinking, and showing a genuine love for truth.

Our hope is that these posts will serve as gentle encouragements—small tools that help align what we are forming at school with what is being nurtured at home. We don’t expect perfection—only partnership.

We are grateful for the trust you place in Warner Christian Academy and for the privilege of walking alongside your family in the formation of students who are Christlike in character and intellectually virtuous, ready to pursue Truth, lead with wisdom, and impact their communities for God’s glory.

Thanks again for everything! Looking forward to hearing any stories of “around the table” conversations about intellectual virtues!

Soli Deo Gloria