A Gramma’s Perspective: An invitation for You on My Classical Christian Education Journey
Our culture is at a crossroads, isn’t it? That’s one of the reasons that parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and community leaders are flocking to learn about this fast-grow trend in educational choice, Classical Christian education. I’m inviting you to join me in my learning process. How might students get both academic excellence and a strong moral foundation? How might their education align with your values? How might they learn to think critically in a world driven 24/7/365 by AI and digital messengers?
As a mom of 4 millennial children and gramma of 6 grandchildren, I know how desperately you want the best for those in your care — not just in school, but in their hearts and lives. A strong start in kindergarten, 1st grade, and 2nd grade sets the stage for a lifetime of learning and faith. Actually, every grade is important.
In my learning journey, I’m thankful for the help and inspiration we’ve received from Brandon Strong, Executive Director at Barry County Christian School (BCCS) in Michigan. Here are some ideas on their website that encourage and challenge me. I hope they do the same for you, as we learn together.
Contemplating Classical Christian Education
What is a classical Christian way of learning? This kind of education has been around for hundreds of years and helped shape many wise and strong leaders. Classical Christian education is more than learning facts. It helps children grow in mind, heart, and spirit. It teaches them how to think clearly, speak wisely, and love truth, goodness, and beauty. As BCCS says, it helps students know and enjoy God in everything they do.
Here’s what their website says that “Education is the Cultivation of Virtue - We teach our students to think well (Intellectual Virtues), we train them to lead (Cardinal virtues), we transform them with a love of goodness (Moral Virtues), we train them to be winsome as they write and speak with eloquence (Rhetorical virtues), we deepen their knowledge of God, history, and our world (the virtue of Wisdom) and we immerse them in a Christian view of all things.”
The website goes on to read - Education that Inspires Depth and Wisdom: Classical Christian education (CCE) is a time-tested educational system which establishes a biblical worldview (called Paideia), incorporates methods based on natural phases of student development, cultivates the seven Christian Virtues, trains student reasoning through the Trivium (Grammar, Logic, and Rhetoric), and interacts with the historical Great Books.”
Here are three main stages in classical education:
Grammar Stage (Kindergarten–5th Grade): Children love to memorize songs, poems, and facts. We help them learn through fun repetition and joyful discovery.
Logic Stage (Middle School): Students start to ask questions and think about why things happen. They learn how to reason and understand ideas deeply.
Rhetoric Stage (High School): Older students learn to share their thoughts clearly and with confidence, both in speaking and writing.
Our school, CCA, is starting with the Grammar Stage — the perfect time to build a strong foundation. Shaping the whole person with Christ-centered education
What makes classical Christian education special is that Jesus is at the center of everything we do. Every subject points back to Him. We don’t believe learning is separate from faith — it all fits together.
In math, reading, music, and even science, our students will see God’s truth, beauty, and order. We want them to know they live in a world made by God and filled with His goodness. We want them to experience God’s goodness spiritually, relationally, physically, motivationally, and intellectually.
Our teachers will be people who love Jesus and want to help your child grow in faith and character. We believe teaching is more than a job — it’s a calling.
BCCS’s website says it this way - We Use a Biblical Framework to Understand Everything: This is more than adding a Bible verse to the curriculum. When history, science, math, philosophy, art, and other subjects are integrated around the truth that God is the Creator of all that exists. Therefore, all knowledge is interrelated and points back to Him. Theology is the queen of the sciences, with all subjects understood through the revealed Word of God and natural/human history and philosophy.
Considering Great Books, Arts and Stories
Here’s what BCCS’s website says about – We Consider Great Books, Arts, and Stories: “Students engage great books and art containing rich stories that shape both the soul, literary understanding, and moral imagination. A rich and nuanced command of language plays an unsung role in understanding God’s Word, and in understanding our fellow man.
A thorough immersion in the study of history using original sources helps students step outside their own times and places and consider the world from very different vantage points. Going ad fontes, to the source in Latin, means we read original sources and avoid textbooks for history and literature.”
Building Servant Leaders of High Character
At CCA, we want our students to become wise and kind people. That means we teach more than reading and math — we help shape their hearts.
We want our students to be humble, brave, hardworking, thankful, and loving. These are the kinds of character traits that last a lifetime.
Our school days will include prayer, reading the Bible, singing worship songs, and learning to serve others. These are not just “extra” things — they are a big part of how we help students grow.
On the BCCS website, it states - Having a Moral Imagination reads: “Our ideas of right and wrong are shaped by stories, images, and memories, not merely by a list of rules. Instead of evaluating human actions by constantly comparing them to our list of dos and don’ts, we go faster to a group of images and stories which we think of as good, wholesome, beautiful, or else bad, rotten, ugly. Instead of a list of individual taboos, or “thou-shalt-nots,” the moral imagination sees bigger- picture goodness. The Bible itself uses a significant number of stories, histories, and songs of wonder.” We agree. We want our school to be a place where kids love to learn.
Partnering with Parents to Inspire Life- Long Learning
We believe that parents are the most important teachers in a child’s life. At CCA, we will work closely with families. We want to support you as you raise your child in faith and wisdom. We nurture students in 5Gs: grit, gratitude, generosity, genuineness, grace.
Our school will be a community — families and teachers working together, sharing values and helping children grow in truth and love. You’re not just joining a school — you’re joining a team.
Starting Strong in Kindergarten, 1 st and Beyond
We’re starting small — with kindergarten and 1st grade (and maybe 2nd). Why? Because the early years matter most.
Young children are full of wonder, energy, and a desire to learn. These years shape their minds and hearts. We want to start strong, laying the best foundation for their future.
Our classrooms will be full of books, songs, stories, nature walks, and hands-on fun. We’ll give your child a full and joyful start to their learning journey.
Forming Faithful Kids for a Culture at the Crossroads
At Christian Crossroads Academy, we are not just starting a school — we are planting seeds for the future. We are raising up children who will know God, love others, and stand firm in truth. They will be a positive influence in a cultural that’s at a crossroads. They will be amazing K.I.N.D. – Kids in North Dakota.
We believe that your children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and neighbors can thrive with both academic excellence and a strong moral foundation. That their education would align with your values. That they will learn to think critically in a world driven 24/7/365 by AI and digital messengers.
We’re thankful for the schools like Barry County Christian that have gone before us. And we’re excited to begin this journey in our community.
If you have a preschool-aged child, we’d love to invite you to connect. Ask questions. Pray with us. Join us as we build something beautiful for the glory of God and the good of our children.
Danita Bye
Executive Leadership Advisor
Millennials Matter: Building Your Next-Gen Leader (Author)
Millennial Minute on YouTube (Speaker)
www.DanitaBye.com
C: 701-621-2331
E: danita@DanitaBye.com