Perfectionism is the natural outcome of an achievement-driven culture. When students are competing against their classmates to be accepted into top colleges, they must strive to develop the perfect resume. Who has the most—the most volunteer hours, the most unique extracurricular activities, the most expertly crafted personal essay—and, thus, who is the best?  Learning ceases to be the object, replaced by the drive for achievement. And the mark of perfection is a moving target, always out of reach.   Wilson Hill student Taylor Bledsoe recently interviewed author and professor Dr ..read more

Choosing an educational model is a weighty decision, and the ever-increasing options can become overwhelming. From brick-and-mortar schools and hybrid models to homeschooling, endless avenues promise to give your child the best education. However, not all educational models are equal, nor do they share the same goals or produce the same results. Despite the perceived incongruity of an ancient educational model thriving in the 21st century, the classical Christian model has experienced a resurgence in the past 50 years. Its time-tested goals, curriculum, and instructional methods have guided st ..read more

Do you know the difference between an entomologist and an etymologist? Wilson Hill Latin and Greek students do, especially since they recently took the National Classical Etymology Exam. The National Classical Etymology Exam is a national exam that tests students on their ability to understand English vocabulary words based on their understanding of Latin and Greek. Students compete with other students across the country, and those who do well on this exam are awarded medals by the National Junior Classical League. Medals or not, understanding words well is its own reward, which is one reason ..read more

Virtue is a commonly touted aspiration of a classical education—for good reason. An education that forms virtuous students is desirable. What happens, though, when we make virtue the goal instead of a natural byproduct of the educational process? Overemphasizing virtue as a measurable outcome can become a dangerous path for classical Christian educators. If we only focus on producing outwardly moral students, we might miss a precious opportunity to impact future generations. More importantly, we risk communicating a works-based approach to morality, forgetting that “it is God who works in [us ..read more

For many, the words “classical education” bring to mind medieval images: candlelit libraries with soaring ceilings enclosing shelves full of ancient (and dusty) leather-bound volumes; strange tales of ancient wars and mythical gods; deep philosophical treatises by Plato or Aristotle; or the ruins of antiquity in Athens and Rome. With the resurgence of classical Christian schools over the past 30 to 40 years, a new generation is learning to appreciate both the beauty and the practical wisdom that arise out of these images that can be discovered through a classical education. And yet the tenets ..read more

Do your children spend all day working through their courses only to stay up late finishing schoolwork? Are too many weekends consumed with studying? And are family activities set aside to complete school projects? School at home promises more freedom and time together, but for many families, the boundaries between school work and family time become increasingly blurred. You can design and implement a thoughtful homeschool plan and still find yourself supervising schoolwork around the clock. A commonly touted benefit of homeschooling is that you can integrate life and learning. However, there ..read more

Reading is a lifelong adventure in exploring new ideas, worlds and stories. Through reading, we can continue to converse with the great thinkers and writers of the past, allowing their ideas to form and shape us even today.  In a classical Christian education, books are a primary tool in helping students develop a biblical worldview and become critical thinkers and effective communicators. Students who foster a true delight in reading will enjoy a lifetime of learning.  Reading well, however, is very different from simply skimming a page. It is a muscle that needs to be developed and ..read more

Years ago, when I first began teaching, my headmaster gave me some invaluable advice on teaching writing. Quoting the poet and philosopher Walter Kaufmann, he told me, “Writing is thinking in slow motion.” In other words, learning how to write is not something separate from learning how to think.  His words continue to inform my instruction today and aptly express what we emphasize across our curriculum at Wilson Hill: writing is essential for learning how to think.   The Risk of Relying on Socratic Discussion in the Classroom to Develop Critical Thinkers  My first assigned cour ..read more

One of our most precious (and important) traditions at LINK is listening to Senior Thesis presentations. Each year, Wilson Hill recognizes two students with the Scott Baker Award for Excellence in Senior Thesis, and each year those students are invited to give their presentation to the entire LINK audience. We have never been disappointed. Noteworthy is that Senior Thesis students have presented speeches only to an online audience. And yet, every time – every time – we have gathered again at LINK, and it is time for these students to make their way to the podium, they look out into a room fill ..read more

Recently, we had the privilege to sit down with Wilson Hill French teacher, Sarah Soundron, to hear about her lifelong love of French and her eagerness to share her love for the language with her students. Sarah started speaking French when she was just ten years old. She said her mother, who studied French literature in college, taught her simple French phrases: “I think she just wanted to bring me into her French world a bit.” Sarah also enjoyed attending a weekly French class in grammar school. “Between my mom and this little French class, I was pretty well hooked,” she said.  But whil ..read more