Abstract: To prepare our youngest students for a classical Christian education, schools must help parents reclaim childhood. Classical educators must also deepen their knowledge and understanding of early childhood development if they are to equip students to flourish in a classical Christian Education.
Our portraits of our future graduates can only be realized if we first build a firm foundation of developmental achievement. There is no vibrant Socratic discussion of deeply understood literature, well ordered persuasive writing, or logical and winsome speaking without mastery of phonics leading to reading fluidity and comprehension or physical play and development leading to fine motor skills, writing, and ordered thoughts. A student with weak reading skills and technology eroded attention is unlikely to persevere through The Odyssey, let alone delight in the learning process. SCL’s recently adopted definition of classical Christian education: “…ordered exploration…the True, the Good, and the Beautiful…affections and habits of lifelong learning” are all things that children should form early in life. Yet many children spend more time on screens than building language, physical ability, or knowledge of the world around them. Classical Christian education must understand the critical impact of the earliest childhood stages on the probability of long-term success. In this session, we will explore child development in order to equip teachers and administrators to prepare young students for the beauty of a classical education. We will also discuss how to implement a Kindergarten preparatory program that will strengthen the development and knowledge of young learners and help them fully participate in the rich education your school strives to provide.
Athena Oden earned her degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Texas Medical Branch and has spent the past 35 years in pediatrics. She is the owner and operator of Ready Bodies, Learning Minds and consults with public and private schools and non-profit organizations for children. Athena has presented at the local, state, national, and international level on topics dealing with the neurological and physiological development of the child in the classroom. As author of Ready Bodies, Learning Minds: Cultivating the Complete Child, she hopes to help children and schools perform at their peak. Athena has a passion for classical education, old musty books, and a good cup of tea. Athena and her husband David classically homeschooled their three children and live in the beautiful Texas Hill Country, where she currently serves on the board of Gloria Deo Academy.
