educators

Explore our transformational education blog and educator resources, offering practical strategies, insights, and tools to empower educators in creating personalized, mastery-based learning environments that inspire students to reach their full potential.

Teaching to Standards, Not Curriculum

One of the most common and frustrating exchanges between parents and children happens right after school. Parents ask, “how was your day?,” to which the child responds, “good.” You try again. “What did you learn?” The answer, “I don’t remember.” Maybe they were bored. Maybe they are distracted. Or maybe we are asking the wrong questions.

Asking “How was your day?” is a bit like asking a runner, “How was your run?” The word good can mean a dozen different things depending on the purpose. If I was running to avoid getting hit by a car and succeeded, good run. If I was running a race and finished, good run. If I ran a marathon and achieved my personal best pace, good run. In each case, the word good only makes sense when measured against a specific standard. The same is true for education. A “good day” or a “good education” depends on what standards define good.

The Curriculum Trap

As a school administrator, I often meet parents who ask, “What curriculum do you use?” It’s a fair question, but not the best one. A great curriculum is a resource, but it’s not the measure of quality. If teachers simply “teach the curriculum,” what are they teaching to? Is success defined by finishing the workbook or by mastering the skills and concepts students need at that stage of development?...

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Have you ever felt that deep, undeniable sense that something is just right, or undeniably wrong? Loving others or hurting them, telling the truth or lying, being loyal or betraying trust? Have you ever stopped to ask yourself how we know what ought to be? Where does our sense of right and wrong really come from?

Scholars have given names to this kind of thinking. Our innate sense of right and wrong is called morality. The rules and principles that help keep us on that moral path are called ethics. And the practice of consistently doing what’s right, guided by those ethics, is called virtue.

But where do these morals come from? Are we born with them? Do our parents teach them to us; and if so, where did they learn them? Some say morality is what society agrees on; but history tells us otherwise. For centuries, societies accepted things we now know are wrong (slavery, cruel punishments, women as property, ignoring the poor). These failures show that society can, and often does, get it wrong.

If culture is not a reliable guide, whose standard should we follow? Is there a better way? What if there were a guide that stands above time and culture, a guide that not only explains why we have this moral compass, but offers clear, consistent truth to help us become a more virtuous people? You are not alone in asking that question. Since the beginning of time, people have longed to know what is right and how to live it out. For many who seek answers, the Bible becomes that guide. For thousands of years, it has shaped justice, human rights, and compassion. Unlike opinions that shift with each generation, the Bible’s moral truths have remained steady, even when culture drifts. Its teachings have influenced laws, ethics, and values across the world. Many who do not believe in God acknowledge the Bible’s historical reliability and accept its moral framework as foundational to right and wrong.

So, the next time you feel something is right or wrong, ask yourself, by whose standard? The shifting opinions of society or a timeless truth that calls us to justice, mercy, and dignity? The Bible meets the deepest longings of the human heart. It reveals who we are, why we exist, and how we are meant to live. In a world that constantly changes what it believes and how it behaves, the Bible remains the only standard strong enough to stand.

Want to explore these ideas further and form your own convictions?

These classic works invite you to wrestle with the foundations of morality, truth, and virtue:

• Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis – A clear, compelling case for the existence of a moral law and the God behind it.

• The Abolition of Man by C.S. Lewis – A powerful critique of moral relativism and defense of objective values.

• After Virtue by Alasdair MacIntyre – A deeper look at how modern ethics became unmoored and why virtue matters.

Each offers a unique lens to help you think critically, honestly, and courageously about right, wrong, and the standard behind both.

This reflection offers an honest look at my years in education, sharing personal moments of enlightenment amidst the harsh realities of institutional norms. Experiences, like standing in a cloud of skunk odor while being called a derogatory name, have forced many talented educators out of the field. Yet, even in those moments, I remained dedicated to the effort of reimagining our education system, hoping to rescue the intelligent minds seemingly lost in mediocrity. It considers how technological advancements, and societal changes have transformed the world, while our education system has stagnated, failing to meet the needs of modern learners. It calls on educators not only to reimagine but to actively create an environment where curiosity thrives and the whole child is nurtured. 

Intelligent Children Lost in Mediocrity 

Whether you are a home educator or a classroom teacher looking to support families in their faith journey, this two-page resource provides a simple and practical introduction to Bible reading and prayer. It includes an overview of the Bible, strategies for navigating Scripture, guidance on what to read in different life situations, and accessible ways to approach prayer. This guide is designed to help families confidently engage with God’s Word and develop meaningful spiritual habits at home. 

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A Family Guide to Reading the Bible

A simplified overview of the Bible to encourage reading and prayer. 

Before delving further into child development, we must first consider how a person is able to learn. The brain is intricately and divinely designed, making it the most complex organ in the human body. It not only sustains life but also enables us to embrace a lifelong love of learning. At a minimum, it is essential to understand the basic functions of each section of the brain and their expected periods of development. This foundational information provides a glimpse into the intricacies of God’s design for learning and development. His design reveals predictable patterns yet allows for vast individuality. This guide explores the implications of brain development on the ages and stages of child development while offering an analogy to the growth of a tree to enhance relevance and understanding. 

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Child Development: Ages & Stages

An overview of developmentally typical milestones and behaviors by age. 

Remember the bliss of the first smile, the excitement of the first step, and the satisfaction of the first word. Remember lining the couch with pillows to protect them from falling off as they confidently explored rolling and sitting up. Remember as they began speaking their words so quickly turned into the nagging of “why” and “how.”  Whether it was your child or one close to you, it is likely you have experienced, or heard of, the pure joy created by these moments. These milestones weren’t lectured or tested by a standardized method.  They weren’t taught to every child at the same time or in the same way.  Instead, the child observed the behavior and was guided by a trusted mentor. With patience and encouragement, they ultimately mastered the feat naturally and at their own pace. This is education in its simplest form. Mastery through observation and guidance, according to the readiness of the child. Simply executed, Mastery-based Learning should follow three basic steps: Observation, Guidance, and Mastery. 

Observation: The process begins with students watching and engaging with a skill or concept, either individually or as part of a group. This allows them to familiarize themselves with the concepts before attempting it on their own.

Guidance: Once the students have observed the skill, they transition to practicing it under the guidance of the educator. During this phase, students work (preferably hands-on with the material), asking questions and receiving feedback as needed to build their understanding. During this phase, it is best if students have tools and resources to self-correct. 

Demonstration of Mastery: Mastery is achieved when a student can independently and consistently perform the skill or demonstrate the concept. To confirm mastery, educators can have students both explain the process and teach it to someone else. The ability to clearly communicate and accurately replicate the skill is a strong indicator that they have reached mastery. Assessments can also be utilized during this phase: 

Formative Assessments: These ongoing evaluations include:

• • • Verbal Explanation: Ask students to explain the concept in their own words to gauge comprehension.

    • Practical Demonstration: Observing students as they apply the skill in real time, allowing for feedback and adjustment.

    • Written Work: Short, informal reflections, quizzes, or problem-solving exercises to check understanding during the learning process.

    • Peer Teaching: Having students explain or demonstrate the skill to peers, reinforces learning while providing another checkpoint for understanding.

Summative Assessments: These assessments are more formal and are used to evaluate mastery at the end of a learning cycle. Examples include:

• • • Comprehensive Written Assessments: Exams, essays, or detailed reports that require students to articulate their understanding of the concept.

    • Final Project-Based Evaluation: Assigning a real-world project that integrates the skill, allowing students to apply what they’ve learned in a complex and meaningful way.

    • Final Practical Demonstration: Requiring students to perform the skill or demonstrate their knowledge in a controlled, evaluative setting.

    • Performance-Based Assessment: A culminating task where students must independently complete the skill or solve a problem without guidance, simulating real-world application.

To support mastery-based learning, it is important for educators to clearly identify learning objectives and determine how success will be gauged or assessed. Rather than teaching to curriculum, mastery-based learning is best achieved by teaching to standards or objectives. See the resources below of examples and ideas on how this can be achieved as developed from preschool through eighth grade standards. 

Printable Mastery Trackers