“At five, a joyful child is ready for school, and he has a distinct advantage. Human brains run best on joy... If school leaders want students to succeed academically and mature as God intended, they must be ambassadors of joy.” In a time when anxiety and performance pressure dominate classrooms, joy is not a luxury—it’s essential. If we want to raise resilient, curious, and whole-hearted learners, we must reimagine the emotional and relational atmosphere of school. Three essentials for building joyful schools: Joyful Belonging: Foster classrooms where students feel emotionally safe, seen, and glad to be together. Delightful Study: Offer “worthy work” that draws students into meaningful relationship with the best ideas, people, and things. Eliminate Joy Destroyers: Avoid ability-based sorting and overly directed lectures that strip students of ownership and wonder. How are you cultivating joy in your classrooms? What needs to start—and what must stop? Insights from Dr. Bill St. Cyr’s article, “An Intimate Education.” 📖 Read the full article: https://ow.ly/8Kuq50W2A4m. #AmblesideSchools #AmblesideEducation #LivingEducation #CharlotteMason #EducationalRenewal (fb)

For George Washington, reading was fundamentally an act of self-construction, a means of intellectual and moral improvement. America’s first president, George Washington, was not educated formally; his two older half-brothers received their education at Appleby School in England. George’s father planned to send him to England as well. His unexpected death, however, prevented George, now 11, from receiving the same education as his brothers. Instead, George received his education by... Read Maryellen's most recent blog, "Reading and Growing": https://ow.ly/Lmiz50VZkqO. #AmblesideSchools #AmblesideEducation #LivingEducation #CharlotteMason (fb)