How to Raise Ready and Willing Learners
Children are naturally curious. They reach out to touch your necklace, make a funny face when they taste carrots for the first time, and ask a million questions about how things work.
But sometimes, their confidence gets shaken. Maybe they struggle in a subject area, or they start to worry about trying new things and not being good at them. Whatever the reason, doubt can creep in if we’re not careful and intentional.
At Covenant Christian Academy, we believe every child has the potential to be a ready and willing learner. We walk alongside parents to help students embrace learning with joy, resilience, and excitement.
We do that in three ways.
1. Creating a Culture of Engagement and Exploration
As part of our classical curriculum, we focus on shaping lifelong learners who approach challenges with courage. Instead of fearing mistakes, CCA students see mistakes as opportunities to grow. Instead of waiting for someone to give them the answer, we want our students to be eager to explore and discover on their own.
We nurture that mindset through:
- Hands-on experiences, like science experiments, class presentations, and collaborative projects
- Encouraging responsible risk-taking by participating in show-and-tell, helping with a service project, trying out for a play, leading a chapel devotion, or teaching a new math concept to their peers
- Inviting students to participate in class, even if they aren’t the first to raise their hands
- Travel experiences, like the seventh-grade wilderness trip and the eighth-grade Washington D.C. visit, which offer a chance for students to grow in independence, step outside their comfort zones, and depend more fully on God
- Socratic seminars that challenge students — from youngest to oldest — to question thoughtfully, express their ideas, and engage in respectful discussion
Do you have questions?
Contact Steve Turner, Director of Admissions
We’re happy to answer questions, introduce you to students and staff, and show you around our campus. Schedule your tour or contact Steve at steve.turner@covenantchristian.net or (817) 281-4333 ext 1.
2. Providing a Feast of Learning Opportunities
At CCA, learning is like a beautifully prepared feast. Teachers carefully plan and present a banquet of ideas to spark curiosity and excitement.
- Through our classical curriculum, students are introduced to time-tested literature, great works of art, and enduring ideas that shape critical thinking and character. Well-equipped science labs, libraries, gardens, and creative spaces encourage exploration beyond textbooks, giving students the freedom to experiment and question.
- Beyond the classroom, CCA provides opportunities to grow spiritually and serve others. Students gather in chapel to reflect on biblical truths and worship together, strengthening their faith as a community. Through service projects, they live out their faith by visiting nursing homes to share music and conversation, writing notes of encouragement to first responders and veterans, packing meals for families in need, or working on mission projects that extend beyond their local community.
- Co-curricular opportunities — from athletics to fine arts — empower students to discover their unique talents, develop resilience through disciplined practice, and build lifelong friendships along the way.
“CCA opens up many opportunities for every person because you can do as much as you want whether it’s play four sports, sing in the choir, join student government, act in the musical — or even do them all,”
said Logan Leger, CCA Class of 2025.
“These opportunities allow for more connections within the CCA community and the chance to learn about some of life’s difficulties, such as finding balance, learning from mistakes, and managing stress,”
he added.
“It allows us to realize life is hard and will not come easy, which should push us to be our best selves in everything we do.”
3. Investing in Teachers Who Inspire and Guide
Because great teaching requires ongoing growth, CCA invests in professional development that equips teachers with a strong foundation in classical education and ongoing opportunities to refine their craft.
Every new teacher begins with a three-day intensive in-service that teaches biblical integration and Classical Education 101, a crash course in classical pedagogy that includes reading The Lost Tools of Learning, studying the 7 Laws of Teaching, and watching videos on leading Socratic discussions.
Then, throughout the year, teachers participate in book studies, peer observations, and one-on-one coaching sessions to sharpen their instructional techniques. Faculty regularly attend conferences and professional development meetings, and in some cases, even visit other schools to observe and learn.
As partners in education, parents and teachers model for students that pursuing wisdom is a lifelong journey — a path that helps shape your child and others into thoughtful, capable, and Christ-centered leaders.