Publication: Mountrail County Promoter
Date: April 22, 2026
Christian Crossroads Academy hosted a workshop on April 14 in Stanley, offering parents a practical look at what classical Christian education looks like in the classroom.
The workshop followed a March 26 Information Night, where many parents expressed interest in the philosophy of classical education but wanted to better understand how it works day to day, especially for elementary-age students.
Leading the workshop was veteran educator Jim Langager, who has more than thirty years of teaching experience in both classical and traditional Christian schools. Jim has taught in several states including North Dakota, most recently serving at a classical academy in Minnesota.
Jim began the evening by sharing his personal journey into education. He described how, as a child, he experienced gaps in his own schooling during a time when experimental teaching methods replaced structured learning. That experience left him struggling academically for several years and later shaped his desire to find more effective ways to teach students.
He explained that classical Christian education is built around stages of learning that align with a child’s natural development.
In kindergarten through fifth grade, students focus on building a strong foundation of knowledge through memorization. Since young children are naturally wired to enjoy repetition, classical classrooms use songs, chants, rhymes, movement, drama, and recitation to help students retain information. Jim demonstrated how facts can be learned by putting them into simple songs, allowing students to learn while staying engaged and having fun in the process.
Middle schoolers begin to question, argue, and analyze as they try to make sense of their world. Jim noted that the tendency of middle school students to argue is actually a sign of growth. “In classical education, we encourage that,” he explained. “That’s where deeper thinking begins.”
As students enter their high school years, they learn to communicate their ideas through writing and speaking clearly. By this point, they are able to debate, to present, and defend their ideas in a thoughtful and articulate way.
Throughout the evening, Jim emphasized that classical education is not simply about academics, but about forming the whole student. He described classrooms as structured, interactive, and relationship-focused environments where students are encouraged to grow both intellectually and spiritually.
“A classical classroom is nurturing, organized, and purposeful,” he said, adding that students are valued as individuals created in God’s image, each with unique gifts and abilities.
He highlighted the strong cooperation between school and home, noting that parents play a key role in reinforcing what is taught in the classroom. “It’s a partnership,” Jim said. “The school, the home, and the church all work together.”
Classical education tends to be very hands-on, utilizing materials such as math manipulatives and incorporating projects such as building models, doing science experiments, engaging in dramatic presentations, and participating in community service projects.
Christian Crossroads Academy is located at the intersection of Highways 2 and 8 in Stanley, and is now enrolling elementary-age students for Fall 2026.