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Everest Academy is a ministry of Everest Family Church in Hayden. We offer freedom along with quality resources, information, activities and support to those homeschooling in Alabama. We believe that the parent has the best interests of their children at heart. We believe that the parent is the first and only teacher that a child needs. In keeping with this philosophy, we wish to be a very hands-off church "cover" school and allow the parent to lead and guide their children in the direction and at the pace they feel is best suited to their children. We ask only for what the law requires while offering support along with quality resources to aid families in their efforts.

Favorite Curricula

Hey Homeschoolers! I am working on making a resource for new homeschoolers where they ask the questions and veteran homeschoolers give the answers. My goal is to provide advice, resources, and most of all to show that there is more than one way of doing things. 

Please contact me with your answer to the following question. I have already included answers that folks sent me on Facebook. Please let me know if you do not want me to include your name in the posting. Please give as much info as possible including links, details, explanations, etc... I will add your answers to this page so that new homeschoolers will have a resource to refer back to again and again.

You can contact me at everestacademy1@gmail.com with your questions and answers.  Please put "Blog Challenge" in the subject line.  

Thanks!
Deb Spradlin
Everest Academy Administrator

Question:  What is your favorite curricula?  Why?  

Answers:
  • Shurley Grammar is one of the few true "Skill Building" grammar curricula. Whatever grade level you choose, it starts at the foundation and builds on it. A seven year old can easily diagram colorful sentences within weeks. A highschool student who has struggled with grammar can fill in the holes and have a strong foundation within a year. The kids love it and if you simply do as the book says, your children will learn grammar, no matter how 'bad' you are at it. Shurley Grammar teaches an internal dialogue that your children will use to deconstruct any sentence. It gives them confidence in their ability and takes the stress out of parts of speech. It also teaches editing skills, which is greatly needed in higher education, as well as vocabulary, literary terms and excellent writing skills.
  • The Well-Trained Mind and other material written by them - It's easy to use, focused, and plays to my "less-is- more" philosophy.
  • Teaching Textbooks - I'm not real strong in math and as my kids grow in their math skills this is a program that they can do pretty much on their own. It is a book and a CD. If the child needs more instruction than the book offers then they can use the CD which will teach the lesson, and will even work each problem in the book if they need help with working the problems.
  • Switched on Schoolhouse - For my older children who can be given direction and allowed to go at their own pace with just followup and review....it allows me more time to spend with my special needs kiddos.  The tutor on the program is very thorough and my kids like it.  It is very portable when we are in Dr's offices and etc. Headphones and you are set.
  • The Story of the World:  History for the Classical Child - I can get my son to read it, and I don't mind reading it either. We only have the text "Volume 2: The Middle Ages - From the Fall of Rome to the Rise of the Renaissance," but I've been looking at buying the accompanying activity book and test book. This book covers history that is left out of public schools - and it is interesting and easy to read. I've found that materials that interject humor and adventure to be a much better choice than the much drier, traditional texts. This book begins with:  "What if you owned a magic carpet? You could fly around the world--and back in time..."  Andab then proceeds to "fly" all over Europe and Asia during different times in the middle ages to see what can be seen. It includes literature (e.g. an abridged version of Beowulf), legends, folklore, etc., and, as a result, is very engaging.  I'm going to check into all of Susan Wise Bauer's "classical child" materials.
  • Story of the World - Amazing history resource (especially the activity books) using real literature and real books as a basis for teaching. Projects lend to the overall understanding and comprehension of topics. Love using this in connection with The Well-Trained Mind.
  • ABeCeDarian by Michael Bend - It teaches beginning writing, reading, and spelling all in one workbook. No extra papers needed. Super simple approach that children who have trouble reading and/or seeing can use with ease. You must go to the ABeCeDarian website to get it. The website has sample pages.
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