EverRoot Academy

Are you curious about a learning journey centered around empowerment, inquiry, and community?
What would it look like for your child to explore their potential as global citizens and change-makers?

Join our virtual information session to hear the language, see an example day in the life of an EverRoot student, and come ask questions!

Link will be posted via social media on the day of and our website: www.everrootacademy.com/contact under "upcoming events"

Tomorrow morning! February 21st!

Crestview Library's Quiet Cafe
10:00am-12:00pm

I'll be there with free resources (scavenger hunts, take-home game lists, and more) and ready answers for anyone who is curious about what child-centric, flexible learning could look like. Come spend a rainy morning exploring the library and enjoy exploring how your child's potential could manifest itself through EverRoot Academy.

EverRoot Academy | Empower Learning Today—Join Us Now Discover flexible, learner-centered K-8 education options at EverRoot Academy in Crestview, Florida. Experience accessible virtual learning and community-focused programs.

Projects at EverRoot will incorporate age-appropriate skills with an empowerment through inquiry lens.

During Black History Month, a 2nd-4th multi-age group may choose to tackle comparing the language used and perimeters of Black-only spaces during segregation.
A 5th-6th group may calculate votes under the three-fifths compromise or compare the wealth that a variety of pre-colonial African empires garnered using fractions and decimals while exploring characterization in epic poetry that came out of oral tradition.
A 7th-8th group may conduct a book club using Tristan Strong, Amari and the Night Brothers, and Black Panther to discuss Fantasy versus Afro-Futurism and explore the ratios of myth references to imagine what the rules may be for classifying the genres.

Such investigations would tackle Florida BEST and Common Core standards, but in rich ways that invite questions into our daily discussions like: Why was this created? How did people respond to this in the day/age that is relevant? How do we feel about it now? Has that changed? Do we see realities like what we are studying in our world today? How do we feel about that? Is it right or should it change? If not, how did we get here? If so, what now?

Image courtesy of jocolibrary.com

Ramadan Mubarak!

By designing our learning for neurodivergent and transient learners, we open doors for many kinds of learners.

A great example of how these systems increase access is through religious practice.
Students practicing Eastern Orthodoxy or Catholicism will undergo Lent.
Students who are Hindu, Jewish, and Bahai faiths may follow specific dietary restrictions and prayer schedules.

Ramadan is a season of fasting.

I remember teaching in public school, and watching my students enter Ramadan not only go without food and water while still being held to the same academic and physical (if in sports) expectations as their peers, but additionally endure insensitive judgments around their commitment to their faith.

Our flexible learning with a focus on holding high expectations for celebrating and uplifting others in their lifestyles and cultures and power will build in space for students who are fasting, changing lifestyles through a variety of seasons, and attending more frequent ceremonies in their given traditions to continue to learn at a pace that fits them as well as share the depth of who they are and why their choices are important to the world with their fellow learners.

At EverRoot, children are given a safe space to take risks and build confidence in navigating complex realities, fostering their ability to create better worlds.

This is achieved through play, debates, book clubs, and Socratic discussions rooted in respect, patience, compassion, accountability, and celebration.

Opportunities for children to authentically interact with the world and explore their potential to influence it are dwindling, with recess reduced to 15 minutes a day, children being told that their opinions on current events have no place in their education, and limited chances to engage with peers or challenging content without adult direction on exactly what they should say or think.

As an administrator in a school safety training a few years ago, nearly every leader expressed fears for children's safety and well-being. While protecting children is crucial, it's perhaps even more important to teach them to protect themselves. Structured, safe risk-taking is vital for building a child's ability to move independently through the world and know that they can overcome challenges, and EverRoot is committed to this mission - empowering our children to manifest the world they want to thrive in.

Reserve your spot to come ask me questions in person at Crestview Library this Saturday! www.everrootacademy.com/contact > Upcoming Events > RSVP or shoot me a DM!

Starting Black history with slavery, as many text books do, is a form of unjust erasure.
The amazing contributions of Black civilizations around the world long before the violence of enslavement and since represents

If you are an educator, or teaching your child from home, please take a moment to read this Edutopia article on teaching Black brilliance, not just bo***ge:
https://www.edutopia.org/article/teaching-black-history-beyond-bo***ge-all-year-long/

This exact paradigm and priority is why I created a Black History board game template, in which older learners research a pre-colonial African civilization - their customs, values, currency, contributions to the world - and then manifest those into a board game using mathematical concepts.

Authentic learning should be accurate, meaningful, and fun at the same time.

Just found out about this beautiful event in Niceville! Only a few tickets left! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/culinary-roots-a-black-history-celebration-tickets-1980872104789?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Looking for more information? We have so many ways to connect!

📚️ Come see us at Crestview Public Library February 21st: 10:00am-12:00pm
💻️ Attend a live virtual session from home on February 25th from 7-7:30pm, March 4th from 12:00pm-12:30pm, or March 26th from 8:00pm-8:30pm
🦋 Come grab our fliers and materials at the resources table at Eden Expo in Fort Walton Beach on February 28th
☕️ Come grab coffee and chat with us at Cafe Bienville in Niceville March 6th: 9:30am-11:00am

Walk-ins are welcome OR save your spot to chat using the links under "upcoming events" at www.everrootacademy.com/contact

Can't make any of the above events? Email us at [email protected] to find a good time to meet!

Community garden plot is going up, slowly but surely! For our students who reside or move to the Florida Panhandle area, this plot will belong to them 😊 I can't wait to see how they grow!