Choosing Curriculum
At Gryffin Learning Center, we focus on the core classes 3 days a week, allowing parents to focus on electives the rest of the week. We focus on six foundational subjects: Religion, Math, History, Reading, Science, & Language Arts. We normally choose our curriculum by purchasing a variety of books, reviewing them, and then praying about which to use. We feel we have found terrific curriculum. See our 2025-2026 book list.
Language Arts
We use Christian Light curriculum for Language Arts. The curriculum focuses on spelling, reading comprehension, phonetics, and memorization. Students complete workbooks at their own pace, though teachers set goals with them on a biweekly basis. The goal is to finish 2 sets of workbooks a year until they have caught up to grade level.
History
The entire school uses the same History curriculum. We have chosen to use “The Mystery of History” Volumes 1-4. We rotate through the four textbooks, meaning that students will repeat the same material every four years, with more being required from the older students. In general, each week’s study begins with a pre-test. Then, we study three lessons a week and take a quiz at the end to evaluate progress.
Each term, students are required to select any topic of interest to them and prepare a short presentation.
This year, we are studying The Mystery of History, Volume III. This volume covers history from 1455-1707 using a Christ-centered approach.
Math
We have set up our math program to allow students to go at their own pace. We work with the students to set pacing goals – trying to complete 2 sets of workbooks a year until they are caught up, then slow down to one grade level set a year.
New students will be given a diagnostic test to determine what level they would be most successful beginning on.
Science
In science, we are moving chronologically and learning how philosophers came up with their findings based on what was happening in the time period they were living in. Our textbook this year is Science in the Scientific Revolution by Dr. Jay Wile, which is engaging and hands-on. The textbook spans 1543-1700.
We enjoy this program because of the variety of topics covered, and because of the perspective that many early philosophers were devout Christians who were studying the world around them to learn more about the nature of God.
Religion
We follow the Come Follow Me program of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for our morning religion study. We also begin and end the day in prayer.
Reading
We have chosen the Memoria Press literature schedule, and students read a collection of classic books chosen on their level. Depending on their reading level, students may read Charlotte’s Web, Heidi, Anne of Green Gables, The Magician’s Nephew, The Adventures of Robin Hood, or other carefully-chosen classic.