Elmwood Baptist Academy utilized the Accelerated Christian Education curriculum beginning in 4th grade.
“How do children learn?” The answer to this question can unlock the door to achievement for your child. Accelerated Christian Education has done considerable research on the topic of how children learn; and the results, along with other educational surveys, indicate that children:
· Have varying IQs and learn at different rates.
· Must learn specific developmental skills.
· Process information differently at different developmental levels.
· Learn best through mastery with repetition and then review.
· Vary in their abilities to learn through visual, auditory, and kinesthetic/tactile stimuli.
Accelerated Christian Education has developed a distinctive, individualized educational package that addresses these issues. Consider these five factors that so critically impact your child’s learning.
1. Since children have different IQs and learn at different rates, testing to determine each child’s knowledge and performance level is critical. Your school, when using the Accelerated Christian Education program, provides not only standardized testing but also the aceconnect®Diagnostic Test and educational prescription for your child.
2. Testing reveals whether a child has attained certain developmental skills. For instance, skills that are prerequisite to the learning-to-read process include sequencing, recognition of colors and shapes, relationships, coordination, and the ability to process some information on a subconscious level while processing other information on a conscious level. These skills are mastered in the Kindergarten with Ace and Christi program.
3. Children process information differently in varying stages of physical development. Nearly all children from preschool to puberty are able to answer the “who, what, when, and where” questions. At puberty, brain chemistry changes, and most children are able to answer “how and why” questions. Accelerated Christian Education’s core curriculum below seventh level concentrates its presentation on the “who, what, when, and where” questions, but “how and why” questions are heavily addressed at and above seventh level. These critical skills of deductive reasoning and logical thinking are necessary for your child’s college preparation as well as for his preparation for life.
4. The Accelerated Christian Education program is mastery-based. Most children need to have a concept repeated several times for mastery. Therefore, vocabulary words are introduced, repeated, and practiced before being tested. Academic concepts are presented in sequence and mastered with repetition, then review follows. Progress is controlled, and your child moves on only after demonstrating understanding and mastery of the material.
5. The Accelerated Christian Education program allows students to learn using multiple forms of stimuli. Some children like to learn best visually, others auditorily or through “hands-on” experience (kinesthetically). Although children tend to want to learn through one medium – their dominant one – they have the ability and should be encouraged to gain understanding of academic material in different ways. You will notice that your child’s PACEs incorporate color, pictures, diagrams, and other enhancements to stimulate learning. Students also have the opportunity for individual interaction by reading aloud or discussing concepts with a supervisor or a parent to assure mastery. Computer programs, such as Readmaster Plus, are especially appealing and beneficial to the “hands-on” learner.
Children learn on an individual basis, and Accelerated Christian Education meets your child’s specific educational needs. To God be the glory – great things He has done and is doing for our children!