I AM VERY CONFUSED ABOUT CHOOSING A CURRICULUM FOR MY 9TH GRADER. This would be my first year homeschooling him and i'm not sure how to get started. I'm not even sure of which questions I should ask. Please help...
I understand your confusion about choosing a curriculum. It can be very overwhelming when you first begin to homeschool. I am Connie Wollenhaupt, the Academic Director here at ABBA Homeschool Academy, and I can help you find the best curriculum for your child. Don't worry about knowing the right questions to ask, I have helped many parents choose their curriculum. We work with many first time homeschoolers here at ABBA and provide the guidance and support needed to make homeschooling as easy as possible for you. Going into High School especially can be confusing, because you want to make sure you have your child take the right classes that are required by your state and by colleges. Our Academic Advisor is an expert in this area and will help you decide which classes your high school student needs to take.
Parents choosing the ACE or Alpha Omega's SOS or LifePac
curriculums, receive the instructions for each subject in the
curriculum itself. The parent then acts as a partner in the
learning process, providing guidance in difficult areas and
supervising the student. This makes our curriculum ideal for
parents teaching more than one grade level and allows the parent
to incorporate his own creative programs and instruction. The ACE
and Alpha Omega's SOS and LifePac curriculum contains 10-12
bite-size packets of learning per subject in each grade level.
Each booklet has frequent check points (quizzes) and a review test
before the final exam. This allows the student the time and
practice to master each subject without becoming overwhelmed. For
Parents choosing any of the other curriculum choices, there are
easy-to-follow teacher's guides which will take you step-by-step
through each lesson. The teachers guides will also help you plan
your home school schedule.
No matter if your student is a high achiever, a moderate paced learner, or one in need of extra time to finish tasks, the individualized curriculum proceeds at the precise level determined by the child's skill and ability. They are free to master each concept at their own rate before moving on, thus building a solid foundation for all future learning.
Principles of character and character traits are illustrated in motivational and cartoon form throughout each booklet. Each booklet emphasises one character trait, all sixty traits are presented at each grade level, repetition from level to level reinforces each trait, activities, illustrations, and testing help the student gain insight to each trait, and cartoon characters portray biblical character traits throughout the booklets. The foundations of wisdom are also carefully laid. Beginning from the eighth level, WISDOM orientation and objectives will guide the student in a practical development of walking with God.
Is the entire year's curriculum included in the $800 tuition fee no matter the grade or the curriculum chosen?
Yes the $800 covers the entire curriculum including the Project Boxes, Living Books Sets, and Imagination Stations. All textbooks are yours to keep and all teachers manuals are the property of ABBA and are lent to the parents at no additional charge. The parents return the teacher’s manuals to ABBA at the end of that student's school year. This helps keep our tuition costs low (and allows us to be able to offer the extras such as the Project Boxes, Imagination Stations, and Living Books Sets) since we are a nonprofit academy.
So are the Project Boxes more than just paper crafts? - my son seems to be a builder.
The Project Boxes, which correlate to that quarters science lessons, include many different types of hands-on activities, some of them, for instance involve building a bird house, planting seeds, constructing an electrical current, studying polar bears and sewing a stuffed bear, etc.
We have over 70 different Project Boxes and each one contains enough activities to last approximately 3-12 weeks depending upon the subject being studied. The Project Boxes are more complex in the higher grades and are suitable for presentations at science fairs, 4-H shows, etc. You will also be able to purchase additional Project Boxes (sometimes siblings want to join in the fun also!) from us if you like. That feature will be available soon on our website!
Each Project Box contains most of the materials needed, especially if it is something that is not a usual household item. The yearly Imagination Station contains all types of craft materials needed for your child to complete craft projects of their choosing. Your child is encouraged to freely create using their own imagination.
The Imagination Stations help your child develop such skills as:1) Fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination through manipulation of organic and synthetic materials of varying sizes and types.2) Sequencing skills, which are necessary for becoming a proficient reader and for developing critical thinking skills later in the higher grades.3) Perceptual development is encouraged by giving your child sensory experiences of textures and shapes.4) Working with varied craft items helps your child understand measurements of weight, length, volume, and capacity. Any of the items in the Imagination Station may be used as a math manipulative.5) Most importantly, creating helps your child cultivate decision making, planning, sharing, cooperating, and a sense of accomplishment.
"My son has been using all ACE and is almost through with 2nd grade. (by end of Oct) - with Abba can a new year start at anytime? I mean could we enroll with you like in Nov. with 3rd grade or would we have to wait until next August? I know my son should be slowing down here soon, but so far he really catches on fast at 6 yrs old and has been getting A's in all ACE subjects so I would like if he could continue on.”
Yes, you may start a new year with ABBA at anytime. With ABBA, you are free to enroll (or re-enroll) anytime during the year and to continue on from grade to grade according to your desired timeframe. You have up to a year to complete each grade if you should need that long, or you may start a new grade as soon as you finish the current grade simply by turning in the remainder of the required work and by enrolling in the new grade. Upon completion of your current grade, we will send you your child's yearly grade report, along with the enrollment information for the next grade level. Of course, you are free to take a break between grades if you wish, and then start the next grade when you are ready. With ABBA, you set your own pace.
"Would my son have to take the diagnostic test since he has been doing ACE all along?"
No, your son would not have to take the diagnostic test since he has already been doing the ACE curriculum. The diagnostic test is beneficial for students just beginning the ACE or Life Pac curriculum to help us determine where they should be placed. Of course, you are always welcome to give your son the diagnostic test at anytime, if you should desire to do so for any reason. The diagnostic test is free (with enrollment).
”We have been doing all ACE except for math, which we are using a different curriculum for. He is doing really well in math and has used it from the beginning. In order to enroll with you would I have to switch him to ACE Math or one of the other curriculums you offer?"
No, you would not have to switch from the math curriculum you have been using. You may continue using your math curriculum as long as you like, and if you should decide to switch to one of ours, you are certainly welcome to do so. The tuition, however, remains the same.