SYDNEY CHRISTIAN COLLEGE

The ACE Curriculum
On the surface, most schools look alike - buildings, personnel, curriculum, and budgets. The ACE program is different. For over 40 years, it has been the trendsetter in Biblical educational reform. Its philosophy is built on basic principles of the Word of God. Students are taught to see life from God’s point of view, to take responsibility for their own learning, and to walk in Godly wisdom and character. Accelerated Christian Education® is not just a publisher but a comprehensive Bible-based program that serves both the campus-based school and the home school.

What is a PACE?
Accelerated Christian Education® has taken the conventionally styled textbook and divided it into bite-sized, achievable, worktexts called PACEs. Each PACE is similar to a unit in a textbook. Each level consists of 12 PACEs in each subject. PACEs integrate Godly character-building lessons into the academic content, and self-instructional activities are carefully designed to develop thinking skills and create mastery learning.

Students begin their PACE work by noting their goals, the concepts they will learn, a Bible verse, and a corresponding character trait. From the beginning of each PACE, they know what is expected and assume the responsibility for their own learning!

Throughout the curriculum the introduction of new vocabulary words is computer controlled so that no new vocabulary word is used without the student first learning its meaning and pronunciation. Also, these words are repeated a certain number of times to ensure mastery.

Full-colour explanations and illustrations add excitement to each lesson, and innovative learning activities reinforce the interesting text material.

Each PACE contains several Checkups, which are quizzes covering a section of the PACE. If mastery in an area is not achieved, the Checkup will reveal that weak area. Students can then take the time necessary to review and learn those concepts before proceeding to the next.

Upon completion of the activities and Checkups, students prepare to take the Self Test. Here students evaluate themselves, and a supervisor/tutor determines readiness for the final PACE Test. When the Self Test is successfully completed, the student turns in the PACE and takes the PACE Test the next school morning. The PACE Test objectively measures student mastery of the material.

Since 1970, ACE PACEs have proven to be effective tools for goal setting and for achieving academic excellence.

Biblical Character Based Education
At ACE, our purpose in providing educational materials goes beyond simply helping students learn the academics required to enter college or get a good job. We desire to build in students a life-long burning passion to learn and grow spiritually. It is one thing to want children to be successful and quite another to provide the academic and character training to ensure this accomplishment.

Character Development
Godly character training is part of the ACE learning experience, and it prepares students to welcome and accept challenges and future opportunities. Sixty character traits, such as kindness, loyalty, and honesty, are taught within the curriculum. Students can observe character development in the true-to-life character strips and then apply the Godly character lessons to their own lives.

Scriptural Foundation
Challenging and highly effective, the ACE program is an extraordinary educational approach, Biblical in its core, that prepares students for tomorrow’s world while giving them traditional moral values that will last a lifetime.

The curriculum conveys Biblical values and concepts considered foundational to meaningful interpersonal relationships and productive learning in such a way as to become life-shaping influences.

Accelerated Christian Education - a unique program for this time in history - is building Godly citizens and Christian leaders of tomorrow. ACE is your servant to meet the educational needs of today, with the traditional values of yesterday, and the technology of tomorrow.

With ACE’s concept of individualized learning, students don’t just get by - they get ahead! To God be the glory!

Individualised
In the 1960s, many students were not performing at their grade levels. This fact compelled many to question the very structure of the conventional educational system. With the Lord’s guidance, ACE addressed these concerns and designed a Biblically based educational program geared to meet the learning needs of individual children. This unique program consists of mastery-based curriculum and materials that are self-instructional, character building, and individually prescribed.

Whether the student is a high achiever, a moderately paced learner, or a slow learner, the ACE educational process begins at the exact level determined by the child’s ability. This is individualization, making it possible for each student to master the subject matter before moving on. Such mastery is the foundation upon which all future learning is built.

Today, 200 staff members provide training services, curriculum, and materials for an international network of 6,000 schools and thousands of home educators in 128 countries.

Five Laws of Learning - The educational concept of ACE was built on five basic laws of learning:
• Students must be at subject levels where they can perform.
• Students must set reasonable goals.
• Students must be controlled and motivated.
• Learning must be measurable.
• Learning must be rewarded.

Diagnosis and Prescription
Are your students really mastering basic Maths, English, Social studies, Science, and Spelling skills? Could there be some learning gaps that have not been identified? ACE diagnostic testing begins with simple concepts and continues through more advanced abstract thinking. Successful completion of this diagnostic testing indicates readiness for high school level curriculum.

A doctor must diagnose a patient’s physical needs before prescribing proper treatment. In much the same way, a student’s academic needs must be diagnosed before proper curriculum can be prescribed. Proper academic diagnosis and prescription is vital to a student’s achievement.

Each student entering the ACE program is given diagnostic tests to determine skill and concept mastery. The diagnostic tests assist the evaluator in determining the student’s academic needs in each subject. After the student completes the diagnostic testing, he is given curriculum that meets and challenges him at his performance level.

Diagnostic placement testing ensures that students begin at the exact point of their academic needs. Additionally, diagnostic testing determines if there are any learning gaps. Students can simply fill in the learning gaps without the stigma of failing a grade or falling behind.

Five academic areas are tested: Maths, English, Social Studies, Science, and Spelling. These tests cover basic skills normally mastered before high school.

If weak areas are evident from the testing, the appropriate gap PACEs are prescribed to strengthen specific weaknesses. After completing the gap PACEs, the student progresses at his performance level. If he demonstrates mastery at all levels of testing, he has the ability to function at his chronological grade level in the high school curriculum.

Mastery-Based Academic Excellence
Individualization helps produce academic excellence. Students using the ACE program continue to demonstrate above-average achievement. One reason is that they take responsibility for their own learning. Additionally, they receive character training in Biblical principles. Moreover, students using the ACE program go on to higher education and into ministry and professional pursuits with confidence and a superb educational background.

Professional Expertise
The ACE individualized curriculum has been carefully compiled to introduce children to concrete and abstract reasoning skills at appropriate age levels. ACE’s experienced writers and editors have meticulously chosen grade level vocabulary and concepts that move in a mastery-based format from simple to complex and from concrete to abstract.

Three Levels of Learning
The Accelerated Christian Education staff wants children to be successful. But, more than this, ACE provides the tools for training children so they can have the opportunity to be productive. The life of each child is too precious to be left to chance. Consequently, ACE has invested millions of dollars developing a curriculum that can equip children so they will know how to think, act, and live.

ACE’s individualized program introduces children to concrete and abstract reasoning skills at appropriate age levels in conjunction with maturation stages. Writers and editors have carefully developed a scope and sequence with vocabulary that moves from simple to complex and from concrete to abstract as students progress from kindergarten through graduation. This Christian curriculum is structured to include all three levels of the learning process: knowledge, understanding, and wisdom.

Knowledge - Before adolescence, children focus on each new concept from a mastery viewpoint - line upon line, precept upon precept; focus is on the who, what, where, and when of information. Educators refer to this information as the knowledge dimension. However, there is development from this stage of learning to cognitive learning.

Understanding - With adolescence, students concentrate on concepts that expand to the abstract or cognitive level; the focus is on why and how. This is referred to as the understanding dimension of life. Students learn not only facts (knowledge) but also how those facts relate to culture, science, and history (understanding).

Wisdom - Another, and perhaps the chief distinctive of the ACE curriculum, is its focus on wisdom. Most curriculum publishers focus on knowledge - facts and information, and some publishers include understanding - relationship of information. The ACE curriculum is distinctive in its inclusion of wisdom as a deliberate aspect of the learning process.

The ACE curriculum is set apart from all other curricula on the market. The special combination of academics and methodology, based on physiological development patterns and Biblical principles, provides mastery learning, critical analysis, conceptualization, cognitive reasoning, and life from God’s perspective. These differences make ACE the most advanced educational package available anywhere in the world.

The ACE staff recognizes that the program and curriculum is God-given. We praise Him for His blessings in meeting the needs of our children one child at a time.

Multimedia and Computer Technology
ACE understands the importance of computer technology in training students. The same self-instructional, mastery-based philosophy of our curriculum applies to technology training. Students generate excitement when they actively participate in their education through computer-based learning. ACE offers computer-based learning through online diagnostic testing, Readmaster Plus, video and DVD courses, and aceconnect Technology Training.

Online Diagnostic Tests
The ACE program offers entering students free online diagnostic testing to determine skill and concept mastery. The online diagnostic tests evaluate students, provide immediate scoring, and correlate skills with the scope and sequence for accurate placement in the curriculum.

Readmaster Plus
Readmaster Plus is an educational software suite that enhances students’ educational experiences while challenging their learning. Readmaster Plus offers four distinct computer software programs. Readmaster offers computerized reading programs for all levels to improve reading rate and comprehension. Typemaster teaches computer keyboard skills. Math Builder provides computerized drill and practice in math concepts. Word Builder expands vocabulary skills by challenging the student to evaluate word meanings and spellings. Students are encouraged because they see and experience tangible results.

Technology Training
Computer skills are necessary in today’s world, whether preparing for college or the workplace. To meet this challenge,ACE offers aceconnect Technology Training. Students access interactive virtual instruction that enhances and extends the teaching environment. Learning opportunities include Microsoft Windows and Macintosh operating systems and Microsoft Office productivity software. Students have access to the courses anywhere at anytime allowing free access to Brainbench exams. Technology Training also offers training in Adobe Creative Suite 3 software. Students learn vital skills in digital art and graphic design. Technology Training also offers Rosetta Stone foreign language curriculum. The Dynamic Immersion method takes students inside the new language from the very beginning. Students learn to speak, write, and understand faster than ever before.

ACE continues to provide high-quality multimedia and computer technology to challenge and excite students for enhanced learning.

DVD and Video Support
Video and DVD courses help high-school students visualize the concepts found in their PACEs with personalized instruction, visual and auditory stimulation, character illustrations, and lab experiments.

Parental Involvement
We are committed to the parent as well as the student. We believe that a successful education of a child begins with the parent !

Training and Convention Workshop
Leadership Training is a key element to the success of the ACE program. Training sessions are conducted offering instruction in Biblical educational philosophy, administration guidelines, and school operation using ACE’s innovative curriculum and methods. You will appreciate that ACE has already done the work for you, from designing the program to designing the Learning Center Setup.

Administrators’ Professional Training
The purpose of this week is for the pastor/administrator to obtain necessary instruction for opening and operating a school. You will also find encouragement and inspiration to meet your calling as a Christian educator. Since ACE reflects a philosophy of education dissimilar to the conventional system, you will appreciate this Leadership Training opportunity to learn the Biblical principles on which ACE is designed.

Supervisors’ Professional Training
The purpose of this training module is to give key Learning Centre staff complete training in the methods relating to ACE’s educational philosophy of individualized learning. Staff will be enlightened and engaged in a full week of intense Leadership Training.

Christian Educators’ Conventions
In-service sessions for pastors, school administrators, and school staff members provide further training in ACE’s educational methodology and philosophy. These meetings occur in over 65 locations worldwide. New educational insights provide thousands of attendees an opportunity to update professional skills and exchange ideas with other educators. Attend the workshops of your choice based on relevant topics and motivating speakers. You will be inspired to do more educationally for your students - and for our Lord Jesus Christ.

Student Opportunities for Character Development and Ministry
Student programs give Christian students opportunities to build character and learn leadership skills outside the classroom. From participating in international competitions to serving others in foreign countries, these programs offer students the opportunity to gain skills, become leaders, and help meet real needs! Go to the Student Programs page to find out more.