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! Full-color 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.
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Reviews are solely the opinions of the contributor.
Cons: 1) Not truthful account of history, 2) Rote, 3) Legalistic, 4) Poorly-written, 5) Cringe-worthy stories, 6) Beat-you-over-the-head moralizing, 7) Scripture taken out of context, 8) Fundamentalist, 9) Lacks creativity/authenticity
Grades Used: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7, 8, 9.
I used this curriculum for 2.5 years for four kids for these grade levels: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7, 8, 9. From an academic standpoint, the curriculum has many deficits. Science and social studies are the weakest points of the curriculum, because PACEs demand very little rigor and critical thinking for completion. Honestly, you can really "game" the system by reading and regurgitating.
Perhaps the function of PACEs is to train students to never question authority or even abusive clergymen. It is fundamentalist in nature, which might be appealing for the independent Baptist crowd. I honestly cannot imagine kids going through the program from K-12, and then entering the real world. ACE does not prepare students to engage with the world, but perhaps that is the point. ACE creates its own version of reality where pastors are always wise and righteous, parents are always respectable, and racism/sexism/discrimination doesn't exist.
Moreover, ACE is suffocatingly "moralistic" while it seeks to defend and perpetuate white colonialism and privilege. But it's not easy to see if you live in white-evangelical, middle-class, suburban society.
The "society" for which the stories (in the English packets) take place is like a Christian dystopia where all the stepford wives keep perfect homes, bake cookies, and husband is the breadwinning, strong leader who keeps everyone in his household in check. Then the family will go to church every Sunday, listen to Pastor Alltruth, nod uniformly, and say yes without question.
In sum, I do not think there is place for this kind of curriculum. I'm both confused and disappointed by its popularity here and abroad.
I am a professed believer, and I'm all for bringing children up to love God and obey His commands. This curriculum, however, exemplifies so much of the toxicity in the the white, evangelical culture, without actually amplifying the biblical perspective.
If you are a parent reading this, I hope you will be dissuaded from using this curriculum. The perspectives in ACE can distort your sense of reality, and keep your child from critical reflection and authentic living for Christ.
Cons: Very old and out of date
Grades Used: K-8
A.c.e. pace curriculum
Cons: non
Grades Used: year 3
ACE is great, it is not rushed at all. The children go at their own PACE! That why it's called PACE because you don't move ahead until the child firmly grasps the teaching concept.
I have no idea why this method of teaching would be criticized? my daughter writing skills have improved tremendously.
Her maths is at the level she needs to be and on the whole, she is doing excellent.
Cons: Everything
Grades Used: 11th
PACE is the most rushed curriculum I’ve ever used and seen. So much for the word “PACE” they should have just called it “RUSH” you don’t learn anything within the curriculum, rather it’s rushing you to get all these books done in a short period of time.
DO NOT USE
I currently enrolled my son because of lockdown situation in india. I found it useful as per gaining knowledge but coming to math my kid need all measurements in indian style which ace ciriculum will definitely don't help him in future math.
Cons: They teach little kids that the lochness monster is real
Grades Used: 3-7
My high school was the “poster child” school that would be easily pointed to as a reason to use ACE. For me, the best part about ACE was leaving it to go to a public school. I really enjoyed having to catch up with actual drug users because I had not received a basic foundation science and math. I really enjoyed that, while I got straight A’s on all my ACE tests and was regularly a “level E”, I had to repeat a grade when I moved to a “real” school because I was woefully unprepared for actual academic rigor. I do, however, get on my knees and thank God that I was put in a public school where I could learn, be challenged, and challenge others. I’m stronger for it. I’m sad for those I knew that didn’t “get out” and are struggling to cope with the things this program ideally would protect against. In the opinion of someone who had gone through it and have seen both sides...don’t waste your time. Don’t worry so much about your kids being challenged in their faith...let them be challenge and build it. In the end I now have a Master of Science degree and work in high paying jobs for Fortune 500 companies. I would not be here had I continued ACE.