Excerpt from “Accelerator”, Accelerated Christian Education, Oct-Nov 2015, pg 12
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. James 1:2-3
Treating children equitably does not mean that you always treat them alike. Each child, even if from the same family, presents his won variety of challenges. Some children misbehave occasionally, some have distracting habits, and some would choose to daydream all day long. You may have a child who has learning challenges, or you may have one who cannot seem to sit still. These challenging situations are not necessarily results of a learning disorder, nor are they necessarily acts of defiance or disregard for the rules. many other factors can contribute to a child’s behavior. There are some considerations a parent should keep in mind.
Maybe your child is a strong auditory learner who likes noise and sometimes disturbs other children in the Learning Center. A supervisor can help combat disruption by finding appropriate times to allow him to speak out; oral reports are wonderful outlets for this type of learner. At home, help him practice being quiet and learn to verbalize idea to himself. Encourage him to practice moving his lips without making noise when he reads to you in the evenings. Having him read his PACE work out loud is also an excellent memory aid that will help him in his studies. It is quite possible that your child does not realize he sometimes distracts other students; so help him learn to control his outbursts.
Is your child a strong visual learner who loves to daydream when he should be concentrating on his studies? One way you as a parent can help is to develop strategies that help him focus when learning or listening–like drawing pictures or designs. The visual learner thrives on colors. Spend time in the evenings encouraging him to color and draw illustrations of the stories and lessons he is learning in his PACE work. By doing so, you will help him remember not only facts and material but also figures and concepts.
Your child may be a strong kinesthetic learner who has difficulty sitting still and concentrating for long periods of time. Consider speaking to your child’s supervisor about his placement in the Learning Center. some children require “nonsense activity” for learning, such as swinging their legs while seated, squeezing a stress ball while listening to a devotion, or memorize while jumping on a rebounder. Work together with the staff in the Learning Center to figure out productive and creative ways to help your child learn.
One of the most important aspects of Accelerated Christian Education is the approach to individualized learning. Through the combined process of the A.C.E. diagnostic tests, observation by the supervisors and monitors of your school, and your input, your child’s learning styles will be ascertained. He can then be placed on the level that is specially designed to meet his education, social, and spiritual needs. This individualized style of learning will help your child succeed in his PACE work and ultimately his life work, no matter his or her strong learning style.
Each human being is a complex, unique creation of God. No matter what kind of challengers you face in the training of your child, God has provided a special way for him to learn. By placing your most precious possession–your child–in a school using A.C.E program and curriculum, you have taken the first step on the road leading to a Godly, Christian education. Discovering your child’s primary learning styles may be the key to unlocking the doors of greater intellectual success for his future. Above all “count it all joy” as you, along with your child, discover strengths and weaknesses that encourage him in the way he should go.