Reviews

The Old Schoolhouse Magazine

A2 Home School Curriculum from Accelerated Achievement promises to be a great tool for homeschool families. The goal was to put together a complete curriculum for grades K-12 on one CD-ROM disc. The disc contains hundreds of books, including classical literature and historical works like Shakespeare, Louisa May Alcott and Edgar Allen Poe, many of America’s founding documents, One Syllable Books, and all seven of McGuffey’s readers, to name but a few.

There are also grammar, spelling and vocabulary tools for use in language arts study. Math includes a great worksheet generator, some textbooks, and links to websites online that provide extra practice. Science is primarily a list of topics to study through encyclopedias or library sources for each grade level. Many of the books are in Adobe Acrobat format, and the rest are in Notebook format. They can all be read on the computer or printed out on paper.

The format is easy to use and follow, with a separate page for each grade level that delineates what to study for that grade level in each major subject. The approach presented in the well-prepared introductory materials is primarily classical, although it could easily be adapted to unit studies or unschooling approaches, among others.

One of my favorite features beyond the book list which goes on and on with great works of literature, is the copy work section which has 1000 worksheets with a great quote or Bible verse on each, and room for the student to copy so they can practice handwriting or memorization. I’m not sure that these materials would cover everything a family needs for K-12, but it would clearly be an excellent framework or supplementary resource for any homeschooling family! Now if you will excuse me, I’ve been dying to go read Little Women, Gulliver’s Travels, or the Federalist Papers – I can’t decide where to start!

-- Product Review by: Dr. Anne Margaret Wright, The Old Schoolhouse Magazine

Comments from our users

Danielle Lee leeceratops@comcast.net
Dates used: August '04 to present
Review:
This curriculum has been a God send. We are currently in our third year of homeschooling. We have tried many different routes: Horizons, Alpha Omega, Bob Jones, Story of the World, Unit Studies. None of these seemed to fulfill our needs. I spent so much time preparing for the week and the kids just were not motivated to work or learn.

Then I came across A2 while searching for a complete home school curriculum. The entire curriculum is on a CDRom and the amount of information the CD contains is incredible. You do have to print the material but it really has not been a problem. It is so wonderful to have everthing I need right there whenever I need it. If we need duplicates, no problem. If we make a mistake, no problem. We just print another.

We have only used it for 5 months and the change in my children is phenomenal. With this program you can prepare a weeks worth of work and organize it in a folder in an hour or two. My children now work independently and are eager to learn. They wake up, eat and begin their schooling all on their own. After they complete the subjects they can do on their own, we begin our "together work."

This curriculum has taken so much stress out of schooling. The children are learning independence and to take control over and responsibility for their own learning, a trait that will serve them well in life. They are becoming self directed learners which is a goal I have been working on for 3 years now.

Another great aspect of this curriculum I have to mention is the support group that comes along with it. This group is incredible. The members all share their ideas and methods of implementing the program. Questions are welcomed and answered by many.
Using A2 has been a wonderful experience for us and a blessing. It is easy to use and even easier to implement.

Review submitted: 12/13/04

Terry runningwaterla@yahoo.com
Dates used: 2001-2004

Review:
Because of necessary moves, my daughter had been in 5 different grade schools by her 5th grade year. She was suffering with her grades, her relations to other children her age, her teachers, her self-confidence, etc.

I stumbled upon A2 while searching for a homeschooling curriculum that would work with my daughter and would work with me being a single mother working a full time job and going to school full time.

A2 is amazing! Her learning ability, her self-esteem, her comprehension and retention have all soared! She is now on the honour roll at her high school and we still use A2 at home to supplement it. If the HS here would allow homeschoolers to be in ROTC, she would still be homeschooled full time, but that is not an option any longer. However, I can't thank Paul Stone enough for creating such a wonderful, easy-to-use homeschooling curriculum and I am very, very grateful to have found it. Thank you!

Review submitted: 12/01/04

Jennifer Key jenniferkey@gmail.com
Dates used: Aug 04 - Dec 04 and continuing

Review:

I love this curriculum! This is our third year of homeschooling. I have used Abeka, BJU, LLATL, Writing Strands, MCP, Easy Grammar, you name it. A2 has removed the expense of time and money that investigating and purchasing new curriculum brings each year. The simplicity of A2 has freed me from the "grind" of homeschool. The flexibility of the curriculum design enables my children work at their own level and their own pace. Having materials for all grades means they can progress as fast as they choose. My children love the reading selections. Writing has become second nature to them in the time we have been using the curriculum. They are learning so much more than I could ever "teach" them.

Also, we travel often. There aren't tons of workbooks and teacher's manuals to haul around, so it is much easier to take A2 on the road. And, if we lose/misplace a book, it is no big deal. We just reprint as necessary.

Review submitted: 12/09/04

Debbie Burris dyankee1995@juno.com
Dates used: New for 2004/2005 school year and beyond

Review:
This is my 3rd year of homeschooling. I started after I withdrew my oldest from public school in the 5th grade. I have tried ABEKA, AOP Lifepac and Horizons, and Robinson Curriculum, before I somehow became aware of Paul Stone's A2. What a blessing. It is so easy to use and very inexpensive for the amount of information that is included. It really is a dream come true. Both of my kids are enjoying it and I feel so much more relaxed with everything all laid out for me, so no guess work as to what books should be read next. It has the best literature, history, and language curriculum I have found. My son was struggling with his writing skills, but has improved a great deal after following A2 recommendations. I can't say enough good things about this curriculum!!!!!!! Did I mention that the support is excellent as well. Paul Stone is very much involved with the support group that is included and doesn't hesitate to answer any questions.

Review submitted: 12/09/04

Laurie Richardson laurierichardson@hotmail.com
Dates used: November 2002....

Review:
I am very impressed with the ease of this curriculum. The math is very easy to use and print out. The language arts is well done and well rounded. Mr. Stone gives a good general outline to use for each year that can be broken up into weeks. Your child will become a well rounded educated child with this curriculum. It only costs $100 for K-12 which is a steal. The history has good stories that are easy for new readers to understand and the older children get a great history education.
I really like what I see and am using much of it. I did find that for spelling if you already own Spelling Power it can be used in place of the spelling book on the CD. Otherwise you can just use what is there. They both follow the same format. This is an excellent buy.

Review submitted: 12/23/02

Brenda Clark JBCLARK@inteliport.com

Dates used: 4 years

Review:
This curriculum has made my life so much easier. Everything is right there for me and my children. I teach my eight year old son third grade and my four year old daughter Kindergarten. I use to spend hours at a time searching and have tried many ways of homeschooling and I have finally found all I need right here. I spend less time planning and more time actually interacting with my children. They are like sponges and absorb so much. The best part is that their learning is fun and the sky is the the limit, thanks to Accelerated Achievement for making this possible.

Review submitted: 11/13/02

Liz

Used Since: February 2005

...We are homeschooling our 6th grade daughter and just started this semester after 7-1/2 years in a Christian School. So far A2 has been WONDERFUL - we love it! I had homeschooled my older boys years ago for a few years but at the time didn't know about this wonderful program. If I would have I probably would have kept them home too!

One of the most encouraging things that has happened is that Hannah is learning how to "learn"! She's already gotten used to reading with the dictionary at her side - looking up words! I am so thrilled! She was already a good reader but using the dictionary seemed like "work" and at first she balked. But after only a few weeks she is so into it that as soon as she comes to a word she doesn't know she looks it up without hesitation! I am encouraged. She had become so discouraged at school because even though a good reader she struggled with math concepts and memorizing science, facts, etc. She always felt "stupid" and nervous. I have been having lots of talks with her explaining that homeschooling is just about her learning new things-no pressures-just learning! I don't pressure her with tests, pop quizes, etc. and now that she is relaxing, I think she is finally learning how to learn if that makes sense! And she's feeling so much better about herself!

Sorry to ramble on about us - - I just wanted to post this to maybe encourage someone else out there who has a child who was struggling in school like Hannah was. This "learning how to learn" thing has been such an eye-opener for us!

Terry
Used Since April 2003

My daughter is 14 now and in high school. She had a lot of personal problems from 4th grade on. I tried different schools, tutors, and nannies and she still brought home fair to mediocre grades. She always tested much higher than her grade level, though. Currently, for instance, she is testing at college level for all subjects except math - that's at a 12th grade level. She's in the 9th grade.

I tried RC for 4-6 months and it just wasn't working for us. I heard about A2 from Paul Stone, and it was a total lifesaver! After just one semester of using A2, her grades soared, and with them, her confidence level. She homeschooled for 2 years - through middle school. She made the decision to attend public high school with the knowledge that she could homeschool if she wanted. She now uses her A2 and her newly acquired confidence to maintain her honour roll status. It's made SUCH an amazing difference in her life.

I'm glad you've decided to try it - I believe your whole family could benefit from it. Also, neither her father nor I are stay-at-home parents. We're just not able to afford for one of us not to work, and this curriculum is great for kids to start teaching themselves.

Good luck and God bless!