As a family, we have been contemplating homeschooling for many years.
A few reasons we continued with the regular school system are:
1. We were reluctant to start homeschooling if we still had to use the usual school curriculum. We wanted something better and more meaningful.
2. We weren't aware of any faith-based curriculum at that point that catered to academics till grade 12.
3. We also weren't aware of the learning path for higher levels in homeschooling or whether the homeschooling journey would make sense if children had to return to the same secular educational system after a few years of homeschooling.
All along, we've been praying that God would lead us to the right decision and if it has to be homeschooling - then a right curriculum and a way out from teaching them topics or chapters that deviated from or nullified the Ultimate Truth.
Then in June 2021, we came across an orientation session on the ACE program. I looked up School of Tomorrow Asia and contacted Uma & Becky. They spent a lot of hours answering our questions patiently and with love. Their trust and experience in ACE silently emboldened us. We also spoke with a few parents in India who were using this curriculum for their children. Their insights were helpful, and it was comforting to realise that it's a tried and tested path.
By now, our older daughter had started grade 5 at a regular school, and we had to decide when & how we could transition her to the ACE program. Indeed, God holds time in his hands. So, even though it was Mid-Aug 2021, that's almost the end of one term at school, we changed over entirely to ACE.
God's been gracious to prove our anxieties wrong and provided much more than we could ask or imagine. We were hunting for a bare minimum method to work around the existing school education system, but God brought us a holistic and well structured Christ-centred education.
How beautiful to have God's word be the cornerstone of our children's learning? As a mother, I enjoy painting the visual of Isaiah 54:13, where God, the creator of everything, is nearby and teaching my children.
I will teach all your children, and they will enjoy great peace.
- Isaiah 54:13 NLT
The transition from regular school to homeschooling has been smooth. ACE has been a rare find for us.
I asked my older daughter, "What's different for you now that you use the ACE program?". And she replied - she eagerly looks forward to reading the daily text cos it's written and explained in an understandable manner that connects Biblical verses with real things in life. She also enjoys reading the snippets of comic strips carefully placed between the texts that add life to the topic or concept that she is learning.
Our younger daughter is just over three years old, and for her, we are using 'Speaking English with Ace and Christi'.
Although our journey with homeschooling and the ACE program is less than a month, we have sensed God's peace around what's been learned by our daughters. We see this program making our children's education more relevant, meaningful and realistic.
Our constant prayer is that they will grow spiritually, academically and relationally in this homeschooling journey. May we as parents and children, be good stewards of what God has placed in our hands.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.