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Many students harbor visual problems that go undetected by a 20-20 eye exam.  These visual problems can hamper or prevent a student's rightful progress.  Have your student examined by a Developmental Vision Specialist (sometimes known as a Behavioral Vision Specialist) if your student isn't reading well or is floundering in their work. Contact us for a free article on this topic. Ask for a copy of Vision Beyond 20/20.

Beginning readers find it helpful to use a piece of construction paper or a book mark to show themselves where they are on a page.  Eventually they will learn to go to the next line of text with out a cue.

Listen to your student read aloud.  They should all be reading the Goal page in every new PACE and other pages as indicated in the instructions.  Insist that your young students (generally 1st to 3rd grade level) read narratives and stories aloud to you.  You will hear if they have trouble reading fluently, if they know how to read punctuation, if they comprehend what is being presented, and will strengthen their reading skills.

Poor readers will benefit from reading their PACEs aloud to you several times.  Reading aloud helps students focus on content.  New vocabulary words and sight words are better learned with repeated readings.  An attitude of self-discipline and industry is internalized as a student applies themselves to re-reading a passage.

Word Building / Spelling  success is assured if your student will copy the words from the Goal page on a daily basis.  This daily writing is to familiarize the student with the word.  The student should say the word, spell it aloud as they write each letter, and say the word again when finished.  Each word can be put on an individual 3x5 card for study.

It will be restful to both you and your student to have a start time, break times, a lunch time, and an end time to your day.

Field trips are a tonic to learning over all. They needn't be fancy or expensive. A trip to a bakery, the post office or fire department, a local family run business, the library, historic sites, a museum, or an assembly plant are all possible outings.  Get specific guidelines from the facility you wish to visit before you make concrete plans to avoid disappointing your student. You might want to join together with another home-schooling family/Christian school if a larger group would facilitate an outing.

Definitions, formulas, and concepts should be put on an individual 3x5 card as they are presented in the PACE and kept in a file box for future reference. Definitions for nouns, adverbs, adjectives, etc. for English, mathematical formulas, scientific concepts, and math vocabulary are all useful to have on hand as new subject matter is built upon in succeeding PACE work.

Place your hand over the hand of your student that is learning to write numbers and letters (especially cursive) that they may feel the motion and to “teach” their muscles how to complete a letter.  They could also write the alphabet on bumpy wall paper or sand paper and then have the student trace the letters with their finger to feel it.

Stock your learning center with board games that apply the skills and information your students are learning.