Has anyone used Power Homeschool (Acellus)

[Soliloquy]

My main question is whether all the teaching is from a video or if there is a video and reading. In the sample lessons, there's just videos. That'd be great for a student that doesn't learn well by reading but most students need a combination of approaches. And I cannot imagine going through all subjects without reading unless there were very specific challenges present.

[Soliloquy]

I found my answer. There are reading sections, especially in higher grades.

https://cathyduffyreviews.com/homesc...school-acellus

[Vipers_Princess]

We use it. My dyslexic uses the reading app on the chrome browser to go over reading sections. It has helped both of the girls that use it immensely in understanding and retention. We don't use it for Math because it's not a spiral style which is what they learn best from when it comes to math.

[Soliloquy]

Thank you!

Do you mostly use tutoring mode? We've been using Monarch for the past 5 weeks and I really like that I'm in charge of their schedule, curriculum, and grades. I can unassign a lesson if I they already know the content (or if i think it's just plain silly, which has happened). If they get an answer marked wrong, it's my choice to leave it or reassign that question.

How are short answer questions and essays graded? In Monarch, I grade them. The Power Homeschool website says everything is graded automatically but I don't see how the software can grade an essay.

Is it pretty easy to see a report of what they did in a day/week far as content and objectives? I'm going to be enrolling in an umbrella next year and I'll need to give a 2-3 sentence summary of what was done in each subject every week. So I want that to be very quick and easy.

I like some things about Monarch but there are enough things I don't like that I really hope we like Power Homeschool better and it will fit my record keeping needs.

[Vipers_Princess]

Originally Posted by Soliloquy

Thank you!

Do you mostly use tutoring mode? We've been using Monarch for the past 5 weeks and I really like that I'm in charge of their schedule, curriculum, and grades. I can unassign a lesson if I they already know the content (or if i think it's just plain silly, which has happened). If they get an answer marked wrong, it's my choice to leave it or reassign that question.

How are short answer questions and essays graded? In Monarch, I grade them. The Power Homeschool website says everything is graded automatically but I don't see how the software can grade an essay.

Is it pretty easy to see a report of what they did in a day/week far as content and objectives? I'm going to be enrolling in an umbrella next year and I'll need to give a 2-3 sentence summary of what was done in each subject every week. So I want that to be very quick and easy.

I like some things about Monarch but there are enough things I don't like that I really hope we like Power Homeschool better and it will fit my record keeping needs.

Apologies, my computer time has been nil lately.

We use homeschool mode. Tutoring mode allows them to jump around and other things that I don't find helpful for the way my child needs to learn. There are no essays. The program auto-grades as they move along. If they're not grasping the material it goes into recovery, they can watch the video and re-attempt the quiz. There are also more resources, notes and videos under the help tab. There are general outlines of the material in the parent app, but you'll get better outlines by joining the power homeschool official and power homeschool parents fb groups and asking. There are also printable {pdf} textbooks in those groups that some of the parents have assembled.

You can log into the parent app and see everything. Completed, attempted, grade etc.

[Soliloquy]

That's very helpful.

So I'm thinking I'll need to do writing on my own. That's fine with me. I already have a book in mind.

Cathy Duffy's site said their high school science classes were weak in labs but I enjoy doing those and have resources already.

At this point we're planning on using it for one month next year. Hopefully we'll like it enough to continue. I'm glad they have the monthly option so we can try it without a huge expense.

Thanks for all your help!

[Vipers_Princess]

Writing has to be supplemented for sure. I believe it's IBEW most use. I am counting the writing in YDD's Bible study workbook for right now and am also having her write about half her notes. She has a visual/spacial disability and motor delays or it would be more.

Labs are also videos not hands on. For that we are ok for the most part for 7th grade. Next year we will be using lab kits from a local science company to ensure she understands the processes and procedures.

[Soliloquy]

I'm really excited to try this writing book next year with all 4 of my school age kids. It can be used at almost any level.

https://www.christianbook.com/modeli...0211/pd/530211

I miss having a local science supply store! It was so much fun to go browse.

[milkmommy]

We use acellus (powerschool) and have been for about five years now. We add in a separate writing program and handwriting in younger years, religion and I add to the history (to include our faith) and add in some hands on science that may or may not correlate to what they are doing with Accelus.

Like another poster we pretty much exclusivly use the Homeschool mode over tutoring. My kids find it easier to use and I like that steps can't be skipped or they can't complete partial tests for a score as you can in tutor mode. The only time I switch to tutor is if I want something to be redone/reviewed or I'll switch over for mid terms because I dont require them to do both the reviews and actual tests. Acellus midterms and finals are super long many can have hundreds of questions and the review is basically the same test. SO I'll use the tutor mode to move past those. (or do partial for the score).

Homeschool mode also builds in more reviews and drills for like spelling math facts etc that aren't in the tutor modes. My kids benefit greatly from these little steps.

[Soliloquy]

I'm really glad to know that you can switch modes to skip things. We're using Monarch and there's only one mode. The kids can skip questions but I get an alert and I can decide to reassign it or let it be skipped. And I can unassign assignments or specific questions, change start and due dates, add custom assignments, etc. and I really like that aspect. Or I can skip an assignment if I know they don't need it. My 13 yo doesn't need any spelling so I skip all the spelling lessons. He is one that will quit altogether if he decides I'm wasting his time.

For my younger kids, I unassign most of the tests. Monarch usually does 3-4 lessons then a quiz. For every unit, which is 112-16 lessons, there's a review AND a test and, like you, I don't think both are necessary, especially for my younger ones. I can decide if I like the review or the test and just have them do one or the other.

I'm hoping Power Homeschool works for us because we can be reimbursed for it but not for Monarch.

[milkmommy]

I have my kids do the reviews for acellus midterms finals and the more lengthy tests. If needed I'll have them go into tutor mode and review sections they did poorly on once I'm happy then we will just do enough of the actual test to get a score for credit then move on (tutor mode will score for partial completion).. I do it on the review so that we can review areas of needed. Rather than the rest which if poor enough will go into recovery which in times can be a bit torturous. Like having to rewatch a 14 minute video because you accidently clicked b instead of a identifying a cloud....

As for writing acellus includes special lessons and the program includes directions for say essays book reports etc however no these assignments aren't graded. I personally think using these alone isn't enough. We use a combo of writing with ease 4 square writing and the acellus special assignments. Those i grade.

[Soliloquy]

Interesting.

Monarch assigns writing assignments and paragraphs and they get sent to me to grade. Only takes a few minutes a day. But I don't think Monarch does well at teaching writing. Even if we use Monarch again next year, I'm going to do my own writing instruction. Because just telling kids about the basic mechanics of good writing isn't enough.

One of my kids was given the stupidest writing assignment ever. They had a list of vocabulary words from the unit. They were pulled from the Bible story about the sower. So they were kind of antiquated words because Monarch uses KJV (don't get me started on KJV for young kids). It's good to learn those words but there's no reason for them to be required to use those antiquated words in their writing.

The writing assignment was: Write a story about a boy, a dog, and a spider. Include at least 5 of your vocabulary words. Those words would not have fit into ANY creative writing that any typical 3rd grader would do. Words like sower, reaper, harvest. And a story about a boy, a dog, and a spider? Just weird. It was so contrived and that's just not a good way to help children enjoy creative writing.

So, with switching between modes--

Can I switch to tutor mode, un-assign certain lessons, and then switch back to homeschool mode right away? Or do I have to leave it in tutor mode until they get passed the lessons I want skipped?

[milkmommy]

Originally Posted by Soliloquy

Interesting.

So, with switching between modes--

Can I switch to tutor mode, un-assign certain lessons, and then switch back to homeschool mode right away? Or do I have to leave it in tutor mode until they get passed the lessons I want skipped?

You can switch back and forth pretty easily. If their is a lesson test etc you want skipped you'll need to put them in tutor mode and then just select the next lesson you can then go back to homeschool mode and have them continue. They won't receive a completed certificate if they skip steps but that might not be important to you.

[Soliloquy]

Thanks!

Yes, I don't need a certificate. As long as I have the ability to print out a listing of all assignments completed with a grade, or units with a grade, something to go along with a general transcript for my one in high school.

For my younger kids I only need to give a 2 sentence summary of each subject on a weekly basis.

[milkmommy]

Originally Posted by Soliloquy

Thanks!

Yes, I don't need a certificate. As long as I have the ability to print out a listing of all assignments completed with a grade, or units with a grade, something to go along with a general transcript for my one in high school.

For my younger kids I only need to give a 2 sentence summary of each subject on a weekly basis.

Yes you can still get transcripts which will show completed grades and you can also printout a list of completed assignments with grades.