Abeka® Curriculum Pros and Cons
When you are searching for the best homeschool curriculum for your family, you need to know both the positives and the negatives of any program you are considering. Let’s take Abeka® Academy, for example. You may want to know if there are any Abeka® complaints that other parents have. What is Abeka® curriculum known for doing well? Is Abeka® homeschool accredited? In other words, before deciding if the curriculum is right for you, you need to know the Abeka® pros and cons to make an informed decision.
The Tricky Business of Homeschool Pros and Cons
It would certainly be nice if we could line up the pros and cons of any homeschool curriculum and make a quick decision based on which list is longest. The truth is that the pros and cons of homeschooling curriculum aren’t always that simple. That’s because every family has a different reason for homeschooling, a unique approach to home education, and wholly different goals for their students. So, when viewing the positives and negatives of a curriculum, you’ll want to personalize that information as much as possible. Something that is clearly a disadvantage to a specific curriculum for one parent may actually be an advantage for your family.
Teaching with Abeka® vs Time4Learning
To make your homeschool curriculum research easier, we’ve laid out some of the pros and cons of using either Time4Learning or Abeka®. Browse the chart below to discover any problems with Abeka® curriculum vs Time4Learning, the plus sides of the two curricula, and which one meets the majority of your student’s and your family’s needs.
Homeschool Use |
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| Advantage | Disadvantage | |
| Abeka® | Option to use textbooks and/or video lessons. | Designed mainly for traditional homeschoolers, with not much room for flexibility. Christian-based curriculum may not appeal to many families. |
| Time4Learning | Can be used as core or supplemental homeschool program for grades PreK-12. One low monthly price includes access to all 4 core subjects. | Online homeschool curriculum requires internet connection and computer or tablet. |
Pricing Structure |
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| Advantage | Disadvantage | |
| Abeka® | Purchase only what you need; one time expense. | Larger expense up front; if the program doesn’t work for you, the expense is a loss. |
| Time4Learning | No large up front purchase; cancel at any time. | Recurring payments mean budgeting long term instead of once a year. |
Lesson Style |
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| Advantage | Disadvantage | |
| Abeka® | No internet required; video lessons replicate school environment which can be familiar to students from school backgrounds. | Some students may find material dry and not engaging enough. |
| Time4Learning | Interactive lesson approach is helpful for visual learners and those who prefer an edutainment style. | Must have computer or device with internet connection to view lessons. |
Recordkeeping |
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| Advantage | Disadvantage | |
| Abeka® | Parents have total control over the grades they want to assign for student effort. | Manual recordkeeping can be time consuming. |
| Time4Learning | Saves time and gives you concrete accounts for homeschool portfolios and reviews. | Account must be kept active to access archive of grades (although they can be downloaded and saved for future reference). |
Worldview |
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| Advantage | Disadvantage | |
| Abeka® | All school subjects are written and taught from a faith-based worldview which some Christian families appreciate. | Heavy religious content of lessons may not be comfortable or necessary for families who aren’t homeschooling for religious reasons. |
| Time4Learning | Can be used by most any homeschooling family, regardless of worldview. Families may skip any content they find objectionable. | Does not include dedicated religious curriculum content, so religious families could supplement this subject. |
*Time4Learning is not affiliated with Pensacola Christian College. Time4Learning’s purpose with this article is to provide information to families who are considering an eclectic approach to homeschooling or who wish to compare the benefits of using both curricula. Time4Learning’s products and services are not endorsed or sponsored by Pensacola Christian College. Abeka® is the registered trademark of Pensacola Christian College.
Finding it hard to choose?
What if you have done your research and found out how Abeka® homeschool works, how Time4Learning handles lessons and recordkeeping, and all the other things that are important to you, but you still can’t choose between the two curricula? The great news is that you don’t have to choose. Plenty of families have found that the best solution for their homeschooling is to utilize both Time4Learning and Abeka® in their homeschool plan. Visit our page on how to use Time4Learning with Abeka® Academy Curriculum for more information.
Want to know more about how Time4learning compares with Abeka Academy® for homeschooling? You might be interested in:
- Homeschool Curriculum Review: Time4Learning vs Abeka®
- Time4Learning vs Abeka®: Features Comparison
- Homeschooling Cost: Abeka® Homeschool Cost vs Time4Learning
- How to Use Time4Learning with Abeka® Academy Curriculum
Online Curriculum for Homeschool, Afterschool and Summer Use
If you are just learning about Time4Learning, we’d suggest first looking at our interactive lesson demos.
Sign up for Time4Learning and gain access to a variety of educational materials, which will engage and challenge your child to succeed. Make Time4Learning a part of your children’s homeschool resources success.
