Standard Deviants Accelerate–A TOS Review

The number one question people are asking me this year is, “How we homeschool Middle School and High School.” Followed by: What are we using? Are they good enough for course credits? Am I qualified to teach it? I answer that I am thankful that there are amazing products available to us at the higher levels, including AP classes.

We were introduced to Standard Deviants Accelerate, which offers Standard Deviants Accelerate Homeschool Courses . We were looking to change up how we learned our Science Courses, specifically Anatomy and Earth Sciences. These courses are intended for ages 8 and up, but most of their products are listed for middle school and high school.

The courses we considered were:

Elementary (3rd – 5th)

Arithmetic
Fundamental Math

Middle School (Grades 6 and up)

Earth Science
Nutrition
Algebra
Biology

High School (Grades 9 and up through AP)

Chemistry
English Comp.
U.S. History
AP Biology
AP Chemistry
AP U.S. Government & Politics
AP U.S. History
AP Eng. Composition

This is an online educational teaching tool for students and homeschoolers. Homeschoolers may purchase a course to use for one student for $99.00 per year, or $24.95 per month. If you are interested in High School Accelerated learning – then you may be interested in the AP classes which are available for $14.95 per student per month.

But what does that tell you about it? Another online e-learning tool for homeschoolers? Whoopie. Well, let me walk you through what we discovered.

In the graphic above, it is sort of backwards to us, screen wise, how we would start. I set up my boys with accounts, and then added classes to them. We were offered a year use of all of the classes – similar to their large classroom environment. The homeschool individual is a bit different, so my apologies if this doesn’t match up. Ours looked similar to the one above, Biology and Earth Science. The Biology had the anatomy we were looking for with Nate and Earth Science had the Atmosphere portion for Jon.

The screens are simple to work through as you may see below. Video, Vocabulary, Diagram, Quiz and a Written Answer. On the video, a transcript is available to print, and/or you may scroll along on the left. The self led student is able to scroll through the screens clicking the tabs at the bottom, or jumping around the tabs to the different activities on top.

The Biology is stated for 6th grade and up. I think it would be suitable for a high school level also. There is a lot of detailed information available. Here are the chapter titles, and I expanded the Atmosphere and Oceans to give you a glimpse.

EARTH’S PLACE IN THE UNIVERSE
INVESTIGATING EARTH’S PAST
RESTLESS EARTH
MOUNTAINS, VOLCANOES, AND EARTHQUAKES
EARTH’S CHANGING SURFACE
ENERGETIC EARTH
ATMOSPHERE AND OCEANS
- Chapter Intro
- Atmosphere
- Oceans
- Convection in the Atmosphere and Oceans
- Weather and Climate
- Chapter Review
EARTH SYSTEMS
SUBJECT REVIEW

And for Nate – the Biology –

MOLECULES & CELLS
HEREDITY & INHERITANCE
MOLECULAR GENETICS
EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
ORGANISMS & POPULATIONS
HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY & IMMUNE RESPONSE
- Chapter Info
- Physiology and Homeostasis
- The Nervous System
- The Endocrine and Digestive Systems
- The Excretory and Musculoskeletal Systems
- The Immune System and Human Immune Response
- Chapter Review
ECOLOGY
SUBJECT REVIEW

Nathan ended up taking Biology at the College this year – a whole other crazy turn of events, and he has not been able to use the Anatomy as we assumed this year. He would have used this program as a supplement to the resources we purchased for his class. He may still end up using this in the Winter term.

Jon and Tyler ended up boing through a few of the Earth Science sections. It increased their vocabulary and the specifics of what we experience here on the Oregon Coast. Since we are full into October Storm Season, it went well with our natural studies for science.

My son, Jon, still is not a willing fan of online learning. I have to set up the screen, write it on the whiteboard to to it, and basically click play to make him start. I wouldn’t let that get to you though, as a negative, as since we have Tyler here, he was more than willing to be the ‘screen clicker’. I’m thinking, at this point, online learning may just not be Jon’s learning style.

HOWEVER – if you have a need to be hands off with your middle schooler or high schooler, and you are looking for a great online option or a tutor, then this really fits the bill. It is definitely not ‘dumbed down’. The videos are on the entertaining side, not dry, but not directed at little kids as we’ve seen in the past. After the video, the screens are crisp and uncluttered and easy to navigate. It is quite clear to the student what the program is asking of them, and I was never asked to explain a section over. THAT is big to this mom.

If you’d like to hear how others used the program, you may click the banner below!!