High School Science

Viewing 15 posts - 16 through 30 (of 46 total)
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  • blue j
    Participant

    OH, Becca!  That’s what I forgot… we also purchased anatomy coloring books for L and her younger sister – each one getting a coloring book to their level.  This is a GREAT addition to the program.

    abidnginhim
    Participant

    Could you tell me what high school/college level anatomy coloring books you are using?

    LDIMom
    Participant

    Thanks all for sharing. Oldest DS will be needing something else for science. He is very BORED with Apologia General Science and science is not something he plans to do (or medicine or other careers with science at the core). He loves history, writing, wants to be a LEGO designer. Anyway, I have got to find something different for him so I am devoouring this discussion.

    Becca, I really appreciate you weighing and the fact your DH has the background and education he does … that says a lot to me.

    The Apologia Young Explorer series has been a great fit for us, but the higher level course is just not working. I can see our 9YO son might really do well with it, but not our 13YO or 12YO I don’t think.

    Is there a website for the 101 courses? I’m trying to find them. thanks all!

    Bookworm
    Participant

    I want to encourage anyone who is doing a less-traditional approach to science to take great care to document what you do, perhaps keep a portfolio, and make a REAL effort to include true high school level work, including math and labs, WHETHER YOUR CHILD LIKES IT OR NOT, even if they “think” they want to be something that won’t require it.  SOOO MANY kids change their minds about career/college, and it is hard to suddenly find that you need some background you don’t have.  I know, this has happened to me!  (found myself needing to take graduate calculus as a required subject when I’d never gone past college algebra).  And, after having gone through the college admissions process, my son was asked a LOT about how we managed science.  I wouldn’t have wanted to say “Well, we watched some videos and did a coloring book.”  You know what i mean?  Make it thorough, make it good, make it high-school-level, (find someone to ask if you don’t know) and document it well.  It could make a huge difference to your child down the road.

    And I do understand about kids that say “But I don’t like science and I won’t need it because I”m going to be a Lego designer.”  I have kids who said “But I don’t need to be able to write an essay because I want to do science.”  Well, let me tell you–that didn’t work for my kids!  I can actually come up with a lot of reasons for a potential designer to learn real science–just like I came up with lots of reasons for my science-y kids to read novels and write essays. 

    Don’t Shortchange Your Kids!  ! ! ! ! ! They are smarter and more adaptable than you think, the future world looks difficult and broad knowledge base is becoming increasingly important, and biology experiments WILL NOT KILL TEENS.  Laughing

    Just saying.  Wink

    Bookworm
    Participant

    Oh, and also, if your child does get into college, there is going to be a mandatory lab science course, and the instructor is going to assume that your child had at least two years of labs in high school, and they are going to give your kid a syllabus and say “Go to it.”  And if your child has only ever watched videos and colored coloring books, they are going to have a steep learning curve for a bit!  You can make it a LOT easier on your kids by giving them experimental questions to answer, expecting them to do experiments, and then WRITE THEM UP in a lab report.  These are necessary skills for anyone in college.  And, again, they are unlikely to be fatal.  Wink

    deltagal
    Member

    I, too am looking for an alternate to Apologial.  I have heard, but have not personally reviewed, that  ACE’s Pace Biology with the DVD’s is a good alternative to Apologia.   It was quoted as being “much more living in its writing style than any other biology text we looked at, and we loved the fact that the study included human anatomy as a part of the Biology coursework.” 

    If anyone else has any first-hand comments on ACE’s Pace Biology I would be interested. 

    Fiveflymom
    Participant

    We are planning on using ACE’s Pace Biology in the fall. Apologia’s General Science was not a good fit for my dd. (and she loves science!) I took a good look at ACE Biology a few weeks ago at a curriculum fair and liked what I saw. I think it will be a good fit for her.

    TailorMade
    Participant

    I suppose coloring book isn’t the best way to describe the books to which I’m referring. But, those words are in their titles. So, to clarify, here is a link to these very detailed resources that can enhance any study of biology (and various other sciences.). The vocabulary, color coded details, and explanations of various processes are very accurate. And, they provide another way to tackle the evolution conversation prior to heading to college, or other route in life.

    http://www.powells.com/biblio?isbn=9780064603072

    Blessings,

    Becca<><

    TailorMade
    Participant

    Actually, this is a better link with the TOC and sample page.

    Becca<><

    LDIMom
    Participant

    Bookworm, Not sure how my post might have conveyed that we don’t do labs or experiments??? Or that I think my son not enjoing something means he gets to opt out. I do appreciate your thoughts though. Laughing

    Thanks fiveflymom and deltagel for sharing of the ACE’s Pace curriculum. I am going to check that out too.

    I think Apologia is great for some students, but my son hates it and gets NOTHING out of it. He is a great student and works very hard. I don’t see any point in him continuing with something that he is not gaining any knowledge from. Thanks to all for sharing of other options.

    It is also very possibly we may sign him up for a class at a nearby tutorial for the lab sciences in high school. I can see that in our future as well (definitely a possiblity) as I know being with other students and having a different teacher than me will be very motivating. Laughing

    TailorMade
    Participant
    Misty
    Participant

    How does the ACE biology fit in labs? I would be curious? I did ACE with my younger kids the 1st year of home schooling, but that was before the DVD aspect.

    Fiveflymom
    Participant

    Misty, labs are all on DVD. Purchasing lab kits to do at home is optional. We plan on watching all labs and completing some, but not all, at home.

    TailorMade
    Participant

    Here is a link to discussion of ACE with samples.

    http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=153847

    Hth,

    Becca<><

    LyndaF
    Participant

    Has anyone used Connect The Thoughts Upper Level Science? My daughter was interested in these courses, but I don’t know anyone who has used them.

Viewing 15 posts - 16 through 30 (of 46 total)
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