SCM Discussion Forum

1. 

   Jennifer WI
   Member

   So my upcoming 7th grader started doing Apologia Elementary Science. It is much more intense than anything we've ever done. How are you liking it? Did you finish in a year? If you did something else for middle school science what was it?

   Thanks!

   Posted 9 months ago # Report Post
2. 

   momto2blessings
   Member

   Don't tell me that!!!  (I assume you mean GENERAL science?)  We're starting next week, and it's probably my biggest fear for the year!  I've always read Apologia Elem. to both kids, so dd (7th) doing this is a huge step.  I bought this schedule after seeing my friends: http://scholapress.com/General%20Science%20sample%202.pdf.  Really like how it's broken into exact, bite-size pieces.  I plan to take 3-4 weeks, if needed, on the first lesson....since I've heard it's the longest/hardest.  And will tell her that it will get easier (or so I've heard!)

   Hopefully others with actual experience will chime in:)  Gina

   P.S. I don't know how helpful it will be, but I also bought the companion cd that helps w/voc. and concepts.  And I bought almost all my supplies and just put them into a huge tub so she can grab as needed.

   Posted 9 months ago # Report Post
3. 

   Jennifer WI
   Member

   I do have a schedule that I purchased. I did not know, however, that the first part could be the longest/hardest. I will have to look it over more closely for myself. On a happy note, he seems to think it's interesting.

   I'm not sure how I'm going to do the tests yet. I've never done tests with my kids. So I think maybe I'll give it to him and he can do as much as he can and then we'll just use the book for whatever he does not know. He can get used to looking things up as well as having the information reinforced. There's no way I expect him to truly memorize everything in that textbook. It's huge. Yikes.

   Posted 9 months ago # Report Post
4. 

   momto2blessings
   Member

   Yes, it's so huge....been sitting there staring at me on my school table for a couple weeks as I plan school:)  I think when I read the instructions Dr. Wile said a 'C' is good in this course.  I'm not a science-y person and neither is dd, so I hope it goes o.k. :)  I know some have talked here of using narrations to see what they learned...hopefully others w/experience will chime in.  I do think they need to get used to test-taking at some point, just not sure when is best:) Sorry, I'm not much help! Gina

   Posted 9 months ago # Report Post
5. 

   my3boys
   Member

   We are using this text as well. My up and coming 8th grader started it in 7th and will need to take this next school year to finish. We have done the On Your Own Ques., Study Guide portion, and tests. I do have him narrate (I think the book reminds the student to do so, but don't remember), and we discuss the Study Guide Ques. and tests. He likes it, but is definitely taking his time. We have a schedule and lab sheets from Donna Young's site (free) and some other site has a lap book or something I bought (we've been on break, forgive me for not remembering) and we do have a cd-rom for vocab and examples of experiments.

   It's really not that bad when you take it in small chunks. My son uses the text to answer the Study Guide questions, and last year was his first year of "purposeful" studying, so he used the guide to study for the tests. We went on break right before a test (who's idea was that?!) so now he'll have to re-study to take the test. It has been good for him and I'm impressed with his seriousness toward taking the tests. I plan to be a bit more involved in his lessons this coming year (he likes to be completely independent) to move him along...don't really want this stretching into 9th grade.

   HTH

   Posted 9 months ago # Report Post

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