high school science, that's not apologia?

This is a very nice book to add to Biology 101 for lab credit.

http://simplycharlottemason.com/scmforum/topic/dissection-projects#post-129283

Great idea, retrofam.  I’ve been very interested in this thread because my children, too, have had difficulties with Apologia’s high school courses.  How do your children like the paces?  Do they find them difficult to understand/follow?

One thing to remember—doing science in a “Charlotte Mason way” does NOT preclude using textbooks in the upper years.  And using texts needn’t ruin anyone’s love of anything, not at this age.  By the upper high school years, a student ought to be able to HIMSELF find delight in learning anything, in any way.  After all, the real world coming at him shortly isn’t going to be all nature notebooks and family read-alouds.  Joy can be found, and learning can be found, indeed MUST be found if adult happiness is to exist at all—in manual labor, in repetitive tasks, in uninspiring texts, in inordinately long labs, in interminable business meetings, in an ice storm feeding the cattle, in lectures delivered in monotones—  In fact, IMO, the “real” Charlotte Mason way must include this very teaching and experience.  Not, perhaps, at age 7, but certainly by 17, a child should know intimately that all books are not exciting, that all learning is not painless, that all tasks are not fun, but that deep satisfaction is found in the worthy performing, regardless of its “fun” level.  How to extract the value from a text that may not be what you’d have chosen for your relaxation reading?  That is a question very profitably addressed in the high school years.  How to enjoy it anyway?  When one can do this, one is truly educated in the “Charlotte Mason way.”  How, exactly, would Charlotte approach, say, physics, if she were teaching in our day?  I am quite certain that, in the upper years, she would not be seeking an easy way out, or trying to make the topic palatable–it is already interesting, AND difficult, and I think she would have embraced that and not shied away from it, and by her example taught that difficulty and effort are NOT the opposite of happiness and joy.  They are, instead, its essence.  

Just a thought from a mom who is working on graduating college science major #2, with #3 entering high school years soon.  

I specifically emailed my friend, Nicole (nwilliams551) this morning and asked her to share her perspective. She has been reading and researching for many years on how to teach science based on what we know of how Charlotte taught it in the high school years. Looking at her Programmes and schedules was very helpful. Since Charlotte has been gone for 90 years we really don’t know what she would have done with the world we have created. We do know by her writings she espoused books with literary power at all ages. Reading and studying these types of books in no way equals light or an easy way out. Many of the families in my library are benefitting from Nicole’s work in the form of a high school curriculum for science, not only those who are less science oriented but some who plan to make science a career. I hope when her curriculum is complete she will be able to share it with those who may be looking for another option.

We also do not like Apologia, and to be even more honest I don’t see a need for every student to have 3 or 4 years worth of high school math. My kids know full well how to dissect and what the anatomy of many animals look like just from hunting or finding dead animals and dissceting them. Yes, my kids are weird! Yet, they have learned so much. We seriously believe that once the high school years hit that the student needs to be focused on what their interests and career focuses are. We also don’t feel that college is our first option for further education. We believe in finding and providing resources for our kids to learn the skills they need and working in those areas before they are ever ready to graduate. Yes, there are times that college is needed, but we really believe those times are few and far between. Our oldest is 18 and working for a major ministry organization in their Information Technology department. I know this seems like a huge rabbit trail, but we need to remember not to put our children in boxes and thinking they need certain subjects just because some government official or person online says they do.

@Shanna: I pm’d you.

Jotawat,

I wouldn’t say my kids love the Paces, but the content is understandable. When they were using the worksheets(activity packs) it was getting boring because of the repeating of information and typical schoolish curriculum. When they switched to narration and reports instead, it was much better. I like that it is Christian and has labs.

The math parts of it may be difficult for some, but we studied the process of those problems and didn’t dwell on their ability to solve each problem them self. I had several teens close in age, so we did group labs just like when I was in school. This cut costs too.

C

I am thinking of using this. http://guesthollow.com/homeschool/science/biology/biology_home.html

The text looks awesome! She has made it Christian friendly, it includes short videos and demo clips and it is free! She has also added a ton to go along with it that makes the course look even better! She also has a really good High School Human Anatomy course to follow up with.