simplemom–here is the approach I’m taking (and why).
I purchased the textbook, notebook, and test/solutions. I read ahead of my daughter myself (it’s not much reading at all so this does not take up a lot of time/prep), and she does the daily reading and the notebook writing. I have her narrate orally most days what she has read, which is why I read ahead of her. There are many experiments, and so far, they are very well done (aside from one) and not overly complicated so as to drown out the point. She does all of the experiments.
I have her follow the schedule laid out in the front of the student notebook, which includes prep time for the test and a day to take the test. She does take the test, but I don’t have her do the fill-in-the-blank summaries that are optional before the test. I don’t find fill-in-the-blank summaries to be a useful tool for anything.
Now for the why . . .
Experiments: I wouldn’t skip any experiments (except the charting one maybe–the instructions aren’t too great) as those are the hands-on way to learn and solidify the concept. I like that they read up to the experiment instructions, do the experiment, record results (again the experiment pages are laid out in the notebook so it’s nice and tidy), discuss findings with you, and then they read on to see what the book says about it. Done properly, they really do discover ideas on their own. My daughter really enjoys this part, and she often asks her siblings to join or they ask to join her.
Student notebook: This has everything laid out from the schedule, to summaries, thought-provoking questions, and even lab sheets. The notebook portion (post-reading) often asks them to summarize what they’ve read in a few sentences, compare something, or some kind of exercise that shows real understanding of what they read. It is not Q&A.
Tests: The test-prep portion (in notebook as well) is writing out definitions, Q&A, etc. I have her do this and take the test with a closed book. I don’t do this b/c I think kids need to “learn to take tests”; instead, what is more important IMO is developing an understanding in each of my individual children of how they need to read/write/etc. to learn a subject. I’ve stressed to my DD that if she is prepared and has absorbed and understood a topic, then she’ll do well on a test. Preparation and understanding is the key. So, she is in the process of discovering whether she is reading too fast, reading/not reading carefully enough, whether she should make one-sentence summaries or notes as she reads/after she reads, whether she should write out definitions, etc. I can help her discover this through narrating, but the long-term absorption is interesting to see on the test. So far she has made some discoveries and changed a few things beyond what I require her to do.
I’m not recording her grades as I still think this is not a time for mastery of these concepts but deeper exploration and discovery than in her primary years. I don’t treat the test-prep or test day as any different than any other day’s work. We don’t make the test a big deal. However, she is beginning to see the difference between how she is learning to learn compared to her peers in school, cramming for tests or studying the night before. She is noting that even if it’s a subject she doesn’t care for, it’s much easier to truly understand and learn pieces of it each day than take copious notes that you memorize later. I am glad for that.
In addition, she is reading the recommended general science books and some others recommended in this link. She enjoys that part immensely, but she really likes the independence of this science course and showing her siblings or her dad what she learned.
I’d say she spends about 20 to 30 minutes on it per day, depending on if there is an experiment or not.
Every family is different, and everyone has great methods and ideas. I’m just sharing one of several that works for our one child 🙂 I hope you find a good fit for your son!
