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MarilynW
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| Posted: March 30 2009 at 11:38am | IP Logged
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I am trying to look at the 4 year picture for high school - as far as I can tell, the general recommendation seems to be Physical Science in 9th, Biology in 10th, Chemistry in 11th and Physics in 12th.
The questions I have are:
- do we have to do all of them?
- for those of you who do the science at home (rather than community college) - do you do the labs too and are they doable at hom?
- what are you preferred science programs.
Science is the subject I probably have spent the least time on - my dd is not really wanting to do anything science related at college - so I am looking to do the minimum I can.
Please share your ideas and experience.
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Elizabeth
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| Posted: March 30 2009 at 3:31pm | IP Logged
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You don't need to do them all. You don't even need to do those particular ones. You do need two lab sciences. Michael took Biology and Geology in the community college and did Natural Science at home...If you don't want to do the community college, you might consider a home school co-op for science with labs.
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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MarilynW
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| Posted: March 30 2009 at 3:49pm | IP Logged
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Thanks Elizabeth. I spoke this morning with a lovely lady locally who does science classes and labs in her home. ( a lot of the local Catholic home schoolers go to her classes) I already have Abby on her list for Biology in 2010/11. She recommended that Abby do Abeka's Physical Science at home for 9th. Abby will be too young for NOVA.
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Maria B.
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| Posted: March 30 2009 at 3:50pm | IP Logged
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How many sciences you do depends on what your child might major in and where they are considering going to college. Different colleges have different requirements for admittance. If you know your child is most likely to be a science major of some sort, I would take as many sciences as you can. The two most important for high school are Biology and Chemistry.
I would not take a Biology class at a community college unless your child was mature and in 11/12th grade. There are some potential sensitive topics in Biology. I would definitely recommend a local homeschool class/coop if you can find one.
(Marilyn, there is a great Biology and Chemistry class for high school students offered by one of the moms in Reston. Call me if you would like more information. My ninth grader is taking it now and will be very well prepared for her Biology SAT in June. The class is fantastic.)
My son took Physics at our local community college and did not have good luck two semesters with his teachers. The class was very poor. But again, I have heard of kids that had good experiences, i.e. Elizabeth's son for example.
For Chemistry, my son took an online class with one of his homeschooling buddies and they did the labs together at home. This worked out very well. He was well prepared for his Chemistry class at the Naval Academy so that says a lot.
For the sciences, as I mentioned, I think it really helps mom and benefits the student, if they take a class with other students or a friend. That way they can work on the labs together.
Hope this helps!
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Maria in VA
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MarilynW
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| Posted: March 30 2009 at 3:56pm | IP Logged
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Maria - we cross-posted! I did speak to the Reston mom. (she is actually the first Catholic homeschooler I ever spoke to - and she spent so much time with me 5 years ago when I was agonizing whether to pull my kids out of parochial school!!) Abby is too young for the chemistry class next year. But she will do the Biology.
Abby really does not want to do anything science or tech related - she feels she is sure at this stage?!
I will email you this evening as I have a couple of other questions for you.
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Maria B.
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| Posted: March 30 2009 at 4:08pm | IP Logged
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Sounds good Marilyn. Vicky in will be in that 2010/2011 Biology class too!
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Maria in VA
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Elizabeth
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| Posted: March 30 2009 at 4:24pm | IP Logged
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Marilyn,
You can also consider delaying high school science until later. Isn't Abby only 12? If she's not looking towards going into science, it's nice to wait and take science at the community college late in her high school career and then get dual credit for it. That way, she won't need to take it in college, but she will have the college credit for it.
Of course, if she wants to be a science major or go somewhere that is heavily geared towards science (like in Maria's Billy's case), she needs high school science early and often and the CC courses wouldn't count any way. But if she's looking at a Va university, they would, particularly if she's not a science major.
And I think Maria's right about the labs: she needs at least one science buddy, if not a co-op.
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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StephanieA
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| Posted: March 30 2009 at 6:13pm | IP Logged
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I will also caution that care needs to be taken when choosing a biology class, especially the lower level basic biology classes. Teachers/profs can make a huge difference.
My oldest son CLEPed out of biology, but made a high enough score to use towards a higher level bio course. But later (as a junior) he had to retake the lowest level biology (yup, sounds stupid, but hey, that's academia at times) for hours towards his major (bio/chem).
Anyway....the class was pathetic. S...x stuff was horrible. Luckily he got out of the group activities, because he took it as an online class. But I saw the text and I wanted to tear pages out or ban it from the house 
Now I know why I wanted him to CLEP.
But a good prof could be a blessing. Luckily, Elizabeth and maybe others have a suitable option.
Blessings,
Stephanie
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MarilynW
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| Posted: March 30 2009 at 7:21pm | IP Logged
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Elizabeth wrote:
Marilyn,
You can also consider delaying high school science until later. Isn't Abby only 12? . |
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Elizabeth
Abby has this notion about early graduation. Not something we have encouraged - but she is so set on it and is advanced in Math and Writing and passes tests easily - so high school placement tests are easy for her. Maybe I will start a thread about early graduation. She wants to graduate at 16 and then spend time travelling, working and getting college credit from somewhere like NOVA.
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Marilyn
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4Real Forums : High School Years and Beyond
Topic: High school science questions??
