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High School Years and Beyond (Forum Locked Forum Locked)
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cheesehead mom
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Posted: Feb 28 2011 at 3:09pm | IP Logged Quote cheesehead mom

Can someone point me to a thread that talks about what different families have planned for high school science. My 14 year old took biology this year at Catholicscience.com but now I am thinking of what to do for next year? Specifically, what on line options there may be for a chemistry with lab.

Thank you.
Laura
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ALmom
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Posted: Feb 28 2011 at 5:05pm | IP Logged Quote ALmom

I have 2 sons who will be needing high school chemistry shortly - our plan is to do Catholicscience for chemistry without a lab and then have them duel enroll at the local college which will provide them with a lab, but only 1/2 credit. Then when we need to do physics we can duel enroll again for 1/2 credit (hopefully that is still something allowed). To fill in the credit shortfall, we can do whatever interests the science fan - perhaps an anatomy or botany or astronomy or ... or since he is a very science inclined child, he may simply keep duel enrolling for whatever he is allowed to take. I suspect he will win the professors support early on with whatever class he takes. He has taught himself all kinds of science things from sheer fun.

My other child began physical science in 8th and completed it in 9th so he has 1/2 credit on his transcript for physical science, 1 full credit with catholic science, 1/2 credit duel enrolling (to include the lab), 1 credit with online Biology and the lab we did (are doing) ourselves. If he can duel enroll for physics then he'll get 1/2 credit there. Perhaps his other science 1/2 credit can be more creative - related to what he is interested in - some sort of aerospace or science of flight or something along those lines. Or if he takes off with the science, he can simply keep duel enrolling with his brother.

My other option (and one I would consider for less science geared folks) is to cooperatively hire someone to do the labs one day a week, while we did the online classes.

There were some earlier desperate posts from me about science. I've since relaxed with the catholicscience online courses and we'll make those work or utilize our community resources. I will not be teaching any high school science myself!

Janet
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cheesehead mom
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Posted: March 02 2011 at 6:40pm | IP Logged Quote cheesehead mom

Are there any other online High School Science classes that people have used? I am hoping to compare options.
Laura
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leanne maree
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Posted: March 02 2011 at 7:19pm | IP Logged Quote leanne maree

Laura,
How did you find Catholicscience.com online?
We are considering it next year.

Leanne

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Posted: March 08 2011 at 4:10pm | IP Logged Quote ALmom

OOps - I thought someone asked me what I thought about this science course. We love it. If anyone wants further details feel free to contact me.

We love catholicscience.com! This is our 4th attempt at high school Biology and the only Biology that I think really worthwhile. It is serious science with a Catholic perspective, it has plenty of content, is organized, quick responses to questions from the author. My son has been able to go through this pretty independently - emailing an occassional question. It is very well laid out and explained. I have him print off lessons so I can glance at what he is doing and try to stay on top of things as needed. We are all very, very happy. I am looking forward to utlilizing whatever other courses he finishes in time for my boys. I'm thrilled that chemistry is ready.

Obviously, it has the limits of any on-line program. It is far better than any alternative available to us or that I have been able to find. This non-science person really is grateful for this resource.

Janet
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stefoodie
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Posted: March 08 2011 at 6:39pm | IP Logged Quote stefoodie

I'll just "ditto" what Janet said. :)

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Posted: March 18 2011 at 7:10am | IP Logged Quote krygerzoo

Glad to hear about this science program! I'm checking it out... I was thinking I'd use apologia's bio for lack of something better but would rather go all Catholic! Thanks so much for the great alternative!!!

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leanne maree
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Posted: March 18 2011 at 7:30am | IP Logged Quote leanne maree

WE were looking at Apologia, but I have sold it on and will be looking further into Catholic science online- for mid next year...
it was a great find..


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Posted: March 18 2011 at 9:20am | IP Logged Quote krygerzoo

I just emailed him for a list of the labs.
I'm glad I didn't buy Apologia afterall!


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Posted: March 18 2011 at 10:15am | IP Logged Quote ElizLeone

Can anyone offer a comparison between Regina Coeli online science courses versus CatholicScience.com science courses?

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Posted: March 18 2011 at 8:28pm | IP Logged Quote ElizLeone

I'd love to know also why some are ditching Apologia in favor of CatholicScience? What is better about CatholicScience?

And, do you consider it as rigorous as some of the other options out there?

Looking for science for next year...


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Posted: March 19 2011 at 10:10am | IP Logged Quote krygerzoo

We aren't sure what we will be using... Apologia is still on our list of options.

I just wanted a Catholic perspective with a sound science aspect. The nice thing about Apologia is I can use it with my other kids. As I understande, Catholicscience is a subscription for a year.

I'm searching freshman science options through various Catholic homeschool services. Seton, OLV, Kolbe, Regina Coeli, etc.

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cheesehead mom
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Posted: May 06 2011 at 9:48am | IP Logged Quote cheesehead mom

As I mentioned when I started this thread, my 14 son has been taking biology at catholicscience.com. I too think the instructor is very qualified and like having the Catholic perspective. Unfortunately this course is in its first year and there have been a lot of administrative issues that have made things difficult. As another poster said the course is set up to be a 35 week course (year long) and the instructor has only to date completed through week 13 and only posted 1 or 2 labs this entire year. Since April 13th (nearly a month now)there have been no questions or new readings posted. Throughout the school year there have been many days or weeks when no material was posted or questions were not posted so students were stuck. I have supplemented with some living books but it never occurred to me that the course would still not be written in May, 9 months after it began. If you are using this as only one part of your high school biology or dual enrolling this may work but I cannot say it is a complete course. I hope they are able to get the kinks out in the years to come but will need to spend our money elsewhere in order to get my son full credit for science.

Sincerely,

Laura
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Posted: May 10 2011 at 4:28pm | IP Logged Quote stefoodie

Just catching up, guys.

We are disappointed as well and need to let the board know esp. as people make decisions for the coming schoolyear.

The author is going through some personal stuff, but the kids need their lessons too.

I'm at a loss right now how to finish Biology with my 14-year-old and I'm wishing we had stuck to the "4Real" plan we used with our oldest a few years ago. Have to call Kolbe and ask for their advice.

I hope it's not too late to do a Macbeth :)

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Posted: June 07 2011 at 9:08am | IP Logged Quote stefoodie

just wanted to share this very nice letter I got from the author of Catholic Science today:

Quote:
As you are aware CatholicScience slowed down for a little while this past spring and unfortunately you found your studies interrupted. We would like to apologize for this interruption as it, while in no way was intentional, has I'm sure caused some problems for your planned time of study. Our family ran into some personal difficulties and losses that unfortunately robbed you of our full attention which you deserved. Please know that we are doing much better now and are coming back stronger. My wife will to be taking over the business end of CatholicScience so that I can devote my full energy into writing and teaching. Biology will be completed and up fully by June 20th. This is a month later than we had originally hoped and I pray it won't delay your child's learning by too long. As a thank you for taking a chance on CatholicScience during its first year of business and as an apology we'd like to offer your child a free year of Chemistry with CatholicScience for 2011-2012. If you are interested let us know you are a returning student at the start of the school year and we will manually set you up with the program. Thank you again for your patience and understanding.


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Karen T
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Posted: June 07 2011 at 10:28pm | IP Logged Quote Karen T

Just want to throw in a good word for Kolbe, at least for their chemistry course. I had used Apologia for biology for ds but felt it was not very rigorous and heard the chem was even worse. Kolbe uses Prentice-Hall's book and has a great syllabus with lesson plans and exams for either regular or honors work. We did the regular one and it was very rigorous. The only downside to me was that it utilizes only "virtual" labs on CD. Instead, I got The Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments and chose appropriate labs to coordinate with Kolbe. I did have to invest a good bit of $$ for lab equipment but will use it again with my younger kids eventually.

When the youngers get to hs I will probably look to Kolbe again for biology as well.

Karen
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