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Carole N.
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My ds will be taking chemistry next year. I need recommendations from others about what works and what does not work. While we like science, it is not our strongest subject area. We have used MODG for Natural History and Biology. I know that there is a new MODG curriculum using the Apologia books.
I have also seen references to Science for High School. Is this a good program? I read in another thread where the biology might be a bit on the light side. Is this true of the chemistry?
I am not a science teacher. I really like the idea of using living books, but I am afraid that if I don't have that checklist, I may get lost and not complete the class as I should. I always have the best intentions, but I cannot tell you how many programs/books I intend to use and then never get to them. 
I did use living books with my children when they were younger. And while I don't see my ds studying science for a degree, he still needs the basic information.
Sorry to ramble, but definitely need advice. Thanks so much.
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 Carole ... in Wales
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Erin
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Carole
I'm going to throw in another textbook choice. After MUCH facilitation we have just purchased a physics program from Singapore Science and they also have a chemistry program. We are very impressed with it. In the end my husband was planning on designing/cobbling together his own curriculum for our higschoolers. When these books arrived he said it was just as he was planning on doing. They are fairly rigorous, as well as the main textbook there is a theory and a prac book. I'm very impressed with them also, the theory book has exercises to make them really think and to answer relating to the text, the prac book is hands on.
Peter at Half Moon Books in the UK sells Singapore. I purchased mine directly from Singapore, all the American sites I looked at seemed to sell different programs. Rainbow Resouce did sell Singapore Science books up to grade 8 but they were different to what I got.
Oh and I so understand where you are coming from, this is the first time my children have used a textbook other than maths. The time had come for a more formal direction. Oh the relief for me.
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Carole N.
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Erin, thank you for the information. I am not trying to limit myself to any one curriculum necessarily, but to find the one that works best for us. My dh is a chemical engineer so he can always give me a hand, but I really want to be able to teach this without too much intervention on his part.
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Carole ... in Wales
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Carole N.
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Erin, I am looking at the information at Singapore, and I think that the difference is the package is geared for testing with the GCE exams, is that correct? Since I am not going to have my ds sit for exams, then I could just purchase the textbook. Correct me if I am wrong.
I also noticed that there are two levels of Chemistry. I will have my dh look at these tonight, but I am wondering if I do purchase the program would I get the 11th/12th grade program? I could be reading the years wrong, but my ds will be in his 12th year next year if you use system in the UK.
Just looking for feedback. Once again, still haven't decided. No other moms out there with recommendations?
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Carole ... in Wales
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Tonya
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I used Apologia Chemistry for two of my children. It was very difficult for my daughter because I was not able to help her as we were in the middle of a move and my husband went ahead of us for six months. I was trying to sell a house and homeschool everybody. She was frustrated much of the year. My son used it successfully but he worked with another student and they helped each other. Apologia Chemistry is as difficult and comprehensive as any chemistry that a child would take in highschool, if not more so. I do think that, although difficult, the Apologia material is very well presented. You do need to counter a bit of the Protestant leanings.
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Kathryn UK
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Erin wrote:
Peter at Half Moon Books in the UK sells Singapore. I purchased mine directly from Singapore, all the American sites I looked at seemed to sell different programs. Rainbow Resouce did sell Singapore Science books up to grade 8 but they were different to what I got.
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Erin / Carole ... I think Peter has now closed Halfmoon Books, but I know he passed his UK agency for Singapore to Ichthus Resources. I haven't checked their site, so don't know what Singapore Science books they stock.
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Carole N.
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Thanks, Tonya, for your experience. I do know a bit about moving and homeschooling at the same time! I had heard about the Protestant leanings and that was one of the reasons that I was seeking other avenues.
Kathryn, I am familiar with Ichthus Resources. I will check them out to see what they have.
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Carole ... in Wales
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Erin
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Kathryn
Thanks for the info about Halfmoon. Peter sold his Australian part but I assumed that was because maybe he was staying in Ireland.
Carole N. wrote:
| Erin, I am looking at the information at Singapore, and I think that the difference is the package is geared for testing with the GCE exams, is that correct? Since I am not going to have my ds sit for exams, then I could just purchase the textbook. Correct me if I am wrong. |
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Not really correct, actually I am very happy that I purchased the package. The theory has extension questions very thought provoking. Some opinions are to not buy the prac book in a homeschool situation as they may not be able to do the experiments. I am very pleased I did but then that is for physics and not chemistry!
Carole N. wrote:
| I also noticed that there are two levels of Chemistry. I will have my dh look at these tonight, but I am wondering if I do purchase the program would I get the 11th/12th grade program? I could be reading the years wrong, but my ds will be in his 12th year next year if you use system in the UK. |
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I'd probably consider the older grade, unless you think to start less rigorous. What did your dh think? How are you going in your decision making? I agonized over this but such a relief now to have done it.
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Genevieve
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Carole N. wrote:
| Erin, I am looking at the information at Singapore, and I think that the difference is the package is geared for testing with the GCE exams, is that correct? Since I am not going to have my ds sit for exams, then I could just purchase the textbook. Correct me if I am wrong. |
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The practice exams are excerpts of past A- or O- level exam questions. They are similar to workbook questions. I found them very useful when I studied Singapore Science. The answers were given in full and really fleshed out concepts from the textbook. Singapore textbooks tend to be very concise so additional problem sets helped build my understanding of the material.
Carole N. wrote:
| I also noticed that there are two levels of Chemistry. I will have my dh look at these tonight, but I am wondering if I do purchase the program would I get the 11th/12th grade program? I could be reading the years wrong, but my ds will be in his 12th year next year if you use system in the UK. |
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I'm not sure what you mean by two levels. Perhaps you could link them? Anyhow, Singapore students take the o-level exams at 16 years of age and A-level exams at 18years. When I started my undergraduate degree in engineering, my university recognized the A-level material to be similar to the basic freshman engineering science courses. So I got AP credit and also passed out of all university intro science classes. I also found that when I took SAT II, that I was sufficiently prepared after only studying halfway through the A-level science textbook.
PM me if you need for more information of how the Singapore system lines up with American standards. I might forget to keep track of this thread. 
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Carole N.
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Wow! I am overwhelmed! I have not had my dh look at the program yet. There is just so much information listed and I am a bit intimadated by it all. Since I am not a science person, I wonder if in fact I can teach this to my ds. We are really struggling this year with biology.
I need to read this through more carefully. Thanks for the information. I'll let you know if I have any more questions.
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Carole ... in Wales
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stellamaris
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We did an intensive chemistry course with our eldest son ten years ago (it was through Seton, I think, with a lot of labs). After dealing with all the chemicals in the house and having little ones around, I decided that chemistry is one course my children will take as dual-enrolled students at the local community college. So far, three of them have taken it at the college level and two of the three have not had any problems with the difficulty of the course (one did , but that one is not the science person here  ). This is one course I would never teach at home at the high school level unless I 1)had no choice or 2)had no other children.
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Erin
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Genevieve
I'm just about to order the A Level Biology for my 11th grade dd. Anyhow we never did get around to studying the O Level in Biology. Do you think there would be a problem in going straight to the A Level?
Carole
What did you end up doing?
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Genevieve
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Erin wrote:
Genevieve
I'm just about to order the A Level Biology for my 11th grade dd. Anyhow we never did get around to studying the O Level in Biology. Do you think there would be a problem in going straight to the A Level?
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The way Singapore Science is set up is a spiral system every two years. So the A level coverage is like O level only with more depth and very similar to a college-level intro course. So this depends on your child. Would she be overwhelmed with the amount of the information & the level of critical thinking? Otherwise go for it.
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Carole N.
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Erin, sorry for taking so long to reply. I ended up using MacBeth's Opinion and have not regretted it for one single moment. My ds did not enjoy science at all and the straight textbook approach did not work with him. I hate for any of my children to *not* like a subject. So my dh (who is a chemical engineer) suggested going this route. And my ds is loving it. He just finished reading A Periodic Kingdom and loved the book. We will be discussing it on Monday.
The only area that has been a struggle for me is in evaluating ds. I am not a scientist although very interested in the subject. He is reading and loving the subject, but I had no written test to give to him. So evalation has been lab sheets and discussion to see if he understands the concepts. And personally, I am okay with that.
I did want to thank everyone who contributed their ideas. It was a great help.
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Kristie 4
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Carole, I hope you don't mind me asking, but how did you structure his year? Did you use a specific book for the labs (like the Castle Heights one on MacBeth's Opinion)? I want to take this route more this year and definitely next year with two dc.
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Erin
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Genevieve
I ended up ordering the A level book for dd. We also purchased books for the boys, grade 9 and 7. Although I think we'll skip at least the last chapter in grade 7 
We are planning to use interesting books like Macbeth suggests to expand the chapters where the children either don't get it, or want to know more.
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Carole N.
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We are using The Joy of Chemistry as our spine. It includes one demonstation before the beginning of each chapter. I have supplemented using the manual that came along with our chemistry set and also the book Chemical Magic also recommended in MacBeth's Opinion.
As I live overseas, I sometimes have difficulty locating specific books. I was unable to locate the lab manual recommended. Still looking for suggestions if anyone has any!
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Carole ... in Wales
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lapazfarm
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Carole N. wrote:
We are using The Joy of Chemistry as our spine. It includes one demonstation before the beginning of each chapter. I have supplemented using the manual that came along with our chemistry set and also the book Chemical Magic also recommended in MacBeth's Opinion.
As I live overseas, I sometimes have difficulty locating specific books. I was unable to locate the lab manual recommended. Still looking for suggestions if anyone has any! |
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Cool! That is exactly what I was planning on using with ds, along with this lab manual:
Illustrated guide to Home Chemistry experiments: All lab No lecture
Be sure to let us know how it goes!
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Kristie 4
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Are you doing it next year Theresa (we will start chem. in a year (bio will take us through Christmas next year!).
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Kristie in Canada
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Kristie 4
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Thanks Carole...sounds like just the ticket!
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4Real Forums : Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science
Topic: High School Chemistry
