“Do you have a recommendation for a high school statistics curriculum?”
Cheri
Dear Cheri,
The programs I’m most familiar with are usually used as electives, rather than a standard math course.
I love the Teaching Company Course called Statistics Made Clear. It’s best for visual learners, or when you don’t need it as a math class I also like Statistics the Easy Way, by my son’s mentor Dr. Doug Downing.
It’s best for kids that learn through literature, and again, it’s not a perfect math class.
That would be fun for a child that enjoys politics and current events. Life of Fred Statistics is another literary book, but a fuller math class. Since it covers a whole year of college statistics, sometimes it’s a little bit too much.
Some textbooks do it one way, and some do it the other way. They all try to convince you that THEIR way is the RIGHT way! It doesn’t matter mathematically which one comes first, to be honest.
High school children might benefit if they have geometry before 11th grade, for purposes of the PSAT and SAT.
There is quite a bit of geometry on the PSAT. In order to get the National Merit Scholarship, you have to have completed geometry by 10th grade. But you know, the National Merit Scholarship is only ONE reason to take the PSAT. Very, VERY few people get the scholarship. You have to be in the top 1/2 of 1 percent in the nation (in general.) The other purpose for taking the PSAT is just for the practice needed for the SAT. It gives kids practice with sitting in a large group and filling out bubbles, it gives them practice with a test where they can’t know all the answers, and it gives them practice with the format of the SAT. In other words, the PSAT has two purposes; for fun, and for profit. Here is an article that can clarify it a bit more.
Taking geometry FIRST when kids are in 10th grade makes sense. It can increase your test scores, thereby increasing financial aid from colleges. Geometry and algebra are quite different skills. But geometry includes some algebra 1 skills, so it’s sort of a nice year-long review of algebra, giving kids a chance to really digest and “become one” with algebra 1 concepts.
For most people, what comes first doesn’t matter. The most important think is that your child is learning math consistently each year.
I have a new homeschool high school Twitter site. Get all the homeschool posts of parents homeschooling high school by joining my Twibe.
Do not shy away from the creation-evolution debate. While not critical for younger children, high school students need to have some understanding on both sides of the debate. Although we didn’t shy away from the debate in our homeschool, I wish I had covered the topic even more.
Students need to become informed so they can provide reasoned arguments for their beliefs. Without understanding the issue, they can’t reasonably form their own belief system. They need the information for some tests, particularly the biology AP and CLEP exams.
As they leave your home, they may begin to question their beliefs. I felt that I had done a good job of covering the issues. We had numerous books on the topic at home, and we used Apologia sciences, which has an explanation of the creationist viewpoint. We didn’t shy away from evolution, and some of our school books had an assumption of evolution. My children understood the concepts of evolution, and could explain their beliefs to others.
Even so, one of my children has since wondered if I didn’t cover evolution enough. I carefully explained (again) our many discussions and books on the issue. I think he was remembering only the creationist material, and had forgotten the other material. it was interesting to me that he would have preferred MORE information on evolution. He felt that it could have prepared him better in college.
If you are concerned about evolution in your home, consider carefully the age of your student. At some point you want them to become an adult, and learn about variety of different opinions so they can develop their own. You want them to face the culture with their beliefs firmly attached – beliefs based on fact, rather than ignorance. With information and discussion you can strengthen your child’s ability to stand firm.
I’m a huge fan of Apologia sciences! I believe it’s wonderful college preparation, and that their Biology, Chemistry, and Physics can provide the highest quality college prep education.
On the other hand, I have heard mixed results from their General Science and Physical Science curriculum. These are recent additions to Apologia, actually. Years ago, they only provided Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. Prior to that, the author Jay Wile recommended using unit studies to encourage the love of science in middle school. He suggested saving textbooks for high school.
Home school lab sciences can mean almost anything. There is no true definition of what a lab science is. You can read more about the definition of a lab science in this blog post
Lab science equipment can be purchased from many sources. Most often I recommend purchasing the Sonlight science kits; Apologia Biology with everything you need for experiments Or www.hometrainingtools.com
We did our labs at home, using materials from Sonlight, HomeTrainingTools, and Apologia. My children were well prepared for college, and both earned “As” in their first year of college sciences. I really do think that homeschooling science labs can give a great foundation!
Although you can use General Science and Physical Science for high school credit when taken at high school age, I do not recommend giving high school credit when the courses are done during middle school.
Click here to read more about why teaching your high schooler is highly overrated.
Any suggestions on how to incorporate cartooning into completing math assignments? So far, my son has come up with 1001 ways to destroy a math book. You can do anything in cartoons, but in reality, you can learn algebraic concepts.
I have no ideas for actually incorporating cartooning into algebra (LOL!)
I have seen cartooning as an art, as occupational education (when you make it a business) and as a technology credit (when you do it though computer programming rather than drawing.)
I know that each parent can determine what is right for their own child. My job is to support independent homeschooling, however. When I get questions about alternative education programs, I don’t want parents to feel that I’m being judgmental. On the other hand, I do try to point out alternatives that retain independence, so you can ensure the successful education of your child.
What about online lab material. Have you seen anything like this available for “private” homeschoolers? What do you think about the virtual labs? My son thinks they are very cool and has heard online college classes are using them.
~Kelly in Colorado
Online and alternative education classes may be appealing because they are often free. The big problem is that this kind of material is only financially free – there are other costs involved. Online classes with accredited programs often are rigid and inflexible, with strict rules requiring certain things. That can limit your ability to teach your child in the way they learn best. It’s important to recognize that while classrooms progress in a plodding, standard speed, children don’t learn that way. Kids learn in spurts. In classroom setting (physical or online classrooms) kids may get frustrated when the class goes to fast or bored when the class goes too slow.
If you are feeling tempted by online science materials, consider free materials that are available to independent homeschoolers. There are many colleges that offer online classes in a variety of subjects. MIT is just one example, with their free online classes called “Open CourseWare”
You can also find high quality science lectures in the library. Although not a lab science, the learning is fabulous! The Teaching Company course are available in most libraries. You can find a course you like here.
A simple google search of “online virtual labs” will provide abundant material for every branch of science, with labs tied to many different books. Some online virtual labs are intended for high schools, and others are tied to particular textbooks. There is some amazing free material that anyone can enjoy!
I have recently had a few clients contacting me about alternative education and accredited programs. A few of them have had their children fail online classes due to illness, and are now facing a devastating-yet-official grade point average. One mother paid for an expensive program, and her daughter earned a 1.75 GPA for her first year of high school. Ouch! The appeal is easy to see, but the costs may be hidden until a year later. My advice is to tread carefully, and search for alternative that support your independence as a homeschooler.
The HomeScholar Gold Care Club will give you the comprehensive help you need homeschooling high school.
New Location: First Evangelical Presbyterian Church
You are invited to attend the third annual “Washington Homeschool Science & Engineering Fair” on 3/20/10 from 2-5 p.m. in Renton, WA.
Attached is a Student Registration Form due 2/28/10. Each student needs an Adult Volunteer available at the fair to listen to other students’ projects. Additional volunteers are needed for families with more than two children participating. Each student will give four presentations to four different adult volunteers. Each Adult Volunteer will listen to four presentations and fill out feedback forms.
Visitors are welcome, but must remain quiet during presentations and during the awards ceremony. *The best way to observe the fair is to volunteer to listen to students’ projects as an Adult Volunteer.* It’s very easy and will give you ideas to help your own children. Please contact me at WHSEF@dorealthings.com if you would like to volunteer, but do not have a student participating.
A brief training for Adult Volunteers will be held from 2:15 – 2:30 p.m. All Adult Volunteers must attend this training.
The new fair location is larger and easier to find. Unfortunately, there is a facility fee so the participation cost is $10 per student. Please let us know if this would provide a hardship for your family.
WHSEF Schedule:
2:00 – 2:15 Project Setup
2:15 – 2:30 Adult Volunteer Training
2:30 – 4:30 Student Presentations
4:30 – 5:00 Awards Ceremony
Each student participant will receive a medallion during the Awards Ceremony. Students will not be judged against each other nor receive placement awards at this fair.
Participation in the Washington State Science Fair March 26 & 27 is strongly encouraged . Registration deadline for the State Science Fair is March 13th. (If you live in Pierce or Thurston Counties you would attend the Regional Fair instead of the State Fair on the same dates. http://www.plu.edu/~scifair .
My daughter is entering high school next year and we pretty much have her year laid out and what she wants to take. We sat down and did this together. But my question is this – she has never had Pre-Algebra. Is it necessary to take that or can she just go into Algebra I and be okay. I don’t remember taking Pre-Algebra in high school and am not quite sure what to do in this area. Thank you for any guidance in this area.
~ Andra in Kentucky
Hi Andra,
Choose your math curriculum first, and then try to find a placement test for her. Here is a link for a Saxon placement test that should help. That placement test will determine what math level she should take. Some advanced math classes taken in 8th grade will cover all the necessary pre-algebra content, so she may be fine without the additional class. For more information, check out this blog post.
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Are Apologia science textbooks rigorous enough for college-bound students? Sure, they are popular with homeschoolers, but how GOOD are they as science books?
Are Apologia science textbooks are fairly rigorous, for college-bound students? I’ve heard a few conflicting reports…
~Jill in Seattle
Apologia is a very rigorous college prep series. I don’t usually recommend specific curriculum, because I know it’s all about “fit” more than a textbook. When it comes to science, though, I had such success with the curriculum we used, that I really do recommend it – even to my clients that are not Christian.
I know it for a fact that Apologia is a great college preparation because Alex (my non-scientist son) was able to pass a CLEP in Biology 3 years after taking Apologia Biology at home. He earned a 4.0 in Engineering Physics in college after taking Apologia Physics. Remember, he is NOT my science major. I made him take that engineering physics at community college with his brother, because he was too young to take a class by himself. So he learned well from the books even though he didn’t “love” science. Apologia is GREAT stuff.
I know for a fact that Apologia is great college preparation because my son Kevin is an electrical engineering major in college. He still refers to his Apologia Physics book now and then. He used Apologia chemistry over the summer, to review for a class he was taking. He has reviewed his physics book frequently. It’s been one of my “best buys” for curriculum, because they have literally used them for 5 years. Kevin has a fabulous GPA in engineering, and I believe it is in part because he was so well prepared with Apologia Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.
If you want to make Apologia even MORE rigorous, it is possible. You can go through a book in a semester instead of a year, and make it an AP course if you want, but it’s not necessary at all, just an option. I have heard of some “college prep” AP classes, like through Pennsylvania Homeschoolers for example, that actually take a child 5 hours a day to complete. That would be so frustrating to spend 5 hours a day on one class! One mother was letting core subjects in reading, writing and math slide, just so her child could get an AP Chemistry credit. That’s a lot of work for not a lot of benefit. It’s easier to keep your subjects at the level of your children when they do it at home with a homeschool curriculum.
Apologia is a self-teaching homeschool curriculum, so kids can learn it on their own, and moms don’t have to know what they are doing in order to be successful. That’s a big deal, because I didn’t have a clue about physics, and barely was able to keep up with the chemistry.
Yes, absolutely Apologia is college prep. It’s not perfect, because no curriculum is perfect. All textbooks have typos- ALL of them – and I’m sure someone could find a flaw in these books like you can find a flaw in every book. Still it’s great preparation, and I recommend it even for my clients that aren’t Christian.
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Here is an idea for teaching your homeschool children computer literacy! The Scratch Website from MIT may be a perfect fit! Read this article in Communications of the ACM, called Scratch: Programming for All.
The article says that “Digital fluency” should mean designing, creating, and remixing, not just browsing, chatting, and interacting. It says that just using a computer is like knowing how to read, but not write. They promote computer programming in a fun, non-threatening way for children 8 to adult.
A growing number of schools around the world use Scratch as a first step into programming. Scratch is used by K–12 schools, and universities like Harvard and University of California, Berkeley). “We wanted to make it easy for everyone, of all ages, backgrounds, and interests, to program their own interactive stories, games, animations, and simulations, and share their creations with one another.”
Thank you to my son Kevin, for pointing out this wonderful opportunity for homeschoolers!
Just two days until launch! Sign up for our free webinar tomorrow called, “Credits and Grades and Transcripts, Oh My!!” Here is the registration link: HomeScholar Webinar.
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