apologia users

[Guest Barb B]

We are going to use apologia advanced physics: for those who used apologia high school courses - do you review completed modules in any way, or just go on to the next? I am used to the Saxon math way of doing things with constant review of past things. If you do review past module - how do you review?

 

Also, how often do you meet with your dc. I am thinking of having ds read the module, do on your own, at the end of the module do both sets of questions at which time I will meet with him to grade these to make sure he has understanding of the module. Then I will give him the test. Is this enough time for ds and I to meet using this text? How do you and dc use this text?

 

Barb

Edited October 25, 2009 by Barb B

[Grace is Sufficient]

Primarily, we just go on to the next module, however, we do review previous modules for semester exams. We use the chapter review and practice questions, as well as module tests to review for exams.

 

HTH

[Sharon in MD]

The Apologia Advanced chemistry, and presumably Physics, had two chapters of review at the end of the text that provide and overall course (I and II) review. These chapters and nothing but review questions designed to help a student who is using Apologia prep for something like and AP exam or possibly SAT II.

 

the way we handled the chapters and testing was that DS was responsible for completing all the on your own problems as he worked his way through each chapter. He was supposed to check on his own to make sure he was getting the material. I did not check along behind him on these. At the end of the reading part of the module, he was required to complete the review questions and practice problems and check those. Then he had to take the exam. I did not check his review questions or practice problems...but again made him be responsible for those. I did grade the exams. I felt like he needed to take on the responsibility for figuring out how he was doing before tests because I knew I wouldn't be there to help with that in college.

 

We began doing it this way when he was a junior, but not before.

 

HTH

[Musicmom]

Ds confirms that the Adv Chem has review for the last 2 modules; he says the Adv Physics does not.

 

With all of the apologia texts, I've had my kids read the module, do the on your own questions, and practice problems by themselves (including checking their work). I just graded the tests. I think this helped them take responsibility and learn how to prepare for tests. Any review they needed was prompted by doing the practice problems (or study guide) and they did it themselves.

[KnitWit]

I have done Apologia the same.

[creekland]

Ditto for us. My boys are 100% responsible for reading, reviewing, doing the practice problems (and labs), and checking their work. I grade tests, go over what they got wrong (seldom much), assist with labs that 'aren't working,' go in to see their lab results when they are completed and general discussions come up when they are interested in things.

 

We do things this way for college prep.

[Guest Barb B]

Thanks for the replies. I guess thats why I want to change back to apologia for physics (we were trying another text for a while to compare) it seems like it can be less mom intensive. One more thought - do you all still read through the modules yourselves and do the work? - I think I have to or I won't be able to grade the tests. Even with the solution manual on hand - I need to understand things enough to give partial credit.

Barb

[Susan C.]

Thanks for the replies. I guess thats why I want to change back to apologia for physics (we were trying another text for a while to compare) it seems like it can be less mom intensive. One more thought - do you all still read through the modules yourselves and do the work? - I think I have to or I won't be able to grade the tests. Even with the solution manual on hand - I need to understand things enough to give partial credit.

Barb

 

Email test answers in question to Dr. Wile, he will tell you how much credit to give!

[Musicmom]

:iagree: I don't read the modules or do the problems. There's no way I would have time for that, so I'm relatively clueless when correcting the tests and rely heavily on the answer key explanations and intermediate steps shown. Fortunately, ds is very good at math and science and generally gets things right (here's hoping the same will be true of dd!) I did have one slight difficulty in the Adv Physics where ds's answers would be off by a hundredth through rounding at some point in the equation and it baffled both of us. I finally emailed Apologia about it and got a very quick (less than 24 hours) and helpful response.

[Guest Barb B]

Thanks for the replies. We have switched back to apologia adv. physics (from Giancoli physics). I started the module we are on last night and he makes it so much easier to understand. I will let ds on his own, except for once (or over 2 days) per module we will get together to grade the end of the module problem sets. I just like that to get an idea myself of how he's doing, it is also helpful to him when we discuss the problems he had difficulty with. I don't know what it is with me but - I still feel I should do the modules myself. HIstory and lit. of ds's I read over the summer, so during the school year I try to keep up with math and science with him. The 6th graders work for the week I read on Sunday evenings. I do 1/2 lesson in Saxon math the rest of the evenings and now part of physics modules. At least apologia seems less time consuming then the other text we were using!

 

Barb

[MyThreeSons]

Dr. Wile makes a big deal about subtracting partial points for presenting an answer with the incorrect number of significant figures. However, in the regular Physics text, several of his answers do not have the correct number. He has caught many of these errors and they have been corrected with subsequent printings. The Advanced Physics text may not have the same problem (I haven't used it), but I would be careful about taking off points for significant figures.