Your favorite textbooks for Logic stage?

[creekmom]

I know it's not very "classical", but my fear of leaving gaps in my son's education has me looking more at textbooks for the logic stage (especially for science and history). Which ones are your favorites?

[Guest]

I have not used but heard great things about BJU, K12, Apologia Science series and Prentice-Hall Science Explorers. I have one that would prefer I gave him a stack of textbooks and let him go at them.

[Jlynn]

We're in the middle of my son's 6th grade year and I've consistenly liked Bob Jone's Science and Rod & Staff's English and Math (though we've had to move on to Saxon since R&S ends in 8th grade and he was a little ahead).

 

New curr. we're using this year because of Logic stage is:

First Form Latin -LOVE this!

Critical Thinking books - a good challenge for both of us

Mystery of History -I'm actually surprised he's like this one so much because I was afraid he would find the writing style to be a little too simplistic, but it's been a great fit so far. We've also got the Bob Jones 6th grade history book sitting on the shelf and he can read through one of those chapters in just a few days when we're covering that particular time in History, such as the Ancient Greeks...but he likes MOH much more.

 

We've used Sonlight from the beginning and only this year did I stop using their IG and just stuck their books into his schedule with MOH

[Matryoshka]

Two kids in 7th grade here...

 

For history, I love K12's Human Odyssey series. We're supplementing with the Oxford Press World in Ancient Times series, which aren't quite as textbooky but also very nice texts.

 

For science, we've been using CPO's textbooks for middle school and have been very happy.

 

For math, there are so many ways to go... I've got one kid in Singapore Discovering Mathematics, one in Lial's BCM - next year's Algebra, and Foerster's, Lial's and AoPS are all possibilites...

 

I don't think we're using textbooks in any other subjects... curricula, yes, but not textbooks.

[holdoll]

Apologia for science, although they are so narrative they don't read like a textbook. We did Omnibus for history/lit in middle school and then switched to Abeka for history/lit starting in 9th grade. We also switched over to BJU for English/Grammar. They love it and hated IEW, Writing Strands, etc. :confused:. (Although I did make oldest sit through HSEI.)

[bunnyvirus]

http://http://classicalacademicpress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=22

[funschooler5]

Two kids in 7th grade here...

 

For history, I love K12's Human Odyssey series. We're supplementing with the Oxford Press World in Ancient Times series, which aren't quite as textbooky but also very nice texts

 

:iagree:

 

I second K12 Human Odyssey. I love the way the information is organized, and the illustrations are beautiful! We've only used Our Modern World, but I am planning on buying the whole series when we can.

 

I'll have to check out that Ancient Times series! I miss having outside reading planned for us (like in SOTW). Sometimes my oldest DD will "steal" some of DS's history library books to read. :tongue_smilie:

[creekmom]

http://http://classicalacademicpress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=22

 

Thanks for the recommendation, but I can't get the link to work. Do you mind reposting it?

[Mommyfaithe]

Thanks for the recommendation, but I can't get the link to work. Do you mind reposting it?

 

I hit it too...then read the username...Bunny-virus???? OOOOHHHHKKKAAAAYYY!!!!!! and it was a visitor...I hope this wasn't a bad link.

 

Or maybe I am paranoid and she was trying to link us to The Art of Argument, which I loved for the Logic stage as well....

[Kate in VA]

I think this maybe the book she was referring to

 

that may help

[Matryoshka]

Or maybe I am paranoid and she was trying to link us to The Art of Argument, which I loved for the Logic stage as well....

 

:lol: The link works if you edit out the extra http:// at the beginning... it does indeed link to the Art of Argument. :lol:

[Corraleno]

For history, I love K12's Human Odyssey series. We're supplementing with the Oxford Press World in Ancient Times series, which aren't quite as textbooky but also very nice texts.

 

For science, we've been using CPO's textbooks for middle school and have been very happy.

:iagree:

K12's 3-volume middle school history series, and the two multi-volume series from OUP (World in Ancient Times and Medieval & Early Modern World) are excellent. For less textbooky kids, Teaching Company courses + documentaries + living books can cover the same material.

 

CPO are my favorite MS science textbooks, but I also like the Longman GCSE/IGCSE books, which are beautifully illustrated British test prep books (I believe there are free answer keys for the Longman IGSCE books? Check with Paula/elegantlion). Mahlon Hoagland's The Way Life Works is a good alternative to textbooks for bio.

 

Jackie

[Luckymama]

For history, I love K12's Human Odyssey series. We're supplementing with the Oxford Press World in Ancient Times series, which aren't quite as textbooky but also very nice texts.

 

For science, we've been using CPO's textbooks for middle school and have been very happy.

 

:iagree:K12 Human Odyssey + World in Ancient Times/The Medieval & Early Modern World and CPO Earth are being used very successfully here. I have had many, many years of looking at various textbooks and these are unlike any textbooks I've ever encountered.

[HollyDay]

science: my oldest really liked BJU (until 7th grade) but my youngest did not like it at all. For 6th we are currently doing Apologia Swimming Creatures. We did Land Animals this summer and the first couple months of this year. However, I am planning on using Abeka 6 after the Christmas break. I want to cover some things like magnetism, electricity, rocks/minerals, etc. that apologia just does not cover.

 

history: we are using SOTW vol 4 with Hakim's History of US and tons of readers. (Oldest used BF for 7th and 8th but did not like it). 4th and 5th we used BF Early American and Westward Expansion plus additional readers. Unfortunately, neither liked the literature approach to history.

[mcconnellboys]

I don't really like textbooks for history at any age, sorry.

 

For sciences, if you really must use a textbook, I guess I'd say:

 

Biology - Hoagland

 

http://www.amazon.com/Exploring-Way-Life-Works-Science/dp/076371688X

 

Chemistry - Suchocki

 

http://www.amazon.com/Conceptual-Chemistry-Understanding-Molecules-Second/dp/0805332286

 

Physics - Hewitt

 

http://www.amazon.com/Conceptual-Physics-Package-Paul-Hewitt/dp/0805391908

 

And what about another science? I don't know what else you might want to do..... If you want an earth science, maybe I'd do Ring of Fire:

 

http://www.sciencekitsforkids.com/level2.htm

[HSMom2One]

We are using TOG and it is working out beautifully for logic (dialectic) stage. TOG covers history, geography, composition, worldview, philosophy and government through classical style units, but it isn't a textbook curriculum. TOG is particularly great for logic and rhetoric stage students, with great socratic discussions built into the TN's. I am amazed at how much my dd has learned in the past year since we started using it. I am planning to use it all the way through, unless dd ends up going to private school at some point.

 

I'm also sold on Apologia science and plan to stick with it all the way through as well. This year we are enjoying studying with the Botany textbook, and next year we plan to move into Gen Science for 7th grade. We love the textbooks and the lab kits, and are so impressed with the quality of the lessons. I'm REALLY hoping that the books written by Dr. Jay Wile will be available long term since he left the company. I think I would have to stockpile whatever I could get my hands on or jump ship if they weren't. He is the reason Apologia science books are as high quality as they are!

 

For pre-logic, we are enjoying Fallacy Detectives this year. Using this great little book has sure helped my dd stop and think. I'm not sure what we'll choose next, but most likely it will be another Bluedorn book until we get into formal logic.

 

We feel so blessed to have great curriculum like we have! I can't imagine trying to teach my dd without these books.

 

Blessings,

Lucinda

[creekmom]

:iagree:K12 Human Odyssey + World in Ancient Times/The Medieval & Early Modern World and CPO Earth are being used very successfully here. I have had many, many years of looking at various textbooks and these are unlike any textbooks I've ever encountered.

 

 

I think K12 looks great, but WOW, I can't imagine spending over $300.00 on one course for one year! Is there a way to get this cheaper?

[Luckymama]

I think K12 looks great, but WOW, I can't imagine spending over $300.00 on one course for one year! Is there a way to get this cheaper?

 

 

I bought the K12 text, the student softcover workbook, and the teacher's pages (also softcover) all used through amazon. I think I spent about $80 total, maybe close to $90---I had a hard time finding the student pages.

 

I am NOT using the K12 course, just their books!

 

I have a great library, with multiple copies of the Oxford Press The World in Ancient Times series in our local branch. The local branch carries one copy each of the medieval/early modern volumes. I can request whatever isn't in through another branch in the system.

 

I do know that the Oxford Press books go on sale infrequently as I've come across posts discussing that. I haven't looked at the prices, new or used, since I have access through the library.

[FaithManor]

Ds 8th grade -

 

Vocabulary from Classical Roots (completely C and D this year)

 

Fallacy Detective and the Thinking Toolbox for 7th grader - Art of the Argument for 8th grade

 

Apologia General Science in 7th grade, Physical Science in 8th grade

 

Mindbenders for 5th and 6th grades (all of the books A-C)

 

Prima Latina - 5th grade

Latina Christiana - 6th grade

Latina Christiana II - 7th grade

Henle Latin- 8th and 9th grade

 

Romans, Revolutionaries, Reformers by AIG, plus the Kingfisher History Encyclopedia, and Usborne Internet Linked Medieval World History Encyclopedia, plus mapwork and some activities (mostly for the 5th grader) from SWB's History Volume 2 (we've already completed it once).

 

Faith

[Granny_Weatherwax]

For history - All American History with lots of supplements

For Science - Apologia with lots of supplements

Language arts- MCT, although I don't know if the books are considered textbooks (??)

 

We tried using Chalkdust Algebra but didn't like it.

[Narrow Gate Academy]

The God's Design series from Answers in Genesis is set up in textbook format. The chemistry and physics series would definitely be middle school level.

[kzdaisy]

I don't like textbooks but dd does so we are doing Prentice Hall Science Explorer we have been enjoying it.Karin

[Gratia271]

:iagree:

K12's 3-volume middle school history series, and the two multi-volume series from OUP (World in Ancient Times and Medieval & Early Modern World) are excellent. For less textbooky kids, Teaching Company courses + documentaries + living books can cover the same material.

 

CPO are my favorite MS science textbooks, but I also like the Longman GCSE/IGCSE books, which are beautifully illustrated British test prep books (I believe there are free answer keys for the Longman IGSCE books? Check with Paula/elegantlion). Mahlon Hoagland's The Way Life Works is a good alternative to textbooks for bio.

 

Jackie

 

Just when I thought I had everything down pat. Now I have more books to go investigate. :tongue_smilie:

[beezus]

We have been using the Prentice Hall Science Explorer book for Motion, Forces and Energy. It seems to be working okay for us. The explanations are pretty clear and it incorporates quite a bit of math. There is also an online component for extra resources and quizzes if you want to use them.

 

For math we are using Foerster's Algebra I: Expressions, Equations and Applications. We've had fits and starts with algebra around here and this seems to be very incremental with good examples. Not just easy examples followed by hard problems. My math-phobic daughter seems to actually be absorbing and understanding algebra now. We have an older version of this book and there aren't a lot of colorful pictures in it, but there are diagrams that relate to the problems, not just splashy photos to take up space. We found that type of thing rather distracting in another book we used.

 

We are also incorporating Life of Fred: Beginning Algebra into our math studies. Not everyone's cup of tea, but I think it is helping to solidify the algebra we are doing in our standard textbook. Plus my daughter just thinks it kinda fun.

[Catherine]

I've used other math textbooks too, including Singapore, and I've got Art of Problem Solving Geometry for next year, but Foerster's algebra is good stuff. I have used at different times, Singapore O-level Biology and O-level Chemistry for eighth grade and liked both very much. Also agree with Conceptual Physics. At this age, you can pick and choose without doing all of them, if they seem like too much for the kid-that's what we do. And the O-level course from Singapore is now called Chemistry Matters and Biology Matters.