TiaTia Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 Setting aside Apologia for a moment, which chemistry course/approach would you recommend for a sophomore who's not STEM focused, dislikes math (getting A- in Saxon), and wants to attend a university that asks for four years of science culminating in physics? When she starts chem next year as a tenth grader, she will have finished bio and most/all of Algebra II. Proposed sequence: ninth bio, tenth chem, eleventh physics, and twelfth AP Environmental Science. Tia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angela in ohio Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 We really like the DIVE Chemistry. We are using it with BJU, which makes it very rigorous (my dds are both headed toward STEM fields,) but you could also use it with a less intense text. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ima6 Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 (edited) We are doing an integrated Chemistry and Physics using The STG and Dummy books along with Cosmology from Great Courses, Elegant Universe, How the Universe Works and The Glencoe Science text as a spine guide. Reading requirements are Genesis and the Big Bang, Elegant Universe, Fabric of the Cosmos, and a few others I haven't assigned yet. Chemistry now comes before Biology as well. The reasons are pretty obvious Apologia had been our standard for my first lot of kiddos, now in college, but the second batch, 14, 12, and 11, are going to be the integrated sciences. I did have to teach the youngest some algebraic principles but he likes formulas. Ber Edited February 28, 2012 by Ima6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom2boys Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 Friends of ours used, and liked, Friendly Chemistry. From what I understand, it contains much less math than Apologia. For what it is worth, my ds will take AP Environmental Science in 10th, followed by chemistry in 11th and physics in 12th. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam L in Mid Tenn Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 We used Conceptual Chemistry with a non-STEM gal here. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 In this past post, I linked all of the threads on chemistry for the non-math, non-STEM, non-chemistry people. Cheers! And best of luck finding which one works for your non-chemistry student! :) Warmest regards, Lori D. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephanieZ Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 We are having an excellent experience With spectrum chemistry this year. I highly recommend it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngieW in Texas Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 Spectrum is a pretty light chemistry. It's awfully warm and fuzzy. My dd spent 30-45 minutes/week on it, not counting the labs. The labs were actually quite good. Conceptual chemistry doesn't have as much math, but has a LOT more chemistry. I think it provides much better coverage than Spectrum does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TiaTia Posted March 30, 2012 Author Share Posted March 30, 2012 Continuing discussion from this & other threads, to what extent is your chemistry curriculum self-guided? Assuming a motivated, self-disciplined student, do you think your curriculum is/was suitable for minimal instructor involvement? Brenda in MA said she liked how planned-out Spectrum was, including lab supplies: http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=290192&highlight=spectrum Our goal: a mostly self-taught, not upper level, basic high school chemistry course with labs, with study plan already worked out. Doesn't have to meet all SAT II topics. Answer keys a must. We're now deciding between (a) Spectrum (http://beginningspublishing.com/oscommerce/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=43) and (b) CK-12 chemistry (first edition with teacher's book, etc) along with Robert Bruce Thompson's "Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments: All Lab, No Lecture" (ISBN 0596514921) and his lab kit here: http://www.thehomescientist.com/kits/CK01/ck01-main.html. In either case, we'll also consult the Teaching Company's chemistry course by Cardulla: http://www.thegreatcourses.com/tgc/courses/course_detail.aspx?cid=1012 For others perusing this and other chemistry threads and wondering about costs, Option A is $316. Option B is $18 + $175 (not printing CK-12 books). We already purchased the TC lectures on DVD for $80. Does Spectrum's additional cost pay off in terms of an easier path for self-guided work? Thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie in MN Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 Does Spectrum's additional cost pay off in terms of an easier path for self-guided work? I haven't used it yet, but I have used the Rainbow with 2 kids. My primary reason for wanting to use Spectrum is that the labs are do-able and really, really get done. It will be a real lab credit, through and through. So many years, we get behind in labs, find out we don't get something or cant find materials or just see it all in the book/online and ds insists he already gets it. I know with Rainbow, labs got done every single week. Julie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 Spectrum is a pretty light chemistry. It's awfully warm and fuzzy. My dd spent 30-45 minutes/week on it, not counting the labs. The labs were actually quite good. And that counts as a high school course?:confused: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1bassoon Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 I'd like to throw my hat in the ring as well here. . . . I've refused to use Apologia Chemistry again - it was a big dud with dd#1. My thoughts so far are Spectrum Chemistry, again, b/c the labs will get done. But based on what I'm hearing on these boards, I'd like to beef it up a bit for my son. He's done Apologia Bio & Adv. Bio, so he's taking Chem. as an 11th grade science. Any thoughts on having him work through the chemistry lectures presented by Georgia Public Broadcasting? I feel relatively comfortable with chem topics. . . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 Check out 8FillTheHeart's comments on Spectrum's supposed "liteness" (especially when coupled with Plato) here, here, and also Kathy in Richmond's experience and assessment of Spectrum here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1bassoon Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 Thanks, Lori - I had seen some of that information, but am still kicking around whether or not to beef it up. Will keep researching! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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