Looking for highschool Chemistry.......what do you think of Potters School or other??

[Amber]

We are looking for a Chemisty course and or book. Dd is almost through Algebra 2 so that will not be an issue.

But, if she is going to be doing it alone, I would really like a good course that is interesting with good, strong explanations.

If that is out there. lol

Thanks,

AMber

[Michelle in MO]

someone who has actually used Potter's School can help you on this one. I seriously considered Potter's School for all of our science from Biology on, from the standpoint that I felt it would give our transcript outside verification or proof of grades. I decided against it, mostly because Potter's School does one module (chapter) of the Apologia science books every two weeks. We were usually able to stick to that schedule, but not always. With chemistry, there were a couple of modules that I had to have my oldest spend an extra week on, simply because there was so much material to cover and remember.

 

I can tell you what I've heard about the Potter's School science courses, those. Bear in mind that this is second-hand information, based upon what I've read on these forums.

 

1. They do pretty much stick to a schedule of one module per two weeks.

 

2. I thought I remembered reading that the exams were not the same exams that were in the test booklet; generally speaking, I think the tests were harder.

 

3. I believe I also read that they do every experiment; I usually would pick and choose among the experiments; for chemistry and biology, though, we generally did at least one solid experiment per chapter.

 

4. One mom (and I can't remember who!) whose daughter did chemistry through Potter's School said that her daughter spent approximately 3 hours per day on chemistry. At the end of the year, her daughter's understanding of introductory chemistry was very thorough, but also felt like it was more chemistry than what she'd need for her future (which I believe was non-science related).

 

If I were you, I'd get on the Potter's School website and e-mail the instructor. If you scroll down this link, you'll see that Rusty Hughes is the instructor. I would e-mail him and ask him all the questions you would like. I've found that they are very quick about getting back in touch with everyone.

 

If you're interested in a course through Potter's School, though, I would register quickly. Their courses fill up quickly in the spring for the upcoming school year.

 

HTH!

[CO MOM]

We did Potter's School Biology this year, so can comment some on the OP's points:

1. Yes, they do stick to the schedule of 1 module every two weeks. The classes end up meeting for about 34 weeks, I think, so to get it all in plus end of semester exams, they have to stay at that pace.

 

2. The exams for biology were different ones than in the book and there were two additional cumulative exams. My dd thought they were harder than the book ones - actually used the book ones as practice tests - but the instructor was very good at going over what would be on the test, so if you knew that, you would do fine.

 

3. For biology, there were some experiments that were optional because they did not require a microscope, so I don't know if that would apply at all for chemistry. Some required a "formal" lab report that was longer and had to be turned into the teacher. Others were "informal", meaning they had to be written (fairly simple write-up) and placed in their notebooks for you to check at the end of the semester and simply report to the teacher that they were there and the student had done them. Sometimes if my dd got behind those got shelved and she had to catch up on them later.

 

4. We were signed up to do TPS Chemistry this year, but have decided to drop it due to time constraints. All the high school classes we have done through TPS took a minimum of an hour a day, besides the 1.5 hours per week of class, and usually more. They are very good and thorough, but you must keep up with their time schedule, so for our probably non-science future dd, we are choosing something we can go at our own pace. We are going to try Spectrum Chemistry and see how it goes.

 

The OP is also correct about signing up as spots do fill quickly - I don't know if there are any Chemistry spots left or not.

 

Another option might be something Mr. Rosenoff, one of the TPS/Apologia instructors, is doing - you get access to his notes/tests, a recording of a class, and I think correcting of the tests, but not lab reports, and you have one year to complete it. He offers several of the Apologia classes (more info at www.redwagontutorials.com). Unfortunately, the chemistry one will not be available until next spring, so don't know if that would work.

 

HTH,

Jane