Can high school science be taught at home? What did you do?

[mommyoffive]

I was reading this board

 

http://windsorpeak.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?499145-Homeschool-for-High-School/page5

 

 

Someone on there posted that colleges are really resistant to take online science classes now.   

 

 

Can you teach high school science at home? What did you do? 

Or what is your plan for that?

 

 

 

 

[JoJosMom]

I would suggest that you check out the (numerous) threads on the high school board discussing sciences.  There are pinned threads at the top specifically discussing biology, physics and chemistry; that might be a good place to start.  If you have specific questions at that point, then I would suggest posting them on that board or on the college board.  You might also want to check out the College Acceptances thread on the college board.  Clearly, many people have taught high school sciences very, very successfully.  It's quite inspiring.

[2_girls_mommy]

Mine is taking her high school science classes at a co-op. They do the labs and tests there. She does the work at home.  That is for two years. Her next year may be taught at home using WTM recomendations. I am not worried about schools accepting her credits. For one, I have seen many hs kids go to college just fine. For two, mine isn't a STEM kid, so she is working on being most competitive in other subjects. 

[8filltheheart]

I was reading this board

 

http://windsorpeak.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?499145-Homeschool-for-High-School/page5

 

 

Someone on there posted that colleges are really resistant to take online science classes now.

 

 

Can you teach high school science at home? What did you do?

Or what is your plan for that?

I skimmed a few posts trying to find the one you referenced, but yuck, not going to waste my time reading those posts. ;) (BTW, I am firmly in the anti-pre-school category.)

 

Bogus on not being able to teach science at home. I have a chemical engineer, an OTA, and a college Jr physics major taking grad level physics courses with a 4.0 who demonstrate it can be done.

 

My high school sr was accepted everywhere she applied to and received a scholarship from every single school. She did every subject at home with the exception of Russian and French last yr and this yr.

 

I'm in my phone, so too much effort to type what we did. Ill try to respond to that later.

Edited March 23, 2017 by 8FillTheHeart

[...................]

I say co-op or online is best

 

I do not enjoy teaching it and it requires a lot of accountability to get those lab reports and dissections done! Better off to cheerlead your child than have to be the main teacher for Science.

 

BUT it is ABSOLUTELY not true that it cannot be done and done well, at home! You just need the right textbooks and lab kits and to actually follow them!! :)

Edited March 23, 2017 by Calming Tea

[mommyoffive]

I skimmed a few posts trying to find the one you referenced, but yuck, not going to waste my time reading those posts. ;) (BTW, I am firmly in the anti-pre-school category.)

 

Bogus on not being able to teach science at home. I have a chemical engineer, an OTA, and a college Jr physics major taking grad level physics courses with a 4.0 who demonstrate it can be done.

 

My high school sr was accepted everywhere she applied to and received a scholarship from every single school. She did every subject at home with the exception of Russian and French last yr and this yr.

 

I'm in my phone, so too much effort to type what we did. Ill try to respond to that later.

 

I can't wait to hear what you have to say.

 

Yeah that thread got me down fast. 

 

 

I was wondering can you dual enroll in 2 public schools at the same time?  We are currently doing online public school at home.  But the school is far from us and so doesn't offer in person classes at the level.  I am wondering if they would be able to go to the local school for a class or two? 

I know they offer it if you are home schooling, but since we technically are not?

[8filltheheart]

CT, that is totally personal preference. :)

[8filltheheart]

No idea bc what you are doing is controlled by the public school system. You lack the freedom of homeschoolers.

 

Fwiw,on these forums DE typically refers to taking college classes at a CC or university while in high school, not at a ps.

 

Bc you are not homeschooling wo ps oversight, nothing I have to share would matter. You need to comply with what your overseeing school stipulates.

[mommyoffive]

No idea bc what you are doing is controlled by the public school system. You lack the freedom of homeschoolers.

 

Fwiw,on these forums DE typically refers to taking college classes at a CC or university while in high school, not at a ps.

 

Bc you are not homeschooling wo ps oversight, nothing I have to share would matter. You need to comply with what your overseeing school stipulates.

 

I understand that.  But please do share.   This is only our first year of doing the online school and who knows if we will do it next year or any other.  

I am taking it day by day and weighing things.  

Some of it is good, but I do miss my freedom.  

[Arcadia]

I can but I don't want to. Our plan is to do dual enrollment for chemistry and physics at community college or university after high school level at home.

 

What we have done and are doing

 

Physics

- Clover Creek Physics online taught by Jetta (morningglory)

- my oldest did the class, my youngest was his lab assistant/partner for the labs

- oldest is doing Halliday and Resnick book with me. AP Physics C is in the future before DE.

 

Chemistry

- thinkwell chemistry and labpaq lab kit

- I oversee the lab and the kit has enough for both my kids to do

- oldest would be doing PAH AP chem in the future before DE

 

Biology

- Miller Levine biology iBook and labpaq kit

- my kids intend to take the sat biology test just to check the box. It is their less favorite science and my youngest puke over the formaldehyde smell despite a well ventilated room

[luuknam]

I can't imagine why one couldn't do high school lab science at home. You could create an entire science lab just by ordering stuff from Amazon (with maybe the occasional exception for substances that can't be shipped in US mail, which you'd have to source some other way):

 

https://www.amazon.com/Lab-Scientific-Supplies/b/ref=nav_shopall_ind_lab?ie=UTF8&node=317970011

 

I like Lewelma's science threads, but unfortunately they don't really discuss high school science, other than a brief outline of goals, but they're still useful for her philosophy of teaching science, such as the difference between a demo and an actual experiment, etc. 

 

http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/512190-science-posts-organized-by-topic/

 

Now, whether colleges accept home-brewn lab science is of course up to the individual colleges, but that holds true for any high school course. 

 

That said, my oldest is in 4th grade, so I haven't decided yet on what we'll do for high school science. That said, I can pretty much guarantee that we won't be doing some online 'lab science' class, since if we're going to spend that much money, might as well take a class at the local CC.

[Guest]

Yes, you can. I have. You order the textbooks, you order the lab kits, and you just do it.

 

And I've gotten three kids into college so far. All sciences were done completely at home with yours truly.

 

Is it hard work? Yes, it is. But it can be done.

 

(And I'm not going to read that linked thread. I have a feeling it would merely cause my blood pressure to rise and/or make my head explode.)

[Jean in Newcastle]

Of course you can.  We did labs.  Homeschool Science Tools is a good source for chemicals and other lab equipment.  Ds' college has had no problem with his high school math or science classes - some of which were taught entirely by me at home and some of which were taken with an online teacher (but which still required him to do the actual labs at home and not virtually). 

[snowbeltmom]

Here is a snippet from the poster who claims that she evaluates homeschool "transcripts" all the time as students enter college and asserts that science can't be done at home:

 

"We are really paying attention, kids who took virtual science classes did REALLY bad in college level science, we are super resistant to taking them. In the next few years - I think you are going to see them denied across the board for college placement purposes. Those classes that you buy that send you a "science kit" to do in your kitchen - they do not prepare students."

This is a ridiculous statement.  Many students on this board have done science at home and have no problems whatsoever with science or labs in college. Those classes that send you a "science kit" that I did with my son in our kitchen prepared him extremely well for MIT.   :001_smile: 

"I teach 100 students a year in remedial science classes. You need to plan to take the science at your local high school - pay big money to take high school or college level science at your local community college or take classes through adult ed." For the sake of argument, let's assume her assertion that homeschoolers can't teach science at home is correct, if she is teaching 100 students a year in remedial science at her college, then many students coming out of their local high schools must not be prepared for I am having a hard time believing that any college has that high of a concentration of homeschoolers. 

 

Bottom line: The poster is clueless and spouting nonsense.

[Guest]

Bottom line: The poster is clueless and spouting nonsense.

Yikes. I just knew that thread would make my head explode. People who think they know what they're talking about but really DON'T are my main cause of head explosion-ness. LOL

[8filltheheart]

Yikes. I just knew that thread would make my head explode. People who think they know what they're talking about but really DON'T are my main cause of head explosion-ness. LOL

I skimmed the first few posts and it was nothing more than anti-homeschooling venom. I wasn't going to waste my time.

 

OP, Snowbeltmom's post and summation is 100% accurate. No way a teacher has a 100 remedial students who were homeschooled. No to mention, there is no way a professor would even know if a student had been homeschooled unless a student told them. It isn't as if their roster says where they went to high school. The entire premise behind the post is bogus.

 

Fwiw, those "labs in a box" done at the kitchen table prepared all of my kids for college science majors. Not just being a major, but being top students. Sounds like that poster just has an axe to grind.

Edited March 23, 2017 by 8FillTheHeart

[snowbeltmom]

Yikes. I just knew that thread would make my head explode. People who think they know what they're talking about but really DON'T are my main cause of head explosion-ness. LOL

 

My head-explosion-ness comes from those posters who thank the "clueless poster"  for her advice.

 

[Guest]

I shouldn't have read that thread. Agree with all of the above. And say IF, for some reason, your well read, well written homeschooler, for some bizarre reason couldn't do a single lab in high school, I still think they could do fine in college freshman bio lab. It doesn't take a rocket scientist. It takes someone who can read and interpret what they read, follow some idiot proof text book instructions and then write a lab report. Its seriously not that complicated. Millions of kids who paid zero attention in public high school biology still somehow manage to pull it off in colleges across the country. Those people are talking out of their asses.

 

That board would make my head explode. Makes me even more grateful for these boards! :)

Edited March 23, 2017 by texasmom33

[Guest]

I was reading this board

 

http://windsorpeak.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?499145-Homeschool-for-High-School/page5

 

 

Someone on there posted that colleges are really resistant to take online science classes now.   

 

 

Can you teach high school science at home? What did you do? 

Or what is your plan for that?

 

You should invite the homeschool evaluator over here for a nice chat. ;) 

[8filltheheart]

You should invite the homeschool evaluator over here for a nice chat. ;)

Love it. Please do. And invite her to look at the college forum's college acceptance threads. ;)

[Jean in Newcastle]

It greatly eased my mind when all three of ds' college professors (one math and one science and one humanities) all made a point to ask ds to tell me that I had done a good job teaching him.  They did not know he was homeschooled at first but were complimenting him on how well he was doing and he kindly mentioned my work homeschooling him.  It can be nerve wracking homeschooling high school and not knowing the outcome of your student for sure since of course there are an awful lot of variables outside of what text and labs you use.  And yes, I was particularly nervous about math and science since those aren't my strong suits and ds is a STEM major in college.  But there is support out there including this forum - esp. the high school board. 

 

If you look, you can find examples of students who were underprepared for college in all forms of educational methods, including homeschool.  But it is a logical fallacy (and a scientific one too, really) to apply that to all homeschooled kids. 

[cbollin]

 

 

Can you teach high school science at home? What did you do? 

Or what is your plan for that?

 

 

We did science at home.

We used apologia biology, 2nd edition apologia chemistry (out of print, and I'd use Wile's new book if I had to), and apologia physics.   order equipment from a place called home science tools.  no, my spouse who has a phd in chemistry did not teach the courses.  I had daily lesson plans for each book. Student read assignments. did the demo/experiments. wrote report for some (not even all). 

Oldest did advanced physics course in grade 12. Middle did marine biology in grade 12.  We did not experience any hardship in staying on track and doing the labs. Everyone was filled with good health those years and lesson planners were easy to follow.  very realistic to get done.

 

by the way, Oldest is currently in junior college year in a triple major of electrical engineering, computer science, and math.  She never had a problem in any physics or chemistry (or any class) course in college. dean's list every semester.  yes, triple major.  I know.  very over achieving first born genius or something.   (but mom math courses are too much fun to just get a minor in it. I talked to the dept chair and they found a way if I take this one course this summer...... )   And in spite of not doing every lab report possible for each and every demo/lab done, she learned enough to follow the template of report, and consistently got A in physics labs in freshman year of college.  Several times in that first year, she realized the professor was using her lab write ups as the sample to show other students how to do one.  That was when I knew I had done just fine with homeschooling and being consistent.   The way things worked out for us it was better to do classes at home on our schedule instead of co-ops/tutorials etc.

 

(middle gal: decided to wait on college and will work for a while)

 

There are some people however, who prefer to use co-ops and tutorials for live local classes.

Edited March 23, 2017 by cbollin

[Garga]

9th grade biology:

 

TEXT:

 

I chose a text.  I chose Ck-12.  It's free online.  
I read the text and make sure I thoroughly understand the text.  I had to study some of the sections carefully and use other resources to supplement my understanding (cellular respiration, I'm looking at you), but most of them are pretty straightforward.  I take notes.

 

I talk/teach from my notes to my student.  

 

He reads the text on his own, then does the worksheets that come with the text.  We review the worksheets.

 

Then, he takes the quiz on that section.  Each chapter is a few sections, and he takes a test at the end of the chapter.  I use the quiz and test grades to grade the class.

 

LABS:

I got the book The Illustrated Guide to Home Biology.  (Google it for a free pdf of the entire book--though we chose to buy a bound copy.)  I bought the lab kit that is recommended (here.).  I also bought a refurbished microscope.  Then, I set about creating a lab in the basement.  We have vinegar and baking soda for chemical spills, an eye wash station, tables that ok if they get stained, etc.  We follow strict lab safety:  close-toed shoes, no food/drinks in the lab, we wear lab coats, gloves, eye protection, no horsing around in the lab, we learned how to carry strong chemicals, we keep a phone down there at all times when we're in the lab in case we have to call for help, no one does lab work alone for safety reasons.

 

We took the labs very seriously.  The kit for this book is respectable. Click on the link above to see a list of the supplies in the lab.  We did 17 labs this year.  I had my student write up a full lab report for just 2 of the labs, and for the rest I found free lab sheets that he filled in--so each lab has some sort of record of what happened during the lab.

 

From time to time, I'd have him draw a diagram of something we learned about (like a cell.)  

 

I can't think of any way it would be possible to make this any more valid.  I wasn't the best teacher ever, being that was often just a night ahead of my student on the material, but there was never a time I couldn't figure it out.  The only problem is that I've had to work my student hard because I'm not sure which parts of the book are a vital part of biology and which parts are just "nice to knows."  So, I teach him as if every word in the book is vital. 

 

 

10th Grade CHEMISTRY:

 

Honestly, biology has worn me out.  Next year for Chemistry, I don't trust that I will be a good enough teacher, because of the math elements and because I know even less about chemistry than I know about biology, so I'm signing him up for an online class.  The book for the class is designed for a student to learn from without a teacher, but I want him to have a teacher to bounce ideas off of.  So, even if the teacher turns out to be a dud, my student could learn just from the book alone (but she comes well-recommended, so I don't think she'll be a dud.)  I will be getting the lab kit that is recommended for the Chemistry book for next year and we'll be working through those labs just like we did for bio.

 

 

I could be way off, but I just don't see how teaching high school level science couldn't be done at home or with online classes just as successfully as in a brick and mortar school.  

 

But it takes a lot of work.  Well, to clarify...it took ME a lot of work.  I work on preparing for biology for a few hours a week and the labs each took us over 2 hours each.  It's all been pretty time consuming, but I am pleased with the work he's done this year and am not ashamed of what we've done compared to what a school could do.  If one is doing lame labs, then yeah...it wouldn't be comparable to what a student would get in a school.  But that's true for every subject.  There are solid lab books/kits out there nowadays.  This isn't just "doing chemistry in the kitchen" by cooking a pizza or something.  Double check the list of what comes in the kit and it's pretty clear that you can get solid labs to be done at home.

Edited March 23, 2017 by Garga

[Dmmetler]

I'm stuck on "remedial science". My DD's community college does offer courses for non-science majors, but they're not remedial courses in the way that Math and Reading are offered for kids who are not able to score highly enough on a placement test. They also require placement in or completion of specific Math or English (or both) classes for Intro classes. There is no such thing as a science placement test, and the ACT Science test isn't used for science placement. You simply take whatever level science classes are required for the degree you are seeking.

[Wheres Toto]

The very first post there, these reasons were given for sending kids to school:

 

I just have to add, although I want my kids to have a great childhood, I don't think of it like that. I want them to struggle. Fail. And often. I want them to deal with a mean teacher who graded their work super unfairly. I want them to push themselves and prevail. I want them to show that mean teacher that they will work so hard to show him or her that they will continue to carry on, just to prove them wrong. I want them to convince the librarian to give them an extra day to return the book before getting assessed a fine. Different strokes, I guess.

 

Who the heck sends their kids to school (at 7 and 10 years old) just so they can be miserable?  Way to get your kids to hate school, hate learning, and quite possibly hate themselves if they don't live up to these expectations.

 

My public school kid told her "mean" teacher to "go F---- himself" and switched out of his class (high school, she dealt with the consequences, he did deserve it), my son would probably just refuse to do anything, and my youngest would sit quietly crying incapable of paying attention due to her anxiety.

[8filltheheart]

I'm stuck on "remedial science". My DD's community college does offer courses for non-science majors, but they're not remedial courses in the way that Math and Reading are offered for kids who are not able to score highly enough on a placement test. They also require placement in or completion of specific Math or English (or both) classes for Intro classes. There is no such thing as a science placement test, and the ACT Science test isn't used for science placement. You simply take whatever level science classes are required for the degree you are seeking.

Excellent point!! Math would probably be the only prerequisite.

[GoVanGogh]

Here is a snippet from the poster who claims that she evaluates homeschool "transcripts" all the time as students enter college and asserts that science can't be done at home:

 

"We are really paying attention, kids who took virtual science classes did REALLY bad in college level science, we are super resistant to taking them. In the next few years - I think you are going to see them denied across the board for college placement purposes. Those classes that you buy that send you a "science kit" to do in your kitchen - they do not prepare students."

This is a ridiculous statement. Many students on this board have done science at home and have no problems whatsoever with science or labs in college. Those classes that send you a "science kit" that I did with my son in our kitchen prepared him extremely well for MIT. :001_smile:

 

"I teach 100 students a year in remedial science classes. You need to plan to take the science at your local high school - pay big money to take high school or college level science at your local community college or take classes through adult ed." For the sake of argument, let's assume her assertion that homeschoolers can't teach science at home is correct, if she is teaching 100 students a year in remedial science at her college, then many students coming out of their local high schools must not be prepared for I am having a hard time believing that any college has that high of a concentration of homeschoolers.

 

Bottom line: The poster is clueless and spouting nonsense.

This

 

Plus, what us a remedial science class?!? I graduated from public school and had to take remedial math in college. And I know they offer remedial English classes. But don't all science start at 101 level anyway?!? I minored in a science and - beyond my remedial math class - was good to go with all college classes.

 

A friend of mine just sent her homeschool grad off to college as a pre-med student. Her daughter was very worried that her "science labs in the kitchen" wouldnt prepare her for college level labs. Instead, she has had just the opposite experience. She has had several public school graduates as lab partners and they didn't know basic lab equipment or how to write up a lab report - because their high school lab partners did all the work for them!

[Arcadia]

There is no such thing as a science placement test, and the ACT Science test isn't used for science placement. You simply take whatever level science classes are required for the degree you are seeking.

We have chemistry placement tests for community college here and they have remedial chemistry class.

 

Example of remedial chemistry course description (first one that came up on Google search) http://www.bucks.edu/academics/department/stem/chem/compare/

"Preparatory Chemistry (CHEM 100) is specifically designed to give students who are unprepared for Chem I (as measured by the Chemistry Placement Test (score indicated by a "0") the problem solving skills, and basic chemistry background they need to succeed in Chem I.

...

This course is not expected to transfer either as a Science elective or a Chemistry elective because it is a preparatory (remedial) course. , even though some institutions will take it."

 

Their chemistry placement test is an accuplacer test http://www.bucks.edu/academics/department/stem/chem/placement/

"The Chemistry Placement Exam is a 30 question, multiple choice, computer based test using the Accuplacer program. Half the questions are basic math questions; half are basic high school chemistry questions. Topics covered are: Math: Problems involving fractions, decimal and exponential numbers, ratios, percentages, basic algebra, and slope of the graph of a straight line. Chemistry: Definitions of elements, compounds, mixtures, atoms, molecules, ions and bond types. Problems involving percentages, density, atomic structure, formulas, molecular weight, moles, and reaction stoichiometry are included. To pass the exam a minimum of twenty questions must be answered correctly."

[Jean in Newcastle]

At ds' college, you can test out of the lower levels of science but those lower levels are not considered remedial as such.   They do repeat some high school material but at a much faster pace and with more depth. 

[Kassia]

Maybe I should start a new thread on this because it's off-topic, but I was planning on having my dd take this DE class to count as high school chemistry.  She is strong in math, but hates science.  Would this count as a high school chem class credit?

 

CHEM 1100 - Elementary Chemistry [Description / Prerequisite / Fees]

Prerequisite: MATH 0850 or MATH 0890 or placement test into MATH 0950 or placement test into MATH 1001 This course introduces students to the fundamentals of beginning chemistry, including matter and energy, measurements, atomic and electronic structure, the periodic table, inorganic nomenclature, quantitative aspects of matter, stoichiometry, bonding, solutions, and acids and bases. Students will complete lab experiments related to these topics. This course is recommended for students who have never taken a chemistry course. (6 contact hours: 3 lecture, 3 lab)

[MerryAtHope]

Just another mom who taught high school science at home. My daughter is doing advanced bio this year and so far has dissected a cow's eyeball and sheep's heart, and has a fetal pig dissection coming up. She's done a lot of microscope work as well. She has also done chemistry and physics, and of course a regular biology class at home. I really don't think she'll have any trouble in college science courses (she plans to go into nursing), but time will tell. A close friend whose dd is a few years ahead of my kids didn't have any trouble in the required college science courses after doing labs at home. 

[cbollin]

I'm stuck on "remedial science". My DD's community college does offer courses for non-science majors, but they're not remedial courses in the way that Math and Reading are offered for kids who are not able to score highly enough on a placement test. They also require placement in or completion of specific Math or English (or both) classes for Intro classes. There is no such thing as a science placement test, and the ACT Science test isn't used for science placement. You simply take whatever level science classes are required for the degree you are seeking.

 

 

Science majors (biology, chemistry for example) at my dd's college have to take a Chemistry placement test. (like another poster mentioned in her area)  Engineering majors take a different chem course so my dd didn't have to take this placement test at orientation.  She would have brushed up on those topics if needed.

 

if anyone is interested in what kind of topics are on on it, this archived link may help.   But this kind of thing can vary from college to college of course.

http://facstaff.cbu.edu/~aross/biodept/Chem-placement(old).html

 

That doesn't mean I know what the author of the linked post was talking about. (I didn't read it as it was side issue to me)

Edited March 23, 2017 by cbollin

[SparklyUnicorn]

Oh goodness yes.  Some regular ole people out there have home labs for fun.  It's not hard these days to get whatever you want in that realm. 

Of course I can't replicate the group experience exactly, but it is what it is.  I think it's gone better in that department than I imagined it would.

 

 

[mommyoffive]

I shouldn't have read that thread. Agree with all of the above. And say IF, for some reason, your well read, well written homeschooler, for some bizarre reason couldn't do a single lab in high school, I still think they could do fine in college freshman bio lab. It doesn't take a rocket scientist. It takes someone who can read and interpret what they read, follow some idiot proof text book instructions and then write a lab report. Its seriously not that complicated. Millions of kids who paid zero attention in public high school biology still somehow manage to pull it off in colleges across the country. Those people are talking out of their asses.

 

That board would make my head explode. Makes me even more grateful for these boards! :)

 

Love this.

[Jean in Newcastle]

So. . . I did peek at the link of the thread in question but what kind of a board is it?  Is it a publisher?  Is it homeschool specific?  I've never heard of them. . .

[Lori D.]

"We are really paying attention, kids who took virtual science classes did REALLY bad in college level science, we are super resistant to taking them. In the next few years - I think you are going to see them denied across the board for college placement purposes. Those classes that you buy that send you a "science kit" to do in your kitchen - they do not prepare students."

 

"I teach 100 students a year in remedial science classes. You need to plan to take the science at your local high school - pay big money to take high school or college level science at your local community college or take classes through adult ed."

 

red = grammatical issues with the writing; but overall, logical structure and supporting facts and evidence, please?

 

I have nothing new to add to the real conversation in this thread.

 

I just am popping in to add that I was not even tempted to click on the link to the discussion being referred to, because I could not get past the poor writing in this quotation so kindly provided by snowbeltmom. (These are statements she is QUOTING; these are NOT her words.)

 

I'm sure this is snobbery on my part in expecting better writing from the informal/conversational style writing of blog entries and responses, BUT... I do have to say I'd be thinking twice about sending a student to a remedial science class taught by someone so careless with their writing. And I'd definitely be questioning the advice of someone with no supporting facts and background information in their post.

 

Just my 2 cents worth. ;)

Edited March 23, 2017 by Lori D.

[City Mouse]

I can't wait to hear what you have to say.

 

Yeah that thread got me down fast.

 

 

I was wondering can you dual enroll in 2 public schools at the same time? We are currently doing online public school at home. But the school is far from us and so doesn't offer in person classes at the level. I am wondering if they would be able to go to the local school for a class or two?

I know they offer it if you are home schooling, but since we technically are not?

Generally, the answer to this is No. a student cannot be enrolled in two different public schools at one time, as only one school can get funding for a particular student. Some school districts will allow students to take a course at a campus different from their home campus if the course is N only offered at the second campus.

[The Girls' Mom]

Another mom that did science at home (for the most part).  Two of my three, so far, have taken college science classes with absolutely zero issues.  In my own personal experience in taking Biology classes at college the past two years, many of the PUBLIC school kids were not familiar with lab procedures or how to operate a microscope.  

My oldest did Apologia Biology and Chemistry, and a mom-created Anatomy and Physiology course.  She has done well in two college Geology lab courses.

My other two did co-op Biology and Chemistry (with home-style labs, nothing fancy) and one did Apologia Marine Biology.  The one that has taken college science made an A+ in her Biology 1010 class, and breezed right through it.  

Not one of my three had a bit of trouble getting accepted into college (two into the Honors colleges).  

 

The lady in that thread doesn't know what she's talking about.

[mommyoffive]

So. . . I did peek at the link of the thread in question but what kind of a board is it?  Is it a publisher?  Is it homeschool specific?  I've never heard of them. . .

 

Not home school specific.  I know they have published some books like Baby Bargains.  I am not sure how the board came to be from that. 

[8filltheheart]

I have nothing new to add to the real conversation in this thread.

 

I just am popping in to add that I was not even tempted to click on the link to the discussion being referred to, because I could not get past the poor writing in this quotation so kindly provided by snowbeltmom. (These are statements she is QUOTING; these are NOT her words.)

 

I'm sure this is snobbery on my part in expecting better writing from the informal/conversational style writing of blog entries and responses, BUT... I do have to say I'd be thinking twice about sending a student to a remedial science class taught by someone so careless with their writing. And I'd definitely be questioning the advice of someone with no supporting facts and background information in their post.

 

Just my 2 cents worth. ;)

I noticed them as well, but then I decided I was the pot calling the kettle black. I am multitasking most of the time I am posting. Typical scenario is half a sentence is typed and 10 mins later I get to finish that thought and maybe start a few others. My iPad has a nasty habit of Safari crashing, and if it does, everything I typed is lost. So, I post without proofreading. Sometimes I skim after posting and will correct an error without skimming everything. Lots of errors remain. So that leaves 2 options: never posting :) or posting with lost of errors.

 

People can judge me however they want based on my posts. In real life. I am far more articulate and precise. :). Figure I owe that poster the same slack.

[snowbeltmom]

The very first post there, these reasons were given for sending kids to school:

 

I just have to add, although I want my kids to have a great childhood, I don't think of it like that. I want them to struggle. Fail. And often. I want them to deal with a mean teacher who graded their work super unfairly. I want them to push themselves and prevail. I want them to show that mean teacher that they will work so hard to show him or her that they will continue to carry on, just to prove them wrong. I want them to convince the librarian to give them an extra day to return the book before getting assessed a fine. Different strokes, I guess.

 

Who the heck sends their kids to school (at 7 and 10 years old) just so they can be miserable?  Way to get your kids to hate school, hate learning, and quite possibly hate themselves if they don't live up to these expectations.

 

 

 

So she wants to teach her kids that the rules don't really apply to them?  Different strokes, for sure.

 

[Dmmetler]

Maybe I should start a new thread on this because it's off-topic, but I was planning on having my dd take this DE class to count as high school chemistry. She is strong in math, but hates science. Would this count as a high school chem class credit?

CHEM 1100 - Elementary Chemistry [Description / Prerequisite / Fees]

Prerequisite: MATH 0850 or MATH 0890 or placement test into MATH 0950 or placement test into MATH 1001 This course introduces students to the fundamentals of beginning chemistry, including matter and energy, measurements, atomic and electronic structure, the periodic table, inorganic nomenclature, quantitative aspects of matter, stoichiometry, bonding, solutions, and acids and bases. Students will complete lab experiments related to these topics. This course is recommended for students who have never taken a chemistry course. (6 contact hours: 3 lecture, 3 lab)

Yes, but be aware that if you have to report to someone, they may want to see a year of Chem, even though that covers what would be covered in a standard high school class. If so, I'd add an extension at home to make it a full year.

[Kassia]

Yes, but be aware that if you have to report to someone, they may want to see a year of Chem, even though that covers what would be covered in a standard high school class. If so, I'd add an extension at home to make it a full year.

 

I don't have to report to anyone, but I do want to make sure that colleges accept it as a full year of high school chemistry.  It's a 4 credit chemistry class with a lab, but not at college level.  

Edited March 24, 2017 by Erica H

[...................]

My son did far more experiments in his Biology at home "class" than I ever did in my expensive private school Honors Bio. We had the money to provide him with everything he needed and along with me his lab partner, he got to dissect every single

Thing and didn't have to wait in line or share anything. He did such a careful job too! Since he wasn't constrained by the bell! I remember our teacher rushing us in to start labs becuaee we never had enough time!

 

My son did his course through an online teacher which provides the accountability and grading as well as most of the teaching but he had two long formal lab reports, and over 16 hands on labs with the dissections of worm, crayfish, perch and even a big frog!

Edited March 24, 2017 by Calming Tea

[J-rap]

I can't wait to hear what you have to say.

 

Yeah that thread got me down fast. 

 

 

I was wondering can you dual enroll in 2 public schools at the same time?  We are currently doing online public school at home.  But the school is far from us and so doesn't offer in person classes at the level.  I am wondering if they would be able to go to the local school for a class or two? 

I know they offer it if you are home schooling, but since we technically are not?

 

Couple things.  Yes, you can definitely do high school science at home!

 

Secondly, I don't know how all the school districts handle this, but my understanding is that you cannot be enrolled in two public schools at the same time, though there is wiggle room to do so in special circumstances.  That would usually require that certain classes are not offered at your primary public school, so you take them (typically online) at a second school.  This is something that needs to be worked out and agreed upon between the two schools, usually for funding purposes. 

[FriedClams]

 

Someone on there posted that colleges are really resistant to take online science classes now.

 

 

This is a little laughable to me as my husband's nephew used to come to our house to do his State University freshman chemistry labs. The whole class is online, and mandatory for many majors. Labs are done on their own and inputted.

[vonfirmath]

So. . . I did peek at the link of the thread in question but what kind of a board is it?  Is it a publisher?  Is it homeschool specific?  I've never heard of them. . .

 

I'm on that board (and replied on that thread with two different families I know of that homeschooled high school successfully)

 

It was set up by Alan and Denise Fields who wrote the book _Baby Bargains_  (Excellent book, btw). And has turned into a catch-all keep up/ask each other questions about life type of forum.  Mostly high income, private or public schooled. Though there are outliers, of course.

[Hunter]

At some point, a general fuzzy idea arose that homeschooling is superior to brick and mortar. At some point, online versions that unsuccessfully attempt to replicate the abandoned brick and mortar are becoming the default.

 

Do the online versions of the supposedly faulty model fail to replicate/surpass the original faulty methods? I wouldn't be surprised.

 

Homeschooling got a reputation for working BEFORE all these replicas became available. Maybe because they were NOT used.

 

I think people are in for some surprises, as startling but not as happy as the surprises of the first homeschoolers applying for college in the 80's.

 

Can science be done at home? It depends on a lot of things, including your definition of science, and who is going to measure your results.