Looks like PAHomeschoolers is the only real choice for AP Bio

[AEC]

DS15 wants to take AP Bio next year.  He'll be a sophomore.  He did home-studied Bio w/ the M/L Macaw book two years ago and Chem w/ Chang this year.  He's pretty set on AP Bio next year.

 

It needs to be a class...not just a self-study.  Async is probably best.

 

 

Potter's school says explicitly that you MUST be in 11/12 grade.  The 'cannot approve or retain enrollments for younger students'.  Thinkwell, and those based on it, are not enough IMO and too self-driven.

I want a teacher, who makes assignments and grades them, etc.

 

 

That leaves pretty much just PA Homeschool.

 

 

Any first hand experience w/ the teacher, Dr. Terri Kanner?  Is all the 'you must be in 11/12 grade' something we should be super cautious about...enough that I should talk him out of this?

[SoCal_Bear]

I thought AP Biology is being offered by Wilson Hill Academy.

[OnMyOwn]

I think the reason TPS is so strict about the age/grade is because they have an agreement with Bellhaven University where their students earn college credit for this course. It's probably the university's rule. I was looking at some of their upper level English classes and ran into the same issue with the age restriction. I have no experience with AP bio, though.

[AEC]

I thought AP Biology is being offered by Wilson Hill Academy.

 

They are offering it.  I'm slightly cautious given the repeated 'Christian world view' they say they teach for a science course.  What does that mean in the context of, say, evolution?  I also haven't found any information online about the actual course structure, class times, etc.

 

Anyone have experience with WH AP Bio??

[Matryoshka]

Dd took the PA Hsers AP Bio course.  She found it very "read this, respond to this question, do this, do that".  She did not feel like this was teaching, more like a to-do list. She ended up dropping the class and self-studying (ouch, $$), and got a 3 on the test.

 

And this is a kid who took Honors Bio at the local high school and loved it - even though it was a ton of work, it was highly engaging and hands-on.  

 

I've heard other people really like the PA Hsers class, so I think it might be a question of learning style.  My dd needed more actual direct teaching/discussion/interaction. Responding to questions on online forums is not really interaction or discussion for her.  Someone who likes self-study would probably be fine.

[C_l_e_0..Q_c]

Kolbe Academy also offers it. It's Catholic and fully in line with mainstream science. You'll have a prayer to start each class, and the rest is pure biology science.

http://kolbe.org/courses/online/courses/high-school/online-science-courses/wcs-bio-ap

 

You'll have a book called Chance or Purpose? to read over the Christmas vacation. (my eldest didn't even read it and scored a 5 on the AP exam, and got an A in the class  )

Edited March 26, 2017 by C_l_e_0..Q_c

[RootAnn]

They are offering it.  I'm slightly cautious given the repeated 'Christian world view' they say they teach for a science course.  What does that mean in the context of, say, evolution?  I also haven't found any information online about the actual course structure, class times, etc.

 

Anyone have experience with WH AP Bio??

 

I don't have experience with any WHA science class, but I thought I'd link to the description, including class times for the fall. The teachers, in general, are good about responding to emails. You can usually reach them at first initial-last name @ wilsonhillacademy.com.

So, mowens @ ...

[GoodGrief]

My daughter took the class with Kanner.

 

My recollection is that it was not so difficult academically, but Kanner was not a great communicator, so some of the expectations were a bit difficult to ascertain.

 

That said, my daughter felt fairly well prepared for the exam at the end of the year. She did do a bit of self study/review with an AP Bio test prep book, and received a 5 on the exam.

[MamaSprout]

BYU online high school has AP Bio. It is a self paced course, but does have a teacher. It runs about $160 a semester and uses the Open Stax textbook.

[StephanieZ]

FWIW, the AP Env Sci course through PA HS'ers is excellent. The teacher is great. Two of my kids have taken it, and they've both loved it. One took it in 10th, the other this year, in 8th, but she is an exceptionally advanced student. 

 

So, anyway, that's a thought. Take Env Sci in 10th, then AP Bio in 11th. :) 

 

 

[mckive6]

My dd took 5 courses with PA homeschoolers. That  is the one class that my dd did not care for, for much the same reasons as Matryoshky said. When my dd asked questions, the responses weren't particularly helpful. Originally, the teacher said there was a possibility of a live class weekly, but nothing came of it. She stuck it out for the year, but at the last minute we decided to not have her take the test. There are many students that do seem to like and succeed in this class, but it didn't work for my dd. 

 

 

[SeaConquest]

Stanford Online High School also offers AP Biology.

[mjbucks1]

I will send you a pm.