Exploring Creation with Chemistry and Physics in 7th?

[Quiver0f10]

I have a 12 year old with dyslexia who is entering 7th this fall.  I typically put my kids in General Science at this point but I don't think he is quite ready for that.  I am considering Exploring Creation with Chemistry and Physics for him instead. My concern is that the course would be too young for him. Our co-op is offering both courses and I just don't know which would be a better fit. Thoughts?

 

Edited July 5, 2017 by Quiver0f10

[kiwi mum]

If you were going to do the book at home I would say absolutely, not too young for him. But, I would be concerned in a co-op situation about what age range the other students were going to be. If the other students were mostly lower elementary then the teacher would probably bring it down to their level and it could feel too young for your son. If there were going to be other students in the class his age then it would probably be OK.

 

We skipped General Science completely. DS went from the elementary books to Physical Science then back to Anatomy (which had just come out) then onto the High School books. We never did the elementary Chemistry and Physics because he was already into the High School sequence by the time it came out.  

[Quiver0f10]

If you were going to do the book at home I would say absolutely, not too young for him. But, I would be concerned in a co-op situation about what age range the other students were going to be. If the other students were mostly lower elementary then the teacher would probably bring it down to their level and it could feel too young for your son. If there were going to be other students in the class his age then it would probably be OK.

 

We skipped General Science completely. DS went from the elementary books to Physical Science then back to Anatomy (which had just come out) then onto the High School books. We never did the elementary Chemistry and Physics because he was already into the High School sequence by the time it came out.  

 

 

There will be mixed ages in the class but most seem one to two years younger.  It is a concern for me that the teacher will need to bring the discussion down for the younger kids. I really think just doing it at home would be a good fit but his sister is signed up for a different class at the same time and the only options for him are these classes or study hall, which he would hate. I couldn't blame him there. 

Edited July 5, 2017 by Quiver0f10

[2_girls_mommy]

I think that book is fine for 7th grade. It wouldn't concern me personally too much if the class was younger. My dd does science with 5th graders and up too. For us, co-op generally does the experiments and discussions about them. We do the reading and bookwork and additional experiements at home. 

 

My dd did that text in 6th grade and did an even younger science book for 7th grade actually, the new Wile series book, Science in the Age of Reason. She will do a public school text for 8th (with a grade level of 6th on it) as her general science before doing Biology in 9th. We have never done the actual General Science book. We have done the Physics, but it isn't in the line up for the current kiddo. 

[Quiver0f10]

I think that book is fine for 7th grade. It wouldn't concern me personally too much if the class was younger. My dd does science with 5th graders and up too. For us, co-op generally does the experiments and discussions about them. We do the reading and bookwork and additional experiements at home. 

 

My dd did that text in 6th grade and did an even younger science book for 7th grade actually, the new Wile series book, Science in the Age of Reason. She will do a public school text for 8th (with a grade level of 6th on it) as her general science before doing Biology in 9th. We have never done the actual General Science book. We have done the Physics, but it isn't in the line up for the current kiddo. 

 

 

Thank you! We will do the reading and questions at home too. Class time will be discussions and experiments.  He does have a few friends who will be in the class so I am sure it will be fine. I can beef up things at home if needed. 

[SebastianCat]

How does your DS feel about the possibility of being in a class with kids several years younger?   If he's OK with it, then Chemistry & Physics would be fine for a 7th grader.

 

General Science could also be OK, depending upon how the co-op class is run.  I taught General Science at a co-op last year and I did not administer tests or give grades (I left that up to the parents' discretion).  I did give assignments for weekly reading, OYO questions, and study guides.   We used classroom time for experiments, learning how to write up a proper lab report, discussions & videos relevant to each module, and reviewing the study guides.   A dyslexic student would have been fine in my class, as long as he could keep up with the reading assignments (or listen to the audio CD of the textbook, which is available from Apologia).  I had a couple of students who came to class each week, participated in experiments, but never did the study guides (and I doubt their moms gave them the tests).   One girl in particular had a mom going through chemotherapy, so I had no issues with the fact that she never did any written work.   She did show up for class and I think she got something out of the class even without doing the written work.

 

So if the General Science co-op is being run in the same way, your DS could potentially do fine.   But if you feel like he might not be ready for Physical Science the following year, maybe he'd do better waiting a year for General.

 

 

[Quiver0f10]

How does your DS feel about the possibility of being in a class with kids several years younger?   If he's OK with it, then Chemistry & Physics would be fine for a 7th grader.

 

General Science could also be OK, depending upon how the co-op class is run.  I taught General Science at a co-op last year and I did not administer tests or give grades (I left that up to the parents' discretion).  I did give assignments for weekly reading, OYO questions, and study guides.   We used classroom time for experiments, learning how to write up a proper lab report, discussions & videos relevant to each module, and reviewing the study guides.   A dyslexic student would have been fine in my class, as long as he could keep up with the reading assignments (or listen to the audio CD of the textbook, which is available from Apologia).  I had a couple of students who came to class each week, participated in experiments, but never did the study guides (and I doubt their moms gave them the tests).   One girl in particular had a mom going through chemotherapy, so I had no issues with the fact that she never did any written work.   She did show up for class and I think she got something out of the class even without doing the written work.

 

So if the General Science co-op is being run in the same way, your DS could potentially do fine.   But if you feel like he might not be ready for Physical Science the following year, maybe he'd do better waiting a year for General.

 

The GS class will be doing discussions and labs in class. The reading, OYO, tests etc. will all be done at home. I think he would benefit from the class and I know the teacher well and she will do an excellent job. I can see either class working for him at this point. I just keep wavering on which would be better and need to decide soon.