Apologia Biology

[QuirkyKapers]

Trying to make this work with my 9th grader who has dyslexia and dysgraphia.  I am not teaching this course but it is being done at a co-op.  Students are tested using the tests that come with this curriculum.  Any input on how to make this work would be appreciated! 

[scoutingmom]

Do you have the audiobook? Get the alternative tests that are available and ask the co-op teacher to give him that one during the tests?

 

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[mytwomonkeys]

My son is not taking Biology, but he also takes Apologia at co-op. We use Quizlet to study for all of the tests. You can just download the app for free & search whatever module test you need. Other moms have done all the work. This helps my son tremendously & may be worth looking into. Hope this helps.

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

My daughter has mild dyslexia and I thought it would be very hard for her to take Apologia at the co-op but it is actually easy for her because she now understands how to be organized, and although she has dropped the co-op class (problems with teacher) it's going fine at home.  I would get the audio to help with the reading.

 

Some other tips are:

1. Usually executive planning is hard for these kiddos so YOU really need to help with advanced gathering of lab supplies.  They are "last minute Jane's" so unless you yourself enjoy flying by the seat of your pants, do the supply gathering yourself.

2.  Sit down with him and do all the organizing, very detailed...there should be a separate Binder Tab for:

Vocab

On Your Owns

Mod Summaries

Study Guides

Tests

Lab Reports

Grade Records

Assignment Sheets 

 

Yes that is 8 binder tabs, but it's working for my dd!! She actually knows where to put everything.

 

I would also encourage, if your co-op doesn't already require this, for you to make a "checkup sheet" for yourself with each week on the day before the co-op, which has the date on the left followed by the various things your son should have done, during the week- with a little blank space.  Our teacher had: Notebook Neatness, OYO, Mod Sum, Study Guide, Test, Lab REports, Attendance, and then I would check it off every week and then sign it, doing a quick check to be sure my daughter had done the work.

 

I also made sure it was clear what was expected in the Lab Reports, and printed my expectations and put it in her Lab Reports Tab.  I also bought her a lot of those little round sticker circles because she gets very upset if she finally gets organized and then things fall out- she gets overwhelmed and confused very quickly.  I put the little circle stickers ON ALL the papers that she is expected to keep all year.

 

This system has worked very well for us.  Even doing it ourselves at home, the only problem I foresee is getting the labs done, but my dd will just have to pony up because I will give her an F if it doesn't get done, and I will record that F in her grade and her grade is sent to our Umbrella School.  I make sure she has the supplies but unless something dangerous is involved she is now expected to do it on her own.  :)

 

Hope this helps!!
 

Honestly, extreme organization, extremely clear, consistent standards and WRITTEN, expectations are very important because in her mind, eveyrhting morphs and changes.

 

 

[Julie of KY]

Well, first you need to spell out what difficulties your child has and then what accommodations they need. Not every child with dyslexia and dysgraphia will need the same thing - mine are vastly different.

 

Does your child need a reader?

Do they need help with organizing the plan to study?

Do they need help with writing? Typing?

Do they need extra time?

Do they need a note-taker in class?

 

Ultimately the student needs to learn the material, but how that is done and what accommodations are needed may vary. Sometimes co-op teachers are not as flexible because of their situation.

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

^^ Yes, if your child needs accomodations I would definitely speak with the teacher well in advance AND set up a face to face meeting.  CO-Op teachers have limited time and resources, so it's important that they agree and understand.  

[llama]

My son is not taking Biology, but he also takes Apologia at co-op. We use Quizlet to study for all of the tests. You can just download the app for free & search whatever module test you need. Other moms have done all the work. This helps my son tremendously & may be worth looking into. Hope this helps.

 

Thank you so much for the tip about Quizlet!  My student likes it and finds it fun and VERY helpful for studying.  It even has a section for correct spelling of terms, which has been a problem area for us, especially some of the complicated terms in Biology.