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Pemberley

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Everything posted by Pemberley

  1. If it helps...CC was something I was pretty set on since my rising 10th grader didn't have a career choice in mind. :) I figured...if he likes chemistry now, then maybe he will take a more advanced course later. BUT...after reviewing some things and giving this some thought, I decided that I would rather expose him to "more" chemistry now to see if it "takes". If he hates it with a passion, then we'll know that he will not likely be a STEM major. :) If, however, he really gravitates to it (and I think he will), he will at least have the exposure to a solid program from which he can build his later studies whether he is a STEM student or not. I plan to keep CC bookmarked on my internet so that if we have trouble with a concept, we can use it as a tool to help us out. Best wishes to you as you plan your years ahead as well. :)
  2. Oh! Thank you for spelling that out!! I did order the teacher CD for GPB and it is very well laid out, but there didn't seem to be enough "meat" or work to do in between video segments. I like your idea of watching first and then reading. I was planning to do it in reverse, but may do your way. Did you cover the entire Apologia book that year? I mean, did the GPB sequence and coverage allow for a complete read of Apologia? I would also like to see what Bozeman Science videos offer for additional video tutorials as well. I guess what I want is something similar to Red Wagon Tutorials (text AND video instruction)...but we simply cannot afford a $400 cash payment at the beginning of the school year. :/ Thanks again!!
  3. So, you followed GPB as scheduled and changed the order of Apologia, right? As opposed to using Apologia and changing the order of GPB? Also, did you do the labs from Apologia or GPB (or both)? If you used labs from GPB, did you also have the teacher CD materials? Did it provide you with a list of lab supplies needed? Did you use the GPB worksheets and note taking guides, or were the videos more for informational purposes and not really a "working guide?" Did you read first and then watch the video or video first and then text? Sorry to bombard you with questions - but thanks in advance for your input. :)
  4. For those of you who have used Apologia in the past, why did you change to this program? Did it do as good a job as Apologia? I was sold on Apologia since we've used them for years, but was then introduced to Conceptual Chemistry, which looks amazing since the video tutorials are free and easy to watch. But then I found GA PBS and I like, no I LOVE, the note taking guides for this! So, now I'm in a conundrum and only have a few weeks to decide. lol Apologia vs. conceptual chemistry vs. GA PBS Chemistry Apologia comes with awesome labs Conceptual Chemistry comes with labs and free videos (and some labs that we have already completed in previous Apologia courses - hmm) GA PBS comes with free videos and great note guides (and some labs, but no textbook) I'm afraid that if I went with GA PBS I would be adding more work for myself by looking for and finding extra reading and videos and then lining them up with what we are studying in chemistry. Help? :coolgleamA: :crying:
  5. We have a reserved spot with RWT for this coming year for chemistry, but something is not feeling right about it now, and I don't know what it is. I watched his sample video of his lecture and it's really that...a lecture while the students look at screen shots of webpages. I emailed the teacher and asked if the students are supposed to read the text on the screen or what. Example: He shows a wiki page on Newton and talks about Newton. There was a lot of text on my computer screen to look at while he talked...if he just wanted to show a picture of Newton, he could have chosen something more appropriate for that. Anyway, his email response was a tad demeaning...it was basically, "I'll do what I think is best. Mind your own business." That didn't really turn me off since, let's face it, he is the expert and I am not, but the thought of spending an hour looking at wiki pages for science and knowing that my teacher is demanding near perfection might be a bit much for me...and my son...thereby sucking the "fun" out of science. I honestly don't know what we will do as fall approaches. Obviously RWT has quite a following or they wouldn't have full classes up through the year 2016! The only reason we looked at them was because Dr. Wile made the suggestion that we look into RWT. Anyway, that may not help much, but that gives you and anyone else reading an idea of what we have seen so far. We LOVE Dr. Wile's books - but we are also considering Conceptual Chemistry since it has free videos to correlate with the book lessons made by the author himself. :)
  6. I am actually trying to decide between these very two programs this summer! What I have learned (if it helps any) is that: CC is more focused on mastering the CONCEPT of Chemistry instead of memorizing formulas and algorithms. AP is heavy with the math part of chemistry, but since we've used Apologia for years, I can say that they also do a fair job with presenting concepts as well. CC could be a great course for a student who is not heading in a STEM direction for college. That said, lately my oldest son has shown a decrease in his enthusiasm for science and so I thought that if the focus in chemistry for him is simply the concepts (with some math, obviously), he might be reawakened to a love for science. If he chooses to go a STEM path in college, he can take advanced chem or physics later on. Hope it helps.
  7. Has anyone used this program? I'd really love feedback. Is it a solid stand-alone program or is it something that would actually be better used with another program like Apologia? Thanks in advance!
  8. Interesting take....this is what the rep from DIVE sent to me: "DIVE Biology is designed to be lecture-based, not textbook based. The textbook is the supplement, so it should not be considered the primary focus." and "Because DIVE is lecture-based, not textbook based, the lesson reviews and quarterly exams are based primarily off the lectures and definitions. If a student completes the lecture and takes good notes, those notes, along with the definitions, should help them do well on the review questions. Then, when they study for the quarterly exam, the notes should help them study." But, to your point...The student has a good bit of reading on enzymes, for example...but only a 5 minute lecture about how an enzyme breaks down substrates (or combines them). Nothing else in the lecture covers the reading. :glare: So...I am sure it will take time to finesse this plan and make it my own. How much easier would it be just to send my son to a really cool science school to learn this stuff?! :thumbup:
  9. Thanks, everyone! You all have great thoughts and points!! I cbollin...I LOVE the websites you suggested. Thank you! Here is what I learned from both Dr. Wile (I emailed him on facebook...wonderful man) and the DIVE company (I both called and emailed with my questions): Dr. Wile's experiments are meant to ILLUSTRATE a concept, but he does not like the way DIVE uses his text. DIVE follows the AP labs, which are set up to follow the SCIENTIFIC METHOD, and while they allow students to use outside texts, they feel that sometimes the internet textbook is superior (some of the websites they suggest are just toooo much). DIVE is set up so that the lecture is the "meat" of each lesson...with pre-reading as a "prep" for the lecture. So, for the experiment example...Dr. Wile suggests making a naked egg to illustrate osmosis. The DIVE/AP lab has a whole experiment with charts, measurements, reactions, etc. to see osmosis in action. Both have merit, but the egg sounds like more fun. :) The DIVE company suggested that we at least watch the labs and even suggested that each lab contained enough information for my son to complete the lab worksheets (we'll see how that goes). So, we'll do that but we will ALSO do as many of the Dr. Wile's experiments as we can so that we can "see" the concept in simple terms. That's double duty, but as long as we can schedule it and it works, then I want to try it. I have also found that while I appreciate DIVE's format, there are several videos on the internet that cover similar topics, but that are much more interesting to watch....Bozeman Science being one that I found (Mr. Anderson also has his own AP lab videos that we will probably watch from time to time). I'll probably keep a running list of what we've used as "fun fillers" for videos and keep that for subsequent children. :) If my son can really take the CLEP at the end of this year and earn Biology credit, then I don't want to short change him now by not asking that he study the CLEP exam material as he goes along with DIVE. Still...as for the note taking, I'll review the websites suggested. I like Dr. Wile's authorship and so we'll keep that. I like Dr. Wile's experiments so we'll keep those (the whole family watches anyway). I like the fact that DIVE can prep for the CLEP so I want to keep that. Anyway, thanks again for your thoughts. I really do appreciate them all! :)
  10. So...we have the Apologia Biology book and we like it. My son loves to read and does well understanding the material. However, I feel like he should also learn to listen to a lecture and take notes while doing so. That's where D.I.V.E. comes into play... We just bought the DIVE e-learning and we are working through the "getting started" part. And...now I am feeling a little confused and would really appreciate some feedback from those who know about these two programs... DIVE offers the structure of Read material Listen to Lecture Take Notes Here is where I flip flop... DIVE's internet textbook seems to be good, but I am not sure I want to give up Apologia's writing style. Then again, if someone knows both programs and says that the internet text is far superior, then I'll seriously consider it. DIVE's lectures sometimes seem really advanced even for the reading material - I realize that DIVE is offering an honor's course to prep students for CLEP or AP exams. I'm not sure that's the route I'm going for. DIVE's labs are AP labs and NOT ones that I can do here...I don't have the equipment and I don't have the money for the equipment...Apologia's labs are much mores simple and home-budget friendly. Can I do Apologia's labs instead of DIVE's ... even though DIVE jumps around Apologia's book? Help?
  11. Two more files... FIAR book list by title.pdf FIAR book list by volume.pdf
  12. I don't know if this attachment will work, but in case anyone else could use this information, here ya go!
  13. I hope it's okay that I post here. Please do forward on as much as you can. This should warrant our attention...AND our action: http://action.afa.net/item.aspx?id=2147534194 I "snopesed" it: http://www.snopes.com/politics/sexuality/fccban.asp FCC set to drop ban on f-word, nudity on television and radio stations nationwide They are seeking public comments; make your voice count! April 8, 2013 The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced it is considering dropping current broadcast decency standards that ban explicit profanity and "non-sexual" nudity. You can read the press release from the FCC here. Specifically, if enacted, the new FCC policy would allow network television and local radio stations to air the f-word, the s-word and to allow programs to show frontal female nudity, even during hours when they know children will be watching and listening. It is accepting comments on the proposal from the viewing public until the end of April. Current broadcast decency law prohibits expletives and nudity, even if brief or "fleeting." The Supreme Court has upheld the law as constitutionally enforceable by the FCC, despite lawsuit attempts by networks NBC and FOX to overturn it. TAKE ACTION Submit your comments to the FCC, urging it to reject any changes to the current policy. The FCC will not accept general email comments. To be valid, you are required to file a formal comment via the FCC's website. Please follow these instruction carefully, to insure your comment is accepted by the FCC: 1. Go to http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/upload/begin?procName=&filedFrom=X. 2. Enter the code "13-86" in the "Proceeding Number" box and fill out the few remaining required fields. 3. Enter your comment in the text box provided and click "Continue." 4. From there, review your comment and click "Confirm." Here is a sample comment you may submit: I oppose any changes to the current FCC indecency standards that would allow television and radio stations to broadcast expletives and nudity on the public airwaves, even if brief or "fleeting." The Supreme Court has confirmed the FCC's authority to enforce policies regarding expletives and nudity, especially during times when children are likely to be watching or listening. Relaxing the current policy would not serve the public interest and I urge the FCC to reject all proposals that would allow for the broadcast of expletives and nudity on FCC-licensed stations.
  14. We own both VT and CD for Alegbra 1. I LOVE Dana Mosely's teaching...LOVE it...but 45 minutes is way too long for a teenager to sit through. We tried pausing the video each day and working some problems and then coming back the next day to unpause and watch some more. With 4 kids total who all use our video player, that simply was too much work on our part. I hated having to pick through the text book and select problems for my son to finish. 180 problems for one lesson is simply too much...even if we did half of those...still too much. BUT...I love Dana's teaching. It's thorough. It's clear. It's understandable. VT, however, offers so little review that I am was worried about it. Until my son remembered to multiply by the reciprocal on both sides without me telling him to do so. It dawned on me that VT was setting a foundation for my son. It is THAT foundation that I am hoping he continues to build his math knowledge. It's sinking in with him. VT also has some computer animations that will help to very clearly explain 3-D concepts...like parabolas. I'm looking forward to finishing it. If my son needs to review something, we'll spend a few days on the concept until I know he gets it. VT offers plenty of practice for that. If we need to back up and practice prior learned concepts, I can pull from work in past lessons.
  15. Does anyone have such a timeline??? I think that if we could ALL reach that we could add what OUR families need...in the WAY our families need them. Why can't WE here on the forum come up with a timeline??? I mean, really...how hard can that be??
  16. How does this program work? I'm interested only b/c it teaches spelling and writing while also teaching reading. My daughter is 5 and is reading faster than I am able to teach her, so I'm looking for an "all-in-one" program. Thanks in advance!
  17. LOL!! I did the exact same thing. They are tucked nicely away in my closet (well, WERE tucked away until toddler found them recently) all nice and organized to be pulled out often for creative, quiet fun. 10 years later...I still haven't cut out some of the figures! :)
  18. My K daughter is flying through her phonics book...I can hardly keep up with her. She is decoding words faster than I can teach reading "rules". I don't know where to go with this and would really appreciate help in finding resources to help her succeed. If I had to guess, I would say that she is reading at a solid first grade level.
  19. You know what I would love to see? An LDS supplement to the IG for Sonlight!!! Hey, we are all mothers in Zion, right? We are able and capable of doing just that very thing. I bet if some of us got together and really worked through the Cores for history, we could come up with a pretty impressive supplement that would meet the demands of the LDS homeschooling community here on SL. :-D Anyone interested? ;)
  20. Thank you everyone. Those replies are very helpful!
  21. I understand that most people will NOT use algebra in their every-day lives, HOWEVER... I believe that algebra shows its value in the fact that if teaches logic...thinking skills...and problem-solving strategies. That alone is worth the headache of learning algebra. :)
  22. I haven't read all of the responses, but I can tell you this... We looked at both Honda and Toyota for a minivan, and we chose Honda (not the newer version) and here's why (for us)...the Sienna has "tracks" on the floor that allow the seats to move easily. In our family of small children, crumbs are inevitable when driving and I figured crumbs would get lodged in that track system and make it inoperable. We avoided SUVs b/c small children may not always know how to gently open a door while in a parking lot and I was afraid they would open their door into the car next to us. Hope it helps!:)
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