I'm afraid to even ask this here, but here goes

[OnTheBrink]

My dd is in 9th grade. She's doing BJUP science and she's not doing well. This is the first time we've done a text-book science curriculum and I don't know if that is playing into why she's not doing well. She normally loves science. I also have her reading Joy Hakim's Story of Science, which she's eating up, but it's not a stand-alone science curriculum (she's reading more as a supplement to bridge history and science).

 

I don't know what to do, really. Keep plugging along with this and hope it gets better? Toss it and try something else? Slow it down, but if we do that, we won't finish it this year.

 

Constructive suggestions are welcome!

[MamaAkins]

I don't have a lot of advice, but I will say that we tried BJU Earth Science in 7th grade and my dd HATED it. She is normally a compliant, obedient child that doesn't complain, but she could not stand the format of the book. It was so dry and uninteresting.

We ended up putting it aside and using a different textbook (my husband is a teacher, so he brought home a textbook from his school) and she finished out the year with that.

 

I will say that my dd is not a science-minded student. She would prefer to study writing, grammar, or spanish. She is in 9th grade now and doing fairly well (low A average) using Prentice Hall Physical Science.

[OnTheBrink]

She said she likes the book, but she has trouble remembering all the vocabulary. So, I'm wondering if I'm pacing this too fast and not giving her enough time to master the vocab?

 

She's making A's in all her other subjects, so I'm :confused: on this one.

[yinne]

We have used a number of BJUP science courses over the years. Which science BJUP course is she using? Are you using the DVD's or is it all on her own? If I don't use the DVDs, then I make sure and cover the material with the kids. I go over the section review questions with them, as well as the end of chapter questions. I also make sure that we touch on everything that is covered in the test.

 

Yvonne in NE

[Nan in Mass]

I haven't seen the science textbook you are using, but I do know that doing science with a textbook is very different from doing science without one. There are unspoken assumptions behind the questions that make it difficult to give the specific answers the book is looking for, and one has to have good study skills and probably some experience in order to read through a textbook and pick out the important vocabulary, techniques, concepts, and experiments, and then work with them enough to work out all the connections and implications to science as a whole, and then pick out which bits need to be put on flashcards (or whatever your prefered method of memorization) and memorized. If she hasn't had practice doing this before, you are probably going to have to show her how to do this. It takes practice.

HTH

Nan

[Lori D.]

Yes, it could be that DD is finding that learning how to learn via a science textbook is tough -- although, I understand that Bob Jones is one of the more rigorous textbooks, so that might be making it an extra big "jump."

 

And yes, your suggestion to slow it down a little, and do just a portion of a science credit each year, rather than a full credit really can work! For example, our state high school graduation requirements AND state college entrance requirements are both 3 credits of lab sciences. Since neither of our DSs were headed toward math/science fields, we did not have the pressure or the requirement to do 4 credits of sciences, so we did just a portion of a science credit each year:

 

9th grade = 2/3rd of the Biology text

10th grade = remaining 1/3 of the Biology text, plus 1/2 credit of Anatomy from a different text

11th grade = 3/4 of the Chemistry text

12th grade = remaining 1/4 of the Chemistry text; plus 1/2 of the Physics text

 

TOTAL = 3 credits lab sciences:

1 credit = Biology

1 credit = Chemistry

0.5 credit = Anatomy

0.5 credit = Physics

 

 

Could also be that the Bob Jones is not the best fitting textbook or program for your student. Perhaps look around at what some of your other options are and see if one of them is a better fit for your DD's learning style. Older DS did both Apologia Biology and Chemistry, while younger DS did Apologia Biology; we switched to the secular Conceptual Chemistry and Physics and were all MUCH happier after that. While we appreciated the Christian worldview of Apologia, the writing style, physical layout, and teaching style (emphasis on memorization of vocabulary and terms rather than a lot of learning through actual hands-on and explanations and examples of these scientific processes in real life) was just NOT the best fit for us. We also added in a lot more hands-on through TOPS units and science kits from Home Science Tools Switching textbooks to something that was a better fit for student learning style (and parent teaching style!) greatly improved our enjoyment of science again, even though it was still being done with a textbook.

 

 

Other possibilities:

- Gut out the science with a textbook, but supplement with more "living books" (like you already are), NOVA episodes, science videos, and hands-on experiments to make the subject "come alive."

- Outsource: do science with a local high school class with a teacher

- Supplement with video tutorials in the problem areas

 

(For example, really struggled through the chapters on the parts and processes of the cell in the Apologia text, and found the Thinkwell CD-tutorials very helpful for those chapters.) Khan Academy, Bright Storm, and Learners TV all offer free online tutorials.

 

When it came to Chemistry and Physics, we watched a lot of Mythbuster episodes. There are also short chemistry videos to go with Conceptual Chemistry.

 

Other science tutorials:

Bozeman Biology = http://www.youtube.com/user/bozemanbiology#p/p

Derek Owens Physics = http://www.youtube.com/user/derekowens#p/a

GPB Education (Chemistry & Physics) = http://www.gpb.org/chemistry-physics/students/all

 

 

 

BEST of luck, whatever you decide! Warmest regards, Lori D.

Edited November 14, 2011 by Lori D.

[5LittleMonkeys]

This won't help if the program is a bad fit or if you need to tweak it but I thought I'd put it out there in case it helps a bit.

 

Quizlet has been enormously helpful with dd13's science vocab this year. She just spends a few minutes each day on it and the process of entering all of the information on the first day has really helped cement the words too.

[HiddenJewel]

We use the DIVE CD-Roms with the BJU high school courses. Vocabulary is done before the text is ready or the lecture is watched. That way it is on paper and has been studied before the material is introduced.

[Lolly]

First of all, BJUP is HARD! First question is are you using the DVDs? If not, you might want to consider them. The DVDs really let the kids know what they need to concentrate on. The teacher is constantly asking pop questions (lesson questions) which the kids have to answer for lesson points. The kids really learn the important vocabulary and concepts this way. If you are using the Earth Science, I think it is probably the hardest course they have! Of course, it is the only one we have done without the DVDs...:tongue_smilie:

[Pam L in Mid Tenn]

While I use and like BJU products, I find their questions and tests very.... tedious. How about an open book test?

[OnTheBrink]

You all have given me some great suggestions. :)

 

No, we're not using the dvd's and I might look into that. I do think I'll slow it down a bit and spend some more time with the vocabulary. I may do an open book test and see how that goes. That would force her to find the answers and that might help make the vocab stick.

 

This is new territory for me. My ds had no problems with text-books at all, but then he spent the first 8 years of his education in the public schools. This is also the first time something's been difficult for her to the point that she's continually having problems.

 

Thanks again for the suggestions. Hopefully, we'll get this ironed out for her.