Quiver0f10 Posted November 18, 2011 Share Posted November 18, 2011 I need an easy to read/understand science for my 12 yo, who is dyslexic with a low IQ. Last year we used library books on topics he chose and this year we were using Elemental Physics but he is having a hard time narrating back from the Usborne book. Would a texbook with fill in the answer questions be better for a child such as this? If so, which publisher? Or maybe DVD's? Or something else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiewindmomma Posted November 18, 2011 Share Posted November 18, 2011 What's your goal for him? I'd be inclined to do fun science experiments....and have you fill out science reports with him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakblossoms Posted November 18, 2011 Share Posted November 18, 2011 My Aspie was still having difficulties then. He found experiments frustrating. We had him read in Usborne and outline with help. We would do an experiment with another child maybe once a month. Then he would tell me about it. He, also, liked when I would make up one page of questions. I might include a space to draw a picture, too. I would read the section on Usborne and come up with my own questions and type them up. It was nice because I could make the work his level. But, he never worried or got upset about a grade level workbook. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quiver0f10 Posted November 18, 2011 Author Share Posted November 18, 2011 What's your goal for him? I'd be inclined to do fun science experiments....and have you fill out science reports with him. He isn't very into science so for now I guess want him to learn science topics. I do want it to be fun, but also feel at 12 he needs to step up a bit from narrations etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterPan Posted November 18, 2011 Share Posted November 18, 2011 (edited) Have you looked at the ACS middle school chemistry that you can download for free? I have that and the Chem 101 videos from timberdoodle in the wings to start in January. For us one of the issues is comprehension, and I really haven't figured out what the issue is there. (That's why we're twiddling our thumbs waiting for the np eval results.) In your case, have you noticed a distinction between his comprehension when he reads vs. if you read it? The Eides give a few more suggestions for comprehension with school stuff. Of their options (vocabulary lists ahead, outline ahead, etc.), the one that interested me was giving the gist ahead. It mirrors the suggestion of a lady from the BJUP who was at the convention repping for them (she is dyslexic herself) who said to use the videos for BJU. I'm not sure if that's helpful in your case, but it started my mind in new directions. If dd has some clue or connection with the material, she does dramatically better than if it's cold. Another thing you might do is find what non-fiction books he *can* read comfortably and interact with on science topics and get books on that level. Like if you hand him a 7th gr PH science text, he's probably not going to light up the same as if you get him books from the juvenile section on those topics but say on more of a 4th or 5th grade reading level. Then just do the labs from the text. I'm not making that up either. I've been playing around with what makes my dd light up vs. what she can slog through. I think the gist is that if they're slogging through it, their brain is so wrangling with the long sentences and all the language issues that there's nothing left to process the CONTENT. So you have to take the reading level way down if you want them to learn from it. It would at least be something you could play around with and just try. I basically just put non-fiction books in front of her at a variety of reading levels and asked her to read to see what would happen. All of these were books she was likely to enjoy (history), so the difference would be reading level. I'm sorry that's not more helpful. It's my own personal quandary too. In our case, I'm waiting for the np results so I can (hopefully!) see what is causing the comprehension issues so I can figure out what to DO about it. BTW, have you thought about TOPS with him? That's something else I have in the wings to try with her. The instructions are short and sweet, so it might work. Edited November 18, 2011 by OhElizabeth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinNY Posted November 18, 2011 Share Posted November 18, 2011 I really like the Concepts and Challenges in Science Series. I have the older books. I do know many SN kids that used these for high school credit in 9th and 10th grades with an accredited correspondence school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakblossoms Posted November 19, 2011 Share Posted November 19, 2011 I wanted to add Usborne has the links and we watched those, too. It is a good way for experiment phobic to see some fun stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quiver0f10 Posted November 19, 2011 Author Share Posted November 19, 2011 (edited) Have you looked at the ACS middle school chemistry that you can download for free? I have that and the Chem 101 videos from timberdoodle in the wings to start in January. For us one of the issues is comprehension, and I really haven't figured out what the issue is there. (That's why we're twiddling our thumbs waiting for the np eval results.) In your case, have you noticed a distinction between his comprehension when he reads vs. if you read it? The Eides give a few more suggestions for comprehension with school stuff. Of their options (vocabulary lists ahead, outline ahead, etc.), the one that interested me was giving the gist ahead. It mirrors the suggestion of a lady from the BJUP who was at the convention repping for them (she is dyslexic herself) who said to use the videos for BJU. I'm not sure if that's helpful in your case, but it started my mind in new directions. If dd has some clue or connection with the material, she does dramatically better than if it's cold. Another thing you might do is find what non-fiction books he *can* read comfortably and interact with on science topics and get books on that level. Like if you hand him a 7th gr PH science text, he's probably not going to light up the same as if you get him books from the juvenile section on those topics but say on more of a 4th or 5th grade reading level. Then just do the labs from the text. I'm not making that up either. I've been playing around with what makes my dd light up vs. what she can slog through. I think the gist is that if they're slogging through it, their brain is so wrangling with the long sentences and all the language issues that there's nothing left to process the CONTENT. So you have to take the reading level way down if you want them to learn from it. It would at least be something you could play around with and just try. I basically just put non-fiction books in front of her at a variety of reading levels and asked her to read to see what would happen. All of these were books she was likely to enjoy (history), so the difference would be reading level. I'm sorry that's not more helpful. It's my own personal quandary too. In our case, I'm waiting for the np results so I can (hopefully!) see what is causing the comprehension issues so I can figure out what to DO about it. BTW, have you thought about TOPS with him? That's something else I have in the wings to try with her. The instructions are short and sweet, so it might work. I'm not sure what ACS is? For my son comprehension is an issue if he were to read it himself. I did consider BJU DVDs for him and that is a possibility for next year. Although he is 12 he is not working at grade level so I don't know where I'd place him if we do go with BJU. Edited November 19, 2011 by Quiver0f10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKS Posted November 19, 2011 Share Posted November 19, 2011 Is he reading it or are you reading it to him. If he is reading it himself, I would suggest reading aloud to him before switching. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quiver0f10 Posted November 19, 2011 Author Share Posted November 19, 2011 Is he reading it or are you reading it to him. If he is reading it himself, I would suggest reading aloud to him before switching. I'm reading it to him. I think I am looking for a text rather than an encyclopedia. I think that will help him pull the info out better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterPan Posted November 19, 2011 Share Posted November 19, 2011 Jean, it's http://www.middleschoolchemistry.com It's totally free to download. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quiver0f10 Posted November 19, 2011 Author Share Posted November 19, 2011 Jean, it's www.middleschoolchemistry.com It's totally free to download. Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKS Posted November 19, 2011 Share Posted November 19, 2011 I'm reading it to him. I think I am looking for a text rather than an encyclopedia. I think that will help him pull the info out better. How about Prentice Hall's Science Explorer books? The little books about physics are Forces, Motion and Energy, Light and Sound, and Electricity and Magnetism. You can have him do the comprehension questions orally. The questions follow a certain format that helps kids learn how to find information in the text. There's also CPO Physical Science (it contains physics and chemistry, just skip the chemistry). There are good samples online for that. There is also an abundance of free worksheets and other goodies online at the CPO site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quiver0f10 Posted November 19, 2011 Author Share Posted November 19, 2011 How about Prentice Hall's Science Explorer books? The little books about physics are Forces, Motion and Energy, Light and Sound, and Electricity and Magnetism. You can have him do the comprehension questions orally. The questions follow a certain format that helps kids learn how to find information in the text. There's also CPO Physical Science (it contains physics and chemistry, just skip the chemistry). There are good samples online for that. There is also an abundance of free worksheets and other goodies online at the CPO site. Thanks again! Would I need the TE books for the PH? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtnTeaching Posted November 26, 2011 Share Posted November 26, 2011 How about Prentice Hall's Science Explorer books? The little books about physics are Forces, Motion and Energy, Light and Sound, and Electricity and Magnetism. You can have him do the comprehension questions orally. The questions follow a certain format that helps kids learn how to find information in the text. I have used these for my dyslexic daughter and they were awesome for us. She is doing Life Science this year. I started reading these to my ds (at the time a 6th grader) and dd (then a 4th grader). She would do the adapted reading workbook and tests and she loved it. This year (13yo) she is doing the regular workbook and regular test (although I do allow these to be open book because of the vocabulary and the have short essays included.) Also, if your ds has a formal diagnosis, he should be eligible for Learningally.com (formally "Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic".) This used to be free, but funding was cut last year and there is a yearly charge now. Readers record books unabridged and the child can read along in their book while listening to the recording. It has worked extremely well for my dd and all of the Science Explorer books are on there. Dd is also currently using a recording as she reads "Tom Sawyer" for her Lightening Lit class. The dialect changes the spelling of the words so much, it was frustrating her to try and read it alone. Since starting the Prentice Hall Science Explorer series, dd has tested in the 99th percentile in science every year on the Iowa Basic Skills Test. (Regarding the TE - since I knew I had two kids doing the series, I bought the TE on disk that has all of the books, Teacher's editions, tests, workbooks, and planning feature. It was not cheap, but it has been awesome. I love this series and ds has moved to the 2010 Miller/Levine Biology book this year for 9th grade. The format is very familiar to him since the ML book is Pearson/Prentice Hall, also.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paisley Hedgehog Posted November 26, 2011 Share Posted November 26, 2011 nm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtnTeaching Posted November 27, 2011 Share Posted November 27, 2011 Where did you buy this? Have you got an ISBN or AISN? I bought this directly from Pearson/Prentice Hall. It is a 4 CD-ROM set called the Prentice Hall Science Explorer TeacherExpress. I have loved this set. It has everything on it. The ISBN-13 is 978-0-13-360703-1. This set is not cheap and has a bit of a learning curve, but once I learned how to use it, it have LOVED it. (It is actually not that expensive now that I have a taste of what high school biology text materials cost!) This set uses the individual "small books" textbooks and you can purchase the hardbacks as you go. (They are also found on Amazon used a lot and are pretty inexpensive even if you buy them new.). Science Explorer is also published as three large books (Life Science, Earth Science, and Physical Science.) They do not corrolate as well as the individual books do with the TeacherExpress. Pearson/Prentice Hall do not do a very good job with their website when it comes to Science Explorer. It can be very frustrating, but hopefully the ISBN with help you. With TeacherExpress, the only other thing I think you would really need are the textbooks. The labs are very good labs. I was pleasantly suprised. However, I myself tended to add a lot of kits and did a lot of labs by "doing my own thing." The workbook items and the tests were very good. Also, there are some online elements that you can use for free, but we wound up not using them very much. Let me know if you have anymore questions. It is a crazy week for us this week, but I will try to keep checking back in. Anyone can also pm me with questions if you like. This has been one of those "favorite" purchases as I look back on our hs journey to this point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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