CindyH in NC Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 I thought my 2 rising 9th graders were going to take science classes offered to homeschoolers at a local private school. Just found out today that the school has discontinued the classes after 10 years of offering them to the homeschool community. I guess that is why no one would email me back from the school for the past week or so. Using this school for high school science had been my plan for years, so I really haven't worried about science courses beyond middle school. Both girls are interested in science and we are working through CK12's Earth Science Honors for Middle School now and will continue throughout the summer. Really anxious to find something for the fall though. Most all of the local coops I have been able to find offer science using Apologia which isn't an option for us. I was so looking forward to not having to deal with science and math for these 2 in the fall. ( I plan to have them take Jann in Tx Geometry class.) Now I am panicking at the thought of having to plan out science. Thanks for any help. This is my first post on the High School Board. :tongue_smilie: I can't believe they are getting ready to start High School. Cindy Mom to 2 girls and teacher/friend to a 3rd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngieW in Texas Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 I've seen a lot of posts about Derek Owen's classes. Have you looked there? http://www.derekowens.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CindyH in NC Posted June 1, 2012 Author Share Posted June 1, 2012 This looks promising. I hadn't intended for them to take Physics first but maybe it would work for ninth grade and I can hopefully line up someone local for Biology and Chemistry. Have you used any of his courses? The offering of an Honors option is intriguing. I will read through the website carefully over the weekend. Cindy PS If anyone has any other ideas for hs science online I am all ears. I would also love to hear about your experiences with the Derrick Owens courses. Thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa B Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 I believe Oak Meadow offers secular online science classes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candid Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 I think Thinkwell's courses are secular as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JanetC Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 I think Thinkwell's courses are secular as well. Secular, but college or AP level. They're all very challenging for high schoolers, and the physics is calculus based. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
albeto Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 http://www.scienceforhighschool.com/ I've not used it and don't know how much is independent, but it's one more thing to look at. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AHASRADA Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 Keystone High School. They offer regular and honors, and possibly AP as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quark Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 This looks promising. I hadn't intended for them to take Physics first but maybe it would work for ninth grade and I can hopefully line up someone local for Biology and Chemistry. Have you used any of his courses? The offering of an Honors option is intriguing...If anyone has any other ideas for hs science online I am all ears. I would also love to hear about your experiences with the Derrick Owens courses. We use Derek Owens' Physics for a younger, mathy child but at a slower pace. My son enjoys the lectures very much and I am confident that he will be well prepared to take Thinkwell's calculus-based physics later. This is how my son does it: 1. Watches the lectures and completes notes in the workbook (I opted to buy the printed version from Lulu, there are two workbooks for Physics -- Semester One and Semester Two). 2. Son works on the practice problems. Derek also has videos for some of the practice problems. Son checks solutions to practice problems from a link online and corrects mistakes if any. 3. He completes the assigned homework which I scan and email to Derek for grading. 4. Derek responds, usually very quickly, with graded homework and the link for the updated online grade book. Son reviews mistakes if any and corrects them. 5. Upon completing the chapter, my son works on the labs (a few labs require 2 people). 6. I scan and email completed lab report to Derek and #4 above is repeated. 7. Son takes the chapter test. Repeat of #6. Derek opens all the coursework to you upon registration ($15) and you pay the monthly fee (for us it is only $29/mth because my son is working slowly) only when Derek grades the work. Don't be intimidated by the number of lectures per chapter. Each lecture is quite short. For more details, see Sue's post or search for reviews by abbeyej! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webbeccjo Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 I was fortunate enough to find classes locally for my older kids, but a friend of mine has utilized both of these and loved them http://www.compuhigh.com/ http://keystoneschoolonline.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seveninthesand Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 Florida Virtual School http://www.flvs.net I am very happy with the quality of their courses. Florida students take classes for free, but you can pay to sign up if you are out of state. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CindyH in NC Posted June 1, 2012 Author Share Posted June 1, 2012 I had so looked forward to having a classroom experience for this subject but online may be what we have to work with. I will be reading through all the sites and information carefully over the weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CindyH in NC Posted June 1, 2012 Author Share Posted June 1, 2012 The girls will have completed Algebra I in the fall. Do you think this is enough math to get them through the course? Is your child doing the Honors level? I hate to bog them down, but had hoped to do all Honors level science. I admit I have never studied Physics and it is a little intimidating to me to consider doing it first, but just browsing through the sample material on the site it looked doable for 9th. Thanks so much for the information. I am trying to process all of our options, and I am a planner who hates to have to change plans. :001_smile: Cindy H. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quark Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 The girls will have completed Algebra I in the fall. Do you think this is enough math to get them through the course? Is your child doing the Honors level? I hate to bog them down, but had hoped to do all Honors level science. I admit I have never studied Physics and it is a little intimidating to me to consider doing it first, but just browsing through the sample material on the site it looked doable for 9th. Thanks so much for the information. I am trying to process all of our options, and I am a planner who hates to have to change plans. :001_smile: Cindy H. Yes, he is doing Honors. It is hard but as I said, he is doing it at a slower pace so I may not be the best person to answer about the Honors level. :) Yes, Algebra I is enough math. There is a small amount of Trig involved but it is not yet overwhelmingly difficult for my son. All the best with your decision! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nynyny Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 My ds completed the Honors course in 7 months which saved us money. Derek will let you start out in Honors and if you feel it is too difficult, you can change levels. We did request 10 more labs as the course only includes 10 labs. Derek is great--very reliable and helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer in FL Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 Florida Virtual School offers science as well as every other subject. We have friends outside of Florida that have used the curriculum and liked it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunshine State Sue Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 For more details, see Sue's post We used Derek Owens for 9th grade Physics. I highly recommend him. Great quality. I have a degree in math, but never took physics in high school and dropped out of physics very quickly in college (it's still the goal of my life to take physics and pass it one day). Ds eventually (after many, many months) officially chose the honors class. He wound up with a B in the class. He rarely spent more than 45 min/day (*). He is a quick worker, though. He says that Derek Owens Physics was much more difficult than Earth Science this year at the CC. If you (or anyone else) would like to see a sample hw, lab, test, feel free to PM me with your email address (I don't think email works on this forum anymore), and I will be happy send you a sample. (*) 45min/day was enough. I tutor math with GED students. Generally, after working with me for 45min, the student's head is ready to explode, and they want to escape. That's kinda how Physics was for ds. HTH! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nissi Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 Debra Bell offers online courses too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruth in NC Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 I thought my 2 rising 9th graders were going to take science classes offered to homeschoolers at a local private school. d I suspect I received the same email you did about the FCDS no longer offering classes. And had a similar reaction and signed my son up for geometry from Jann in Tx. I don't know where you live in NC but these classes sound good and are secular. A few years ago, before they offered full courses, my daughter took a one day seminar in biology there and really learned a lot. http://ccee.unc.edu/youth/classes/ Our homeschool group has a weekly science lesson in Kernersville. The teacher might be interested in organizing something more specifically for high school biology. I am pretty sure she posts on this board and may see your question. If you would like her contact info, pm me. My dream is to set up a local secular co-op someday. But I haven't done it yet. Ruth in NC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CindyH in NC Posted June 3, 2012 Author Share Posted June 3, 2012 Sue and Ruth, you both helped so much. I am still deciding on science for this year but at the moment I am leaning towards Derek Owen's Physics. I am excited to explore the options at the Carolina Center for the following year. Cindy H. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruth in NC Posted June 5, 2012 Share Posted June 5, 2012 I think you will enjoy Derek Owens. My son, not a sciency type, did Alg 1 and Phys Sci with him this year. He was very helpful, timely in his response to questions and just nice to deal with. Good luck. Ruth in NC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mcbphd Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 We weren't crazy about Keystone. We're doing Thinkwell chemistry and it is pretty tough! But it's well organized and we like it better than keystone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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