Shelsi Posted April 22, 2013 Share Posted April 22, 2013 What would you recommend? We LOVE BFSU. We've been using it for 2 yrs now and it's wonderful. Next year though I am going back to school and will be a full time student with a part time job and trying to HS 2 kids plus dh will also be a full time student and working. In my head I try to rationalize it saying we'll still be able to keep up with BFSU but I know I'm just kidding myself. So what's the runner up to BFSU? It must be secular. Next year I'll have a 4th grader and 1st grader. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelsi Posted April 23, 2013 Author Share Posted April 23, 2013 bump....anyone out there? :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DandelionPrincess Posted April 23, 2013 Share Posted April 23, 2013 i switched to mr q., because i couldnt get bfsu done regularly. we arent far into life science (free!), but so far were actuallydoing science. i work from home and my hubby is gone a lot. i find it open and go enough. this is for my 5yo working at a 1st grade level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abeilles Posted April 23, 2013 Share Posted April 23, 2013 We've enjoyed BFSU but it hasn't been open and go enough for us this year. Next year we will be doing Nancy Larson Science (very scripted but great retention and hands on) with BFSU and living books to supplement as we can. NLS is open and go and has everything in one spot - may be what you need with your schedule next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laundrycrisis Posted April 23, 2013 Share Posted April 23, 2013 There is not much comparison between this and BFSU, because there is very little depth - but when I needed open and go, I started using Steck Vaughn Focus on Science workbooks. The lessons are short but decent, well written, require some reading for information, and are easy to expand on with Brainpop and Google. And totally secular. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ecclecticmum Posted April 23, 2013 Share Posted April 23, 2013 We were doing a mix of Real Science Odyssey & Elemental Science, with Brainpop, Aha! Science, and The Happy Scientist. Now I'm travelling down the BFSU route, rofl. I don't know whether I will *use* it, I've more purchased BFSU & NEE as teacher reading. We may end up doing a BFSU day down the road, time will tell. RSO & Elemental Science are both nice programs. RSO is more lab-by and nicer looking (read-more professional & fun) worksheets, obviously because its a commercial program. Elemental Science is inspired by WTM, so follows those guidelines with a more CM feel. Brainpop, I never had my kids do the questions, they just watched the robot. I just felt the price wasn't justified using as is. If you used the questionnaires, plus the teacher lesson plans section & ideas, who knows, it might be great. So we cancelled that (had a contract we couldn't cancel till a year had passed......stupid me rofl) finally. Aha! Science is computer based. I can't tell you much about it, really, as I haven't used it in depth. Its a couple of dollars a year (I think $15?) It allows you to choose interactive lessons for the child. Dropping it into their assignment box. I've actually been meaning to look more into it before I cancel it, as we now have an extra laptop for A. and it could be something for her (I also subscribed to a few other things through Sky Learning platform that I can't recollect right now). Happy Scientist is slowly changing and getting more and more organized. I basically just chose a video, we'd all watch it. And thats that. rofl. Either the kids would say "that was interesting" or they would go further with discussions, or doing the experiment themself, by themself. Most of the time they were wanting to do whatever experiment he had shown and asking for the supplies (cream for the butter video, umbrella for the tree video etc). Another one to possibly look into is The Private Eye. Its a book, and jewellers loupes. We have the loupes (but not the book). It seems like a really interesting program, and if still available near the end of the year from RR, I might grab the book. Other than that the only one I can think of is that interactive science. I'm pretty sure its secular. Its a mix of textbook/workbook/computer/interactive I think it was Pearsons who does it? There was a whole big shebang on here about it (complete with links to sample sites) about a year ago. It looks similar to Pearsons one, but it may not be the same. Ah! I think it might be Science Fusion! Another option is Real Science 4 kids. I think its pretty much open and go. As for how classically or BFSUfully these choices are, I have no idea :huh: :hat: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Five More Minutes Posted April 23, 2013 Share Posted April 23, 2013 What would you recommend? We LOVE BFSU. We've been using it for 2 yrs now and it's wonderful. Next year though I am going back to school and will be a full time student with a part time job and trying to HS 2 kids plus dh will also be a full time student and working. In my head I try to rationalize it saying we'll still be able to keep up with BFSU but I know I'm just kidding myself. So what's the runner up to BFSU? It must be secular. Next year I'll have a 4th grader and 1st grader. What is it that you have enjoyed about BFSU? Its integrated nature? The demos with lessons? The fact that you can explore topics at will, all while keeping them in a framework? While I can't think of an open-and-go program that would be similar to BFSU, I believe you can achieve the many of the above characteristics without too much strain using good books and selected videos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maplecat Posted April 23, 2013 Share Posted April 23, 2013 We really like BFSU, but it does take me about twenty minutes a week to prep by reading and wrapping my brain around the material. I also think that the text is particularly awkward to teach from. If I spent the time to outline the section, it would probably make the lessons much easier to teach. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmac Posted April 26, 2013 Share Posted April 26, 2013 I've read that Singapore Science, I think it's call My Pals, and the Evan Moor Science are other alternatives to an open and go BFSU. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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