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butterflynjesus -> RE: Apologia (12/12/2007 4:19:48 PM)
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J has been doing the PS book since 9th grade. He hasn't finished it yet. He's a junior this year. He hates science, well he dislikes school work in general [8|], but he doesn't like science and thinks it's useless information. I got the book having heard so many great things about it and I even emailed Dr. Wile before, but we had little help. I hope our girls do better when they start the book next year. Of course I think his lack of caring, enthusiam, and attitude have greatly affected his learning and is the reason why it's taking so long. He has to keep taking the modules over again because he's either not reading to learn, not taking effective notes, or he's just not understanding the information because he doesn't always pass the tests. He says it's too hard or confusing or that he shouldn't be expected to do such work without a teacher's help. So I read the module myself, take notes, and create study sheets which is a lot of work. I'm going to save them and type them up so the girls can use them as worksheets if they want next year. He has ADHD so that might be part of his problem. All of my kids like workbooks and he says the OYO isn't enough to help him. He wants workbooks or worksheets to go along with the reading. I tried telling him his own notes should do the trick, but that involves him having to figure out what should be in notes and actual writing which he's a allergic too. I got him the read along CD too and he complains he's too slow pased for him. [8|] We also have the CD companion for illustrations and he says it's cheesy. [8|]
He enjoyed the experiments for the most part though, but I still don't think he knows how to keep a good lab notebook or fill one out correctly. The experiments were fun though and we took pictures and put some up on our flickr acct.
I can't afford the GS book yet, but as soon as I can I'll get the girls going in that because they will be in 9th grade next year and I'd like to have them finish the GS book first. We have the abeka science book and so far it's not doing the trick so they are going back over their apologia Botany book. I got them a HS level coloring book for botany to supplement it because it's under their grade level.
I'd love to have advice from those who have kids who have done the GS book. Especially if your kids aren't into science and have a hard time with memorization. Have you found any additional resources to enhance the science text? How long did it take your child to finish the book?
I wonder if apologia isn't the best selection for kids with ADHD, who need extra help. My girls have a better attitude about learning, but their math is weak and that's where J struggled with the most I think. The first part involved math and since he did poorly he was discouraged. He also had a hard time with the memorization of terms etc. I think in general though, if he put more effort forward he'd do better, but he complains that the book is too hard and difficult to do on his own. Yet, I chose apologia for the committed to a biblical worldview, intregrity in science, and ease of learning. I read it and enjoy it when I have the time and take my own notes and do the OYO without checking for the answers and I've learned a lot. Then again, I have always loved science and learning, whereas he doesn't.
I had hoped J would have finished biology last year, but like I said, he's still plodding through PS. [:o] I really do still hope he'll get this done already and that he can do biology. He needs at least two years of science anyways so I'm praying and holding my breath. I should say that I never tried a difference science curriculum with J as I had changed some of his other texts per his request and I couldn't afford to buy another science book after the investment I had made. Plus, if he wasn't finishing the other books, I wasn't going to expect he'd do so with a different science book. I just hope I didn't try to force J to do a text that truly was over his head. [:o]
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