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cynthia -> Apologia (12/1/2007 3:24:37 PM)

There are several families on this board that use Apologia for science.

We have recently had a science teacher who also happens to work for Apologia, join our board and he seems to like it around here. [:D] He has indicated that he is willing to answer questions, not as an Apologia employee, but as someone that likes answering questions for home schoolers.

I am opening this thread for those who have questions, ideas, information and helps for Apologia science courses.



cynthia -> RE: Apologia (12/1/2007 3:30:47 PM)

My dd is 13. We consider her to be 8th grade. She finished the General Science course and is now using the Physical Science course. She noticed that the CD rom that we have is for the former edition of the course. I am wondering if the new CD is that much different and if it's necessary to purchase the one that goes exactly with the book we are using.



rosenon -> RE: Apologia (12/1/2007 4:09:29 PM)

Hi Cynthia,

Dr Wile added almost 70 pages of new information and illustrations to the PS book. Many of the new figures have animations and video that go with them. It would be worth the $15 to buy the new companion CD. I have taught the PS course before and the new package has A LOT more to it. I am looking forward to the new GS book that is coming out soon: the enhancements on it are staggering [sm=wave.gif]

Thanks for asking the question.

God Bless,

Steve



cynthia -> RE: Apologia (12/1/2007 4:41:47 PM)

I thought so, but wanted to make sure, so I didn't make an unnecessary purchase.
I guess I'll have to purchase the new General Science book in two years for my then to be 7th grader. She won't be ready for it in 6th grade.



Ellie-Mae -> RE: Apologia (12/1/2007 4:57:15 PM)

Steve, what grade levels do you teach?



rosenon -> RE: Apologia (12/1/2007 5:35:41 PM)

Hi Ellie-Mae,

I am Washington State K-12 certified teacher. I taught 3rd grade, middle school, and high school in the public school system. I was also a research chemist for 16 years and medical technologist for four years. I currently teach Apologia General Science, Biology, and Marine Biology for a private online school. I also have my own private tutorial service. (I promised I would not advertise names of where I work so Cynthia would open this forum. I am here to help, not sell you service.) I am also a reader for the national AP Biology Exam and attend AP Institute each summer to remain current on their requirements. I was born again at 12-years-old, at Canby Grove Bible Camp, in Oregon, Summer, 1967. I have been walking with the Lord for 40 years now. My wife is Shelly. We share our home with Cleo, our 2-year-old Golden Retriever.

This is my sixth year teaching the three Apologia curriculums. I have also taught physical science and chemistry in the past. In the near future, I will be adding Apologia physics and AP biology to my list of courses taught. I have been answering questions on the Apologia helpline for the last six years as a part-time job. That endeavor will stop in June, 2008. (I don't like answering questions as a company representative. I want it to be a service, not a job.) I guess you could say I specialize in middle and high school with a background in elementary school.

Hope that helps.

God Bless,

Steve



rosenon -> RE: Apologia (12/1/2007 5:47:27 PM)

Hi Cynthia,

I have had students as young as 11-years-old and as old as 17 take the GS course with great success. My top student in my Honors Biology course two years ago was a 12-year-old who missed only one question on 16 tests and two semester Exams all year. I always tell folks not to get hung up on age. It is interest level and support at home that can make the difference. This student loved biology and was the only child of a stay at home mom. What makes the biggest impact in rate of progression is parent interaction. I could not do what I do via the live-feed and audio recorded programs I teach if it were not for the parents at home. I certainly would not try a 12-year-old in honors biology if you are home schooling six other students.

Hope that helps.

Steve



bzirk -> RE: Apologia (12/2/2007 5:36:22 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: rosenon

Hi Cynthia,

Dr Wile added almost 70 pages of new information and illustrations to the PS book. Many of the new figures have animations and video that go with them. It would be worth the $15 to buy the new companion CD. I have taught the PS course before and the new package has A LOT more to it. I am looking forward to the new GS book that is coming out soon: the enhancements on it are staggering [sm=wave.gif]

Thanks for asking the question.

God Bless,

Steve


I have a son working through the PS book, so I'm glad to know this.

Thanks.

And welcome to the forum. [:D]



rosenon -> RE: Apologia (12/2/2007 8:06:35 PM)

Glad I could help. I have some wonderful web sites that go along with PS also. Drop me a line if you feel you need some supplemental materials.

God Bless,

Steve



MidwestMom -> RE: Apologia (12/9/2007 6:29:04 PM)

Hi Steve,

Thanks for participating in this forum. My youngest daughter is just completing Physical Science, and my middle son used Apologia through Chemistry, prefering to go to our local Community College for his physics. We used other science methods for science before 7th grade. I generally like the courses, but have issue that Dr. Wile et al pound on the young earth view of creation, even when it does not lend itself directly to what is being taught in the lesson. It has led us to some very good family discussions, however - mostly about the difference between science fact and theory, especially in the biology text where there are at least two glaring logical falacies presented. What's wrong with just saying that we don't know?
All in all, I'm we're happy with the product, and find it easier than reteaching our belief in creation after a book that lays out evolution as the only option.

~MWM ( and the MWDad, who is a Ph.D. chemist with further degrees in physics and math...)



cynthia -> RE: Apologia (12/9/2007 7:15:22 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: MidwestMom
I generally like the courses, but have issue that Dr. Wile et al pound on the young earth view of creation, even when it does not lend itself directly to what is being taught in the lesson. It has led us to some very good family discussions, however - mostly about the difference between science fact and theory, especially in the biology text where there are at least two glaring logical falacies presented.

That is very unfair. If you are going to make such a statement, please include pertinent details, such as specifically what the logical falicies are and exactly where they are found.

quote:

ORIGINAL: MidwestMom
What's wrong with just saying that we don't know?

Because, according to the Bible, the earth was created in six days.

Beliefs are primarily based on world view, because our world view is how we draw our conclusions. One thing I love about Apologia is that it is unashamedly based on a Christian world view and one that takes the Bible very seriously as the Word of God, including the part about the world being made in six days.



Homegrownkids -> RE: Apologia (12/9/2007 8:23:51 PM)

I really like what I see, but my 12 yr DD (almost 13) did not like the tests for the general science. She thought reading through the text was good after she got through the first chapter. She's not a hands on type of person, so she got tired of the science experiments. In some ways, it has me concerned. Maybe I'm not pushing enough????? I stopped her with the course for now and put her in an A Beka 6th gr. Science book that I had sitting around. She is taking notes from the book and answering the questions at the end of chapters and she seems to like it. I might try the General Science next year. I will try this course again next year, maybe I will sit with her to start it off and maybe my DS can do it also.



misaham -> RE: Apologia (12/9/2007 8:44:53 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: MidwestMom
What's wrong with just saying that we don't know?

I agree, we do know, because the bible says that God created the world in six days. Answers in Genesis has tons of resources (I work in the bookstore at the Creation Museum) that deal with this. Basically, if we don't believe that, the very start of the bible, then it is too easy to poke holes in the rest of the bible. I always believed it, but did not realize how important believing this literally is until I started working there, and went through the museum. Not to get on a soap box (or be a salesperson for them!), just wanted to pass this along in case you can to look into it for yourself. Their website is here.



BCMOM -> RE: Apologia (12/9/2007 8:53:09 PM)

My ds is 12. I was very concerned it would be too much too soon based on how he does in other work. It turns out that Jay Wile's approach is perfect for him. His recall of info is really good, even when we revisit things from a while back. Two thumbs up here.

Laurie



rosenon -> RE: Apologia (12/10/2007 4:45:10 PM)

Hi MidwestMom,

Thank you so much for your input on the Apologia textbooks you have used. Seeing I am not sure what "logical falacies" you are referring to, I cannot comment - nor would I want to as this is not a debate forum. It is a forum for those that have questions about how best to use the curriculum. What I can say is that I am research chemist of 16 years experience and a former medical technologist with 496 college credits under my belt. I found the Apologia books to be excellent preparation for upper division college work and to be expounding sound Creation Science data.

This year alone I had two of my student admitted to West Point, one to the Naval Academy, one to MIT and one to Stanford. These students had no problem gaining admittance, nor are they having an problems stuggling with their course work after doing Apologia. This is just the most recent success stories. To date, I have had 47 students CLEP college biology, 212 take the SAT II (E) exam, and 15 challenge the national AP Biology exam without one failure. The quality of the curriculum speaks for itself.

If you really feel that there are errors in the textbook that need to be changed, Dr. Wile is very open to your critique. Please contact him directly at: help@apologia.com. I certainly would not feel comfortable speaking for the author of the book.

God Bless,

Steve



rosenon -> RE: Apologia (12/10/2007 5:01:17 PM)

Dear Homegrownkids,

A couple of points that may help here:

Most students who don't like the essay type of question given in the Solutions Manual do so because they struggle with writing or see essay questions as a lot of work. We do have alternate tests which are objective-based assessments (with less essay) which tend to help this group of students. The alternate tests are available by simply writing into the helpline (help@apologia.com) and requesting them. We send them one at time via e-mail attachment so that you can have options, but don't publish them because we feel that the essay format gives the student the better introduction into science academia.

There are a lot of experiments in GS, and you don't have to do them all. You can be selective with the ones your student wants to do. I tell reluctant home schooling experimenters to pick two experiments per module -- and let the student do the picking. You will find that by Module 16, he or she will be want to perform ALL the experiments.

Hope that helps.

Steve



rosenon -> RE: Apologia (12/10/2007 5:04:28 PM)

Dear BCMOM,

Thanks for the thumbs up. Again, Dr Jay loves to hear feedback on the books -- both good and bad. Please write him directly at help@apologia.com

God Bless,

Steve



rosenon -> RE: Apologia (12/10/2007 5:14:25 PM)

Dear misaham,

I agree. The Creation Science museum is awesome. Dr. Jay took at group of Potter's School students through the Museum on a guided tour this last year. Wonderful reports from all who attended.

I am 100% sold on the Apologia curriculum's reliability and its ability to produce quality results in the students it serves.

Hope that helps.

Steve
www.redwagontutorials.com



misaham -> RE: Apologia (12/10/2007 6:37:00 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: rosenon
For those of you who don't know, I work for Apologia Science as a Potter's School teacher.

Steve,
I met a Potter's School teacher and a homeschool family from my area at the museum last week! His name is Bob Madison, he is a computer teacher. He gave me his card, and I am going to look into the school. The family has a 10th grade son, and they had great things to say about it.
As I said, I don't want to sound like a salesperson for AIG for the Creation Museum, but it really has made me take a good look at what I believe and why. I have grown so much in 4 months there. Unfortunately, this is my last week there, so I can move on to homeschooling, and this next phase of my life! [:D]



rosenon -> RE: Apologia (12/10/2007 6:49:35 PM)

Dear Misaham,

I am so glad that you enjoyed the Creation Science museum and got a chance to meet Bob. He is a great guy. I have been teaching Creation Science now full time for six years. Every day I discover something new and wonderful which points a finger toward my Creator and not away from Him.

However, this is a forum regarding how to use Apologia best and for Apologia helps. We really need to switch back to those topics and get off me and my employment or my tutorial. I have already been edited once for talking too much about my job.

God Bless,

Steve



Homegrownkids -> RE: Apologia (12/10/2007 10:27:16 PM)

Hey, thanks for the feedback. None of my children are very good at writing. Something we need to work on. I'll look into those tests.



ddsisson -> RE: Apologia (12/11/2007 12:02:12 AM)

quote:

Most students who don't like the essay type of question given in the Solutions Manual do so because they struggle with writing or see essay questions as a lot of work. We do have alternate tests which are objective-based assessments (with less essay) which tend to help this group of students. The alternate tests are available by simply writing into the helpline (help@apologia.com) and requesting them. We send them one at time via e-mail attachment so that you can have options, but don't publish them because we feel that the essay format gives the student the better introduction into science academia.


Do you have these for the Physical Science as well?



rosenon -> RE: Apologia (12/11/2007 1:12:03 PM)

Dear ddsisson,

There are alternate tests available for all the Apologia curriculums, except advanced chem and advanced physics. Please keep in mind that the BEST science education and preparation for college will be obtained by using the supplied subjective essay questions in your Solutions Manual. I would suggest giving these first and using the alternate objective-type tests ONLY as a fall back alternative to the essay type questioning. Again, those tests are available by e-mail through help@apologia.com or through my private tutorial service.

Hope that helps.

Steve
www.redwagontutorials.com



ddsisson -> RE: Apologia (12/11/2007 3:06:06 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: rosenon

Dear ddsisson,

There are alternate tests available for all the Apologia curriculums, except advanced chem and advanced physics. Please keep in mind that the BEST science education and preparation for college will be obtained by using the supplied subjective essay questions in your Solutions Manual. I would suggest giving these first and using the alternate objective-type tests as a fall back alternative ONLY to the essay type questioning. Again, those tests are available through www.apologia.com or through my private tutorial service.

Hope that helps.

Steve
www.redwagontutorials.com


I ask this because my dd is not science oriented. I also believe that she will not be going to traditional college. She is as of this point wanting to go to Cosmetology school.



rosenon -> RE: Apologia (12/11/2007 5:31:23 PM)

Dear Debbie,

It sounds like the alternate tests may work great for you. They are available by writing the help@apologia.com e-mail address in the front of your book. Simply ask for the alternative test for the PS module you are working on at this time. We send them out one at a time on an "as you finish each module" basis. There is no charge for these through the Apologia helpline.

Hope that helps.

Steve



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