Homeschooling High School - What If Science Just isn't Working?

If you have selected a science for this year and it's just not working out, what should you do?

It's always tough to decide when to remain with a subject and when to stop and try out something else entirely. Jay Wile of Apologia affirms that since biology, chemistry, and physics are such different sciences, it's possible for a kid to like one and hate the other two. Dr. Wile said that it's our job as parents to make sure that they hate all three (smile! )#)

Biology has a considerable amount of memorization, but little math, and it's very hands on. Chemistry has a lot of math in it, and you'll find it a very mathematical, logical science. Physics is even more mathematical. Unless your student has adequate math, Physics could really be frustrating. Due to the fact they are so different, it is common for children to not like all three.

Whenever you know a child won't be able to complete a curriculum, it's a good idea to drop it. Our job is to make sure that our children succeed in learning, and at times that can mean waiting. When you get stuck like this, look for indicators in your child, to see what they prefer to do. I know several kids who have done some wonderfully unique sciences: ornithology, mycology, geology. Don't evade science, just change it so it is a more desirable fit for your child.

If you are mid-year, have already opted for shifting to another science, then look for alte
atives that interest your child. I encourage you to ask your child what would be exciting to study for science. Give your child the Apologia Catalog, or perhaps the Home Science Tools catalog, and have them look over the options and select a science. If nothing looks enjoyable, you can look at the Lego curriculum products or perhaps a Teaching Company course.

Teaching Company lectures are usually available at the library. You can usually discover a science interest, and then do the actual research of the topic at the library as well. But in our home, for things like this, we ended up giving the desired subject to our kids for Christmas. For example, if he wants to do Lego science, give him a kit for Christmas. In the event your child wants to do astronomy, give a telescope for Christmas - that type of thing.

Colleges like to see three years of science, and one year at least as a lab science. However, I can find nowhere in the Bible where it says "Thou shalt do Biology first, then Chemistry, then Physics. " I've looked... it's not there.