BJU Chemistry, Any brave soul had use this...

[HSKLNG]

without DVDs, Linc, etc. and not knowing the subject successfully?

Planning ahead:
I have the BJU student book, the 2 TE and will use the Quality Labs for BJU book. I will need to buy the test booklet and lab kit, an investment of @$180 with s/h....

or...:confused:

...buy the corresponding chemistry course for the curriculum we mainly (not totally) use and spend @$400 without the lab things?

The Chemistry reviews I read said is teacher intense, hmmmm...any more than Abeka?

Is BJU doable without the visual aids? Have you done it? Did it go well? What would you have done or not done?

I will really appreciate all comments about this little matter.

Thanks in advance to all.:)

[gardenschooler]

Is that $180 including a triple beam balance? I usually shop here:

http://www.hometrainingtools.com/catalog/science-kits-for-curriculum/kits-for-bob-jones-curriculum/p_bj-kit11.html

and it's not included in this price.

I can't speak from experience, because we're not quite to chemistry yet, but the overwhelming opinion on this board in the past would be a definite 'no'. I've heard several moms who actually had science degrees say that BJU high school science wasn't very user friendly even to them.

All BJU materials are designed to be taught, which is not such an overwhelming task in the younger grades, or even 7-9, but I know *I* wouldn't attempt it without HomeSat or the DVDs. Not unless I was prepared to basically learn it all myself the year before - and I'd probably need Apologia Chemistry (basic and advanced courses) in order to do that.

Another thing that I noticed about BJU high school science that made me decide it just wasn't doable without the HomeSat or DVDs is actually looking at the lab manuals. A large percentage of the labs are teacher demonstrations, using the more expensive equipment. If you have the courses in video, you get that free. If not.....I didn't feel comfortable skipping so many labs.

I also started to think that if I tweaked it to be more doable at home, eventually I'd get to the point where it barely resembled the original course and rigor. And I'd still be stuck with not really having the full explanation of things that I'm sure I would find difficult.

Home Science Tools does suggest the MicroChem for an alternate lab, but it won't be as rigorous (according to their website, linked above).

I did notice that BJU has a new 4th edition of their Physical Science out, with a dvd just for labs (including the demonstrations), and supposedly more homeschool friendly labs. But it will probably be awhile before they update their chemistry, and even then, it will more than likely still be very difficult for someone without a knowledgeable background.

Hopefully someone more experienced will chime in. I absolutely love all of BJU's courses, but I had to admit defeat on a few. I made it to Algebra and Physical Science before realizing I was not equipped to continue on my own, without the help of HomeSat.

We're doing Apologia Biology right now for 8th grade, and I would love to do some sort of workable combo of Apologia/BJU for high school, so I certainly hope someone has a better answer to this problem.

If only BJU would make their TE's a little more detailed, easier to teach, and sell a lab dvd for something under the current *rental* dvd price of $399, so many of us would be thrilled to be able to use it.

Hope we get some answers!