If you have used BJU DVDs or Homesat, how did it work for you? Busywork? (m)

[74Heaven]

I have my high schoolers' schedules done I think. After much deliberation and a few setbacks (not getting some co op classes I had wanted), here it is:

Latin - co op
Spanish - co op
Math (VideoText Alg-9th grader & Chalkdust Geom-11th grader)
American Lit/Eng - BJU DVDs
U.S. History - BJU DVDs
Science - Either Adv Bio OR Chem in co op OR BJU Chem DVDs

My question is one of time/mastery. With 3 DVD classes, I wonder:

1.) how much time will be spent watching DVDs?
2.) how much time will BJU homework be?
3.) We have a semester of American Lit already - would it a poor decision to do BJU World Literature (i.e. Engl/Lit Level 9 or 10) instead of American Lit Lev 11? How beneficial is it to study the same literature with the same history? (Usually I'd say this was pretty important - but I'm just wondering if I switch them if it will work out just fine - we are pretty knowledgeable and well read in World History overall.)

And lastly:
4.) Science: Will BJU Chemistry *on DVDs* make my life a lot easier then reading/helping with science 4 days a week if the high schoolers do science in a co op? For a nonscience mom like me (who (almost) hates science *and* is extremely busy teaching 5 kids, including a busy Ker), I am swamped. If you didn't like science, were extremely (beyond) busy would you opt for science in a co op *or* on DVDs? (They will be mostly teaching concepts at co op, experiments would mostly be separate on our own time)

(Btw, I would like science if I had the time/energy to devote to it. As it is, it is the "frustration" of my daily life, just one step below *daily* upper math tutoring of my 2 dtrs.) I am trying to fit in "5 math lessons with Mom" for my 5 kids and I sometimes spend well over 2 hours with just my 2 high schoolers helping them thru their Alg/Geometry.

What do you think?
Lisaj, mom to 5
***

[pianoplayer]

We haven't done the same courses you are, but from our experience . . .

1. Go to the bjup.com website, and click through to DVD courses. You can click on the individual courses you are taking from DVD, and it will tell you how many lessons are included and the approximate length of each lesson. For example, last year, our Space & Earth Science lessons were 30 minutes each; this year, the Biology lessons will be 45 minutes each.
2. Each lesson makes quite clear what the homework is. Obviously, each course may differ, but the homework for Space & Earth Science was certainly minimal--maybe 20 minutes, give or take for a fast vs. slower reader/worker.
3. Personally, I would not repeat a semester on American Lit unless your child really struggled. I see no reason why you could not mix and match the literature courses within the high school grades. In my opinion, were I going to put extra emphasis on a literature segment, it would be English literature, because of its richness.
4. I've never done any subject via a co-op, so I can't help you with the comparison. However, I tried to teach the Space & Earth Science on my own and soon saw that I did not have the time to do it justice. The DVD's were very impressive and very helpful. (Yes, I quibbled with a few things here and there, but the quality overall was very impressive.) With the DVD's, the only thing that involved me was grading tests and occasionally quizzing my son before a test. When I had the time, I did watch with my son--the lessons were quite interesting and informative.

Hope this helps! Good luck. :)

[TraceyS/FL]

I'm not sure on the HS level classes, but overall they say double the time of the video for "homework". So if it's a 30 minutes class, expect about a 30 minute assignment. I think Lit & History are 30 minutes - and Chem is 45 (yup, i just pulled out the chart i made yesterday for recording in a few weeks).

There have been some great discussions on the literature classes the last few weeks on the Homesat Yahoo Group. Enough that i'm making sure i have them recorded for future use (this is the last year of the satellite broadcast - DVD & Hard drive will still be around). Apparently going thru the lit classes (10th-12th) leaves a child VERY prepared for college lit classes. In fact, some of the moms have compared them to being at college level.

now, back over to Chemistry - well, i didn't record it this summer (kicking myself), but Mr Harmon is an INCREDIBLE teacher. Oh my gosh..... i could sit and watch that class all day (shhhh, i did some days! LOL!! Same for Mrs Ericson in Biology). There is no way my DD will miss this class. I'm just bummed that I didn't get to record Mr Harmon teaching Physical Science this summer since he's switching to Physics this year.

Now, at the price you are for 3 individual classes - can't you get the whole grade for less? Then you could use that for the math and save the money! Have the language as a back up.... sell the books for the classes you don't use.... just a thought!

[TraceyS/FL]

Another thing is, that I think they can count the labs they do with Mr Harmon as labs - fill out the reports of what htey see onscreen. Obviously, it's better for them to DO them, but that is an option.

For me, i think that the Video's would be easier than the co-op classes, in fact that is why i'm recording all of high School science this coming year! LOL!! The Schedule you get will make it easy for you to be pretty hands off except for grading and doing tests (and supplying lab stuff). no surprises!

[74Heaven]

If you have used DVDs from A Beka or BJU, I'd sure appreciate the feedback.

THanks
Lisaj