Looking for Science Curriculum for 2 dyslexic adhd boys

[loveathome24]

I am looking for a science program that won't overwhelm my boys. They are both reading well on a 6th grade level. I'm looking for a life science program that they can do fairly independently, that has engaging text, but doesn't overwhelm them with 20 to 30 new vocabulary words in every chapter. I'm considering PH Science Explorer series. Has anyone here used this, and do you think it would work well with special needs. My boys are in 7th and 9th grade. :confused:

[Kathy in MD]

I am looking for a science program that won't overwhelm my boys. They are both reading well on a 6th grade level. I'm looking for a life science program that they can do fairly independently, that has engaging text, but doesn't overwhelm them with 20 to 30 new vocabulary words in every chapter. I'm considering PH Science Explorer series. Has anyone here used this, and do you think it would work well with special needs. My boys are in 7th and 9th grade. :confused:

I'd avoid PH Science Explorer. The books are overbusy and poorly laid out graphically. It's difficult to focus on the text because the side bars and extras are overwhelming. It seems to stress learning techniques over learning the material. Diagrams are attractive, but difficult to understand.

I've gotten CPO middle school texts and like them a lot. They're much better laid out graphically, with bold type and colors reserved for the truly important things. It's easy to read the text. Vocabulary is stressed in the text, side bars and glossary so it's easy to find and learn. Also the vocabulary isn't overwhelming, at least in the non-biology texts. The graphics are clear and easy to understand. My ds finds it much easier to read and understand than PH.

Academically I also prefer CPO to PH. CPO works on teaching the underlying scientific principals before advancing into their application (ex. understanding the principals of bouancy and density before introducing Plate Techtonics). It will spend a chapter teaching these principals rather than only a paragraph or two as in PH. It also teaches the subject in an orderly fashion and refers back to previous lessons to review and help students understand.

CPO doesn't cover the as many topics as PH does, but it has selected the most important topics (still needing to meet CA standards) and goes into detail into them. It is expensive, being relatively new (no used copies) and geared for schools. The program does recommend extensive lab work to reinforce/teach the material, yet last year we did Earth Science with almost no experiments.

The big problem is that it is geared for being taught to get the most out of it. The series does have many aids for the non-scientific teacher to excel, but they aren't cheap. However last year my ds was able to work independently when I added 2 good videos. You might check the homeschooler buyers co-op for videos. They currently have some science on-line programs geared for junior high.

[Laurie4b]

Rainbow Science might be a good fit. It's a middle school currculum written by a homeschool father who was a scientist. It starts with physics, then chemistry, then biology, going from smallest (atoms) to largest (organisms). You would take 2 years to go through all three subjects. You could start biology first. The text is simple and laid out in short sections of reading. After each reading, is an experiment. All the stuff you need for experiments is sold through Rainbow Science. It's a bit hefty in terms of price, but you have it all there, right in the kit. Exactly what you need for 2 years. You can often find it used as well.

[Stacy in NJ]

You might want to look at the Power Basic series. They offer Biology, Chemistry, Physical and Earth and Space text. The neat thing is that they're written for highschool level kids reading at about the 4th grade level. So, the content would be appropriate for your 7th and 9th grader while the readability would be doable. Here's a link. http://www.rainbowresource.com/prodlist.php?sid=1222885077-1992569&subject=11&category=2737

Other considerations would be Lyrical Life Science or K12 Life Science.

HTH, Stacy

[Laurie4b]

Yes, the Lyrical Life Science CD's are very good for memorization of key facts in biology. They're a great help for kids who can learn through the auditory channel.

[Kathy in MD]

Rainbow Science might be a good fit. It's a middle school currculum written by a homeschool father who was a scientist. It starts with physics, then chemistry, then biology, going from smallest (atoms) to largest (organisms). You would take 2 years to go through all three subjects. You could start biology first. The text is simple and laid out in short sections of reading. After each reading, is an experiment. All the stuff you need for experiments is sold through Rainbow Science. It's a bit hefty in terms of price, but you have it all there, right in the kit. Exactly what you need for 2 years. You can often find it used as well.

I forgot about Rainbow Science. I saw it last spring for the first time and probably would have gotten if my ds was in the 7th grade instead of the 8th grade because it is a 2 year program. Overall, when including lab supplies, it's much cheaper than CPO and is written for homeschool use. I've thought about getting just the text book as a supplement.

The text is more black and white and doesn't have the side bars, subcaptions and other things that might be distracting. The reading passages, though short, are still longer than those in CPO and it reads more like a regular book. This is the style I'm more used to from reading texts written in the 60's and early 70's and personally prefer. To skim for info, CPO would be easier because of all the subheadings. This style is better for my ds for review and memorization.

Though the author is Christian and brings up OCCASIONALLY the possibility of alternative explanations, he teaches current mainstream scientific theory. As a liberal Christian, I would have no problem with using the text for my child. I do with many other Christian texts. An individual ardently against *all* references to religion would object to it. I didn't spend much time with the biology section though, but I feel I'd be ok with that as well.

This might be a better match for both your need for independence and pocketbook.

[ChristineMM]

Have you looked at Real Science 4 Kids yet? Here is the publisher's site. They sell chemistry, physics and biology. My friend used it last year and said a unit can be done (a subject) in two months, it is not a full year program for Level 1.

http://www.gravitaspublications.com/about/

You can read the PDF of the book online and see for yourself what you think.

Due to the way it is laid out and the focus right in line with Trivium WTM I will be surprised if Jessie Wise and Susan Wise Bauer don't start recommending it.

I have Level 1 (grades 4-6) and plan to do with my 6th grader this year. He had an eye tracking problem that hindered his ability to do a lot of self-teaching by reading but now I think he is at a place where doing the science with Real Science 4 Kids will be do-able.

Their Level 2 is for Grades 7-8. Not sure which is right for your kids.

My kids also do an experiential science class for HSers that is all outdoors and hiking etc for 6 hours. That is super perfect for ADD kids. I wonder if you have something like that in your area? We are blessed to have two different wilderness schools running programs like that in my state (CT). You wouldn't believe all the kids learn by being out in the real world, seeing and doing stuff and having zero book learning involved, it is great.

My other friend's son did Rainbow Science, self-taught in grade 7 and he liked it as he likes a lot of experiments and hands on. But he also was reading at age 4 and a total bookworm (no reading issues) and he had always been a self-teaching type learner using curriculums and textbooks.

Kids are so different that sometimes finding a perfect fit can be challenging.