HS Math/Science

This is totally a no judgment zone! Let's talk about homeschool math without making you cry. My article  High School Math without the Moaning  can help! Our goal is to get through one math level per year. There is no specific level you need...

With most math textbooks, it's easy to name your class for the homeschool transcript. "Algebra 1" on the textbook means the class title is "Algebra 1". Easy peasy, done! ​ But, sometimes, the question comes from how do I give grades and credits. My c...

Does Writing for Science Have a Voice?

I got a question on Facebook about science writing the other day and I wanted to share it with you in case you have the same question.

Lee, I've been getting mixed answers and am hoping you can join in. Should high school science papers be written in active or passive voice? Thanks!

Here's the short answer - high school science papers aren't necessary! Having said that, "lab reports" are helpful and useful! The goal for a lab report is for your child to write one paragraph about what they did. A graph, chart, or drawing demonstrating the experiment can be included with the paragraph. Because, as you may know, if they can draw it, they can explain it! The bottom line is that voice in science writing can be either active or passive.

For our science lab notebook, we used a cheap spiral-bound notebook from back-to-school sales. You could also use printer paper or regular notebook paper, because the lab notebook doesn't have to be a notebook at all. The science lab notebook is for kids to record what they did and what they learned during the science lab.

After reading the instructions from the Apologia textbook, I had my children draw a picture or graph with a paragraph description of what they did. The picture had to be in color, and it had to be a paragraph, not a sentence. After heavy negotiations, I finally told them a paragraph meant more than three sentences. I gave them a grade for the lab report based on how pleased or annoyed I felt when I saw it! After taking biology, chemistry, and physics at home using this lab write-up philosophy, my children were well prepared for college science labs.

I hope this helps put you at ease about writing for science. There is plenty to stress out over in your homeschool, but this isn't one of those areas!

BRAND NEW book, Simple Science for Homeschooling High School

"Houston, we have a problem!" Homeschool parents often approach teaching high school science as if being asked to build the space shuttle. But teaching your kids science doesn't require a PhD. All it requires is a willing heart, an organized approach, and some simple facilitation skills. There is no reason for science to be scary.

You don't have to work at NASA to teach your teens effectively! And teaching High School Science isn't Rocket Science!  Just keep in mind the first principle of homeschooling high school: "You don't have to learn it. Your kids have to learn it."
Learn what to teach, why to teach it, and how to teach it with my NEW book!  And, the best part?  My Kindle version is FREE through 12/5/2015!

You will discover science curriculum options, and learn how to choose the one that will be best for your family (and save you money)! You will learn how to keep great science records to demonstrate your kids' learning effectively. Learn essential strategies to motivate your kids to succeed in science!


Understanding science is a requirement for every homeschool graduate. It isn't just essential for college, but for functioning in the world. The good news is, there have never been such great tools available to help you impart this critical knowledge to your teens. "Simple Science for Homeschooling High School" will reveal these tools and provide you the insights you need to put them to work in your family.

“Simple Science for Homeschooling High School” is part of The HomeScholar's Coffee Break Book series. Designed especially for parents who don’t want to spend hours and hours reading a 400-page book on homeschooling high school, each book combines Lee's practical and friendly approach with detailed, but easy-to-digest information, perfect to read over a cup of coffee at your favorite coffee shop!

Never overwhelming, always accessible and manageable, each book in the series will give parents the tools they need to tackle the tasks of homeschooling high school, one warm sip at a time.

Don't forget - you can get your copy for FREE this week!

Ooops! Not Done With Math!

What do you do, when you just aren't done with math before the year is done? Let me give you a few options, and you can decide which is best for your situation.

One Book In One Year is Impossible

You could measure math credits by counting hours spent on math. Some moms know their child can't complete a whole level each year. For them it makes sense to embrace the way God made your child, and give math credits not by textbook, but by the number of hours worked. In other words, it your young person worked at math for 45 minutes to an hour a day, then give credit for math, 1 credit per year. The title of the class is extra important in this option. You don't imply that your child got farther in the textbook than actually accomplished. To clarify that, you can call the class Algebra 1A, for 1 credit, for a whole year of work, for the first half of the textbook. Then call the class Algebra 1B for 1 credit, for a whole year of work the following year, for the second half of the textbook.

One Book Completed In Random Intervals

You could decide to give credit based on the completion date of each textbook. Some parents know the child is just working on their own time-table, being successful while only slightly slower than the average bear. Sometimes families will do year-round schooling, with math completion dates occurring at random intervals throughout the year. For them, it makes more sense to just give the credit on the month and year when each textbook was completed. So for this situation, math classes on the transcript might look like this:

• Pre-algebra, 1 credit, completed 06/2014


• Algebra 1, 1 credit, completed 12/2015


• Geometry, 1 credit, completed 09/2016

That way is sometimes easier, I think, because there is less to keep track of other than completion dates. This may not be a good choice if a child is FAR behind, while still working hard all day, because they get short-changed for all the work they did just to get 1/2 way through a textbook.

Measure by Semester,  Not by Year

You could decide to embrace the random start and stop time of your homeschool classes. Some parents prefer to give grades each semester, rather than each year, because the timing is just too difficult to figure out when each class begins and ends otherwise. If you do that, then each 1/2 textbook you can enter half the number of usual credits and give a grade. So on the semester system, a math book is still 1 credit, but each semester is 1/2 credit. I to have some transcript templates with semester grades available for you to look at, but templates are usually just by semester or by year. You can still add one class at a time that ends at the semester, if you like. This works well if your child starts and stops many classes at somewhat random intervals. Every 6 months, update the transcript with what was completed in the previous 6 months.

Over-Picky Parents Expecting Perfection

You may need to just lighten up, and your child can complete a math book per year. Other moms are just expecting more than a public school expects. In other words, expecting a child who struggles to complete every single problem in the book, from beginning to end isn't always the best choice. After all, a child only needs enough practice to learn, not all the practice problems that are provided in the universe. And homeschoolers don't need to complete all the chapters in every textbook, either. If you complete 75-80% of the curriculum, then it's done. So maybe Algebra 1 or Geometry will be done sooner than expected.

If you need more help, I have some math articles to encourage you!

9 Ways to Actually Get Math Done This Year
High School Math Without the Moaning

What do you think? Which method would you choose?



 

This post contains affiliate links. If you click and buy I may make a few pennies, but not enough for my own coffee break.

Dry Your Tears! Help for Teaching High School Math is Here!

What are you using for math next year? Do you get cold sweats just thinking about teaching your teen high school math? Did your last exposure to trigonometry leave you covered in hives? If so, you are not alone! Every homeschool parent "loses it" at some point during high school math.

This brand new Kindle Book will help you discover curriculum options, learn how to keep great math records, and get beyond mere good intentions to actually get the job done in your homeschool. There's even a special section on how to teach any particularly nerdy kids that might be living under your roof.  In this book, you will learn how to teach high school math with the correct sequence, curriculum, attitude, and speed.

As a part of the Coffee Break Series, my books are designed especially for parents who don’t want to spend hours and hours reading a 400-page book on homeschooling high school! You will get simple strategies, resources, and tools at your fingertips, along with proven strategies to not just survive but thrive while teaching high school math.

Never overwhelming, always accessible and manageable, each book in the series will give parents the tools they need to tackle the tasks of homeschooling high school, one warm sip at a time.

This is the 30th book in my Coffee Break Book Series. Can you believe it? THIRTY books! If you are looking forward to reading them all, maybe now is a good time to buy yourself a Kindle. If you do, I suggest this one.

Please take a moment to download High School Math The Easy Way for free, through June 5!  It's a short, fun book with simple strategies for homeschool parents in over their heads.

I also have two large and detailed books when you are doing the heavy lifting of homeschooling high school. Although they are also available on Kindle, these two read best in paperback.
College Admission and Scholarships
Setting the Records Straight

When you are done with the book, please leave a review on Amazon too!  We really count on your reviews - thank you so much for taking a moment to let me know what you think of this new book.

Everyone has their own opinion on book formats. Do you prefer print books or e-books?

The engineering community is very concerned about math. The statistics paint a grim picture.

Math is Important!

1. Jobs requiring math are increasing at four times the rate of overall job growth
2. American children rank 13th in the world when it comes to basic math skills
3. Less than 1/3 of American 8th graders are at least proficient in math
4. 93% of American 6th to 8th graders realize they need math skills later in life, but few directly link math to their dream jobs

This 2011 survey was conducted by Raytheon. They have a lot of great math information on their website, MathMovesU.com, with the goal of making middle school math fun.

Math is important. We can do better than the public schools. In our homeschooli, we can be consistent with math, choose a curriculum that fits our children, and teach for mastery each step of the way. Our country needs Americans to work at American jobs to support the American economy. That's going to require us to teach math, even if we feel uncomfortable with it ourselves.

For more information on how to teach math, check out my article, 9 Ways to Actually Get Math Done this Year.

Do you make math important in your homeschool? Do you find it difficult to teach math? Please share!



Please note: This post was originally published in May 2011 and has been revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

The Road to Independent Learning: Homeschool Science

Independent learning is a process, and being able to work independently on biology usually comes along early in that process. I've seen children successfully learn biology on their own, my own two sons included. I am happy to share how we did it - just remember that every child and family is unique.

We used Apologia Biology. I had a list of assignments that told my children what pages to read or what lab or test to complete, that I prepared in advance during the summer months. It was in checklist format, so I could easily see if tasks were completed and checked off each day.

Our morning meeting included biology, as I described in, Homeschool Accountability – Try a “Morning Meeting. During that meeting, I went over their vocabulary words, and would sometimes ask them questions found in the textbook (not very often - I didn't have it all together every morning). I think going over the vocabulary in advance helped the most. That's a tip I read once about college success; if you know the vocabulary words you can pass most college tests. Then they were responsible for reading each chapter on their own.

The labs were a little different. I'm a nurse, and I love biology. I loved every dissection and every microscopy lab. Sometimes I had trouble giving the microscope to my children to use, but I don't believe I taught them anything. I was merely present in the room when they did their experiments. With biology labs, kids are either working with expensive microscope equipment or are wielding sharp dissection tools; not wanting them to get hurt, I was always in the room. They read the labs on their own and followed the directions, and I watched - usually while getting some laundry folded.

Once the experiment was complete, I would leave them alone to complete a lab write-up. I asked them for a paragraph explaining what they did and learned, as well as a drawing, graph or chart explaining the lab. At the end of the day I would look at their lab report to make sure they truly had written a paragraph (not just a sentence) and had included some sort of chart or drawing. If those were present and I understood from their lab report the purpose of the experiment and the result, then I gave them 100%.

When it was time for a test, I simply handed them the test, confiscated the solution manual, and walked away. I corrected the tests while they began working on their next subject. I gave them a grade, wrote it on a piece of notebook paper I kept in their binder, and then had them correct any wrong answers.

My children were beginning independent learning. They did all the reading and I didn't lecture (except about how expensive the microscope was). They did the experiments with an adult standing by. Perhaps I did try to teach them how fun and exciting biology is, because I remember I did a lot of squealing, but it didn't work.  Of all the sciences, they liked biology the least.

I know other successful homeschool mothers who take a much more hands-on approach. Dealing with learning challenges, they read the entire chapter, or carefully assist their children in following directions for labs. It's important to remember to do what works for YOUR family. Some parents may want to judge others and call this "spoon-feeding." I think it's important to remember that some students will learn and thrive with one-on-one tutoring because of challenges that others don't understand, so do what works for your student, regardless of what others say or think.

Over the four years of high school, I became less involved each year. I found that chemistry didn't require as much help, so we didn't include it in our morning meeting. The labs were rarely dangerous, so many times I would just peek in. With physics I felt completely overwhelmed and I didn't understand any of it.  They worked completely independently on physics! Learning to become independent is a process that has to start somewhere and then build. You will know what your own child is capable of!

Does your child work independently on science? Do you find a certain science easier for them to work independently on? Please share!



Please note: This post was originally published in July 2010 and has been revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

Do the kids have to have Physics or could they take Advanced Chemistry instead? My daughter doesn't have any desire at all to take  Physics and would rather take Advanced Chemistry instead. She is planning on going to college for Pre-Law so I didn't see any problem with that, but wasn't sure what colleges expect. Should I call her top 4 choices for school before getting her book to get her going on it?
~ Anita in IN

Is Physics a Required Subject?

All children do NOT need to take physics! I didn't take physics in high school, and I'm a registered nurse and had to take physics in college. NO, you don't have to take physics. Advanced Chemistry instead would be a great choice.

Unless kids are going into the science or engineering fields, you don't need to cover biology, chemistry, and physics in your homeschool. Colleges DO expect three years of science, but there are a wide variety of sciences to choose from. If she liked chemistry the first time, then advanced chemistry is a good choice. If she hated chemistry, then astronomy, geology, or botany might be a better choice.

It's always a good idea to check with your child's favorite colleges. Colleges can have some truly bizarre preferences, so do make sure you check with them. In general, physics is a fairly unusual science class to take in high school, and it's often recommended only for children who intend to major in the sciences in college. Pre-Law students often major in the humanities before going to law school. Political science, history, English, and other majors don't require physics.

Law school is difficult, but it's also a long way away. You can't begin law school until after you have completed a 4 year bachelor's degree. High school science shouldn't have much of an impact. So feel free to enjoy sciences your child takes delight in!

Which sciences are you teaching or planning to teach in high school? Please share!



Please note: This post was originally published in September 2010 and has been revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

Click here to read more about why teaching your high schooler is highly overrated.

Homeschool parents of budding engineers, listen up! Engineering is a LOT of fun, but a future in engineering requires some math and science.

My 14 year old will be participating in the First Lego League in which he will 1) Build and program a small robot to accomplish challenges and 2) investigate a research topic then prepare a presentation. Both activities culminate in a competition with other teams at a regional tournament. This is to build science, engineering and technology skills.

My question is what exact subjects do I categorize this into: obviously science, but which science exactly and since he will be researching and speaking, would it be considered English or Social Studies as well? And how will this look on his transcript?

Thank you for your help.
~Esther in Washington

Introduction to Engineering Class

My son took a class much like that, an Introduction to Engineering class. He took it in COLLEGE. I would call your homeschool class "Introduction to Engineering." Use all of the experiences within the league as one single class to make it a big, beefy credit. At the end, estimate how many hours he spent on it. 120-180 hours is one high school credit. All the papers and speaking will be part of his science credit.

One word of warning: when kids like engineering, they do need to cover the basics of biology, chemistry, and physics while they are in high school. Engineering is more of an elective-science, and he will also need the core sciences in order to do well in college engineering. Science, engineering, and technology degrees also require a lot of math. Make sure you are working consistently on math every day during the school year, so a lack of math doesn't become an impediment later on.

Is your child a budding engineer? What does that look like in your homeschool? Please share!



Please note: This post was originally published in August 2010 and has been revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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Dear Lee,
I am worried about math for my 10th grade son. He has struggled in math for years.  Due to some research about dyslexia in my younger son, I stumbled upon something called dyscalculia. I am wondering if my 10th grader has this and how it will affect his chances at getting into a college. My question is, do they really need algebra and geometry to graduate?
Thank you for your help,
~ Michelle in Oregon

Do Homeschoolers Need Algebra and Geometry to Graduate?

It can be challenging to homeschool a child with a learning disability. You may find my blog post, High School With Learning Challenges helpful. You can get some math help with my article on How to Teach High School Math at Home and choosing a curriculum.

There are "perfect fit" colleges just for your child that don't require a lot of math. I know there are colleges that "recommend" a certain level of math, but there is a college for every student. Graduation requirements also vary state by state. Be sure to look into what your state requires.

Teaching math is important, and teaching math at your child's level is important. It can help to choose the curriculum carefully, which is why I included the article above. When teaching teenagers, their learning style and your teaching style often takes a back seat to their personal preferences - which can be quite strong.

My advice is to choose a curriculum carefully, and continue to help your child at his level without quitting math. Pursue some extra help for dyscalculia. Here is a dyscalculia website for you to get started. Then move forward boldly, because there will be a college that's right for your child, even if he doesn't have algebra and geometry.




Please note: This post was originally published in August 2009 and has been revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.



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I receive many questions from homeschoolers about math. This one is about mastery vs. perfection when it comes to math.

Mastery vs. Perfection

Dear Lee,

Thank you very much for sharing so much with the rest of us homeschoolers! I have a question regarding carelessness.  Using math as an example, my 12 yr. old son is working out of Saxon Algebra 1 currently and is understanding everything very well but gets a few wrong (2-4 on average, occasionally up to 6) due almost always to carelessness. He will work the incorrect ones over again and get them correct and truly understands what he did wrong. However, I have decided to cut him back to working only half a lesson in the hopes that he will take his time and strive for 100 percent and if he does not score a 90 percent or higher then he has to re-do the half-lesson over again until he achieves this. What are your thoughts on this?? He is definitely heading in the direction of engineering and I know how important it is for him to be careful.

Thank you for your thoughts,
Theresa

Carelessness, especially with math, is a complicated subject.  Homeschool parents want their kids to do well, understand a subject and achieve mastery. We want our children to learn about hard work and the benefits of doing a job well. But there is another side to carelessness that we have to consider.

When I subtract a purchase in my checkbook, I don't always get the answer perfectly right. Sometimes I slip up, get the answer wrong, and have to search until I find the arithmetic error so it balances again. Yet I do believe I have achieved mastery over subtraction!

Mastery is different than perfection. Your child may demonstrate mastery by scoring 90% on an assignment (you may consider they have mastery with less than that). They shouldn't be required to be "perfect" though. To be honest, I did have my children correct all their math errors in their daily work.  When they got it wrong, they corrected it. Like you, I was hoping the tediousness of correcting would encourage them to be more careful in their daily work. Just don't jump from requesting being "careful" to expecting "perfection." Striving for perfection can cause strife and possibly rebellion, because we all know, intuitively, that we simply can't be perfect.

I understand this situation, because I have a math and engineering loving son. I like the idea of holding your child to a high standard of 90%. I like the idea of assigning half the problems so he has time to be more careful. I like the idea of re-doing any problems he misses. Just make sure you steer clear of perfection, and strive instead for mastery. Tell your son that 90% is what you consider mastery.

Do you strive for mastery in your homeschool? Are you frustrated by a child who is careless in his work? Please share!



Please note: This post was originally published in March 2009 and has been revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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I am often asked about a particular homeschool curriculum. Sandy had a great question about Saxon geometry...

Lee,
We recently watched your Preparing to Homeschool High School videos in our homeschool group. They were great! I have a question about Saxon Math. My 10th grader is taking Advanced Math and has already completed Algebra 1 and 2. Do you have an opinion about Saxon and the way geometry is included? Would you suggest another route? My eighth grader has completed Algebra 1 and now in 2. I have 4 others coming along after these two so I'm wondering if this is the best route.
~Sandy

Plan your high school courses with confidence! Download my free ebook: The 10 Essentials for Homeschooling High School

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I think Saxon does a fine job with math, as long as the student tolerates it. My nephew is a high school calculus instructor, and he is a HUGE fan of Saxon math. The problem with teenagers is that you have to match their learning style AND their preferences. We may know their learning style, but only the teen really knows their own preferences. Check out High School Math Without the Moaning: How to Teach High School Math at Home and consider having your children look at another curriculum if they get stuck or frustrated or say they "hate" math. Be aware that all of your children *may* end up liking a different curriculum.

Saxon now has two different options. Their third or "Classic" edition incorporates geometry throughout the curriculum, but it isn't until Advanced Math that they get the bulk of geometry that is included in the SAT test. Advanced Math has a lot of geometry in it and the book states that it may take over a year to complete. Since your child is already taking Advanced Math, he should be ready to take the SAT in the spring of next year. We used Jacobs for Geometry in our homeschool, which is another wonderful program. It wasn't until I let my son choose the math curriculum that we switched to Saxon. Because my children had completed a separate geometry course, we were able to follow it up with Advanced Math as a pre-calculus course that only took one year. The other option is to use the Fourth editions of the texts, which includes a stand-alone Saxon Geometry textbook, with the geometry taken out of the fourth edition Algebra 1 and Algebra 2 texts.

It sounds like all of your children are VERY far ahead in math; good job following their lead! Include Algebra courses on their high school transcript, even if they are completed in middle school.  If you are looking for a supplement for geometry, because you're a family that loves math, take a look at Patty Paper Geometry. I loved having hands-on experiences for geometry proofs. It's NOT necessary at all, but it's a fun activity book for high school geometry that math nerds often enjoy. Our favorite supplement toward the end of the Saxon Math series was the Teaching Company Course called Calculus Made Clear. It prepared my children to handle calculus with understanding.






Please note: This post was originally published in August 2009 and has been revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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How Do I Teach Chemistry?

Are you wondering how on earth you can cover chemistry in your homeschool high school? Click on Lee's video below for tips on how to teach chemistry!



How do you teach high school chemistry? Please share!

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For planning your chemistry class and any high school courses, check out my online training class: Planning High School Courses (Online Training) - only $15.00!

Why would anyone skip Biology Lab? What could possibly be more fun than dissecting critters and peeping through a microscope, and what is a lab science anyway?



Biology lab can be a lot of fun, but it's also fairly expensive, which is something I discuss in my Special Report, 7 Secrets to Homeschooling Though a Financial Storm. Holly read the report and had a follow up question.

Dear Lee,
I just read your special report and think it was very well done.  Lots of great tips for saving money and giving parents confidence to strike out on their own a bit more. I was surprised to see that you suggested skipping Biology or doing it with media applications (online or video) instead of hands-on.  In Arizona, the state universities are very particular about the high school sciences being first-hand LAB courses.  This is something that I have stressed with my contacts and in my workshops--not just Biology, but any high school science needs to be documented actual lab work.  Tell me what you have encountered that puts a lighter emphasis on the labs. Is this more a state-by-state emphasis or is there more of a trend toward "softer" science coursework?  Keep up the good work.  You are doing many of the things that I dream of doing and can't make happen all by myself.
~Holly in Arizona

I'm a trained nurse, so it is surprising to see me suggest that dropping biology lab is an option! I loved biology and especially the biology labs! I think it's important to remember how financially desperate people can be in this economy. It's better to drop a biology lab than not do biology at all or worse, to stop homeschooling entirely because of concerns about science costs.

Public universities sometimes have very different requirements than colleges as a whole. Because I have to gear my message to "general" college preparation, I urge parents to check requirements at the colleges their child is planning to attend.  Some colleges requires lab sciences be taught in a classroom with a certified teacher, for example.

Surprisingly, there is also no national definition for what a lab science is. The US House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology formed the Subcommittee on Research and Science Education issued a report about lab science, and it is remarkably clear in their conclusion. National Research Council's America's Lab Report: Investigations in High School Science states:

"The NRC report committee concluded that there exists no commonly agreed upon definition of laboratories in high schools amongst researchers and educators."

Most colleges do not require documented lab sciences. Some colleges do. Usually a college that has specific science requirements will also provide a specific method to achieve it. Perhaps they will allow the ACT science portion to meet the requirement, or they will accept an SAT Subject Test or AP exam in an area of science.

There are many colleges that don't require excessive math or science. Perhaps their emphasis is on music, art, or a specific trade, and general sciences will meet their admission requirements. In general, when I look over college preparation sites, they don't mention taking a lab science every year as a requirement.

It's a good idea to make parents aware if the public university in your area has a greater emphasis on lab sciences. I think it's also important to remember that colleges are rarely specific about WHICH sciences, and it's OK for parents to include some delight directed science courses along with the more ordinary biology-chemistry-physics choices. For more information, check out my article, You CAN Teach High School Science Labs!

Which lab science are you choosing to cover in your homeschool high school? Please share in the comments!




 


Please note: This post was originally published in November 2009 and has been revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.