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Speciality Textbooks Improve Home Learning Experience
Posted: May 18, 2015
When you make the decision to homeschool your kids, some of the toughest challenges are keeping kids engaged in learning and finding ways to make education fun. Especially when you don’t feel confident in a subject area, having the right materials can make the difference in creating a successful experience. For those who are teaching science at home, textbooks designed for home education provide additional resources to ensure that both you and your child have all the information needed to successfully complete each course. From early elementary lessons to advanced high school curriculum, homeschool science textbooks guide teachers and students through a wide array of scientific subjects.
Elementary Education
Especially for children in grades K-6, finding engaging learning material is crucial for learning. BereanBuilders provides series of scientific courses paired with hands-on activities and resources to guide both parents and students through learning. Lessons at this level are built around activities and experiments, helping students take an active role in their education. Curriculum can be taught and assessed at different depths of understanding, allowing the instructor to select the level of mastery they expect from students. For those incorporating religious studies into home teaching, a biblical perspective can be incorporated into scientific lessons, including how Christians have used science to study God’s handiwork.
Junior High Curriculum
While elementary textbooks are broad and designed to be appropriate for a diverse age group, junior high lessons are more grade-specific. Courses cover topics that include the scientific method, biology, human anatomy and physiology, Newton’s Laws, physics, and the structure of the Earth. The topics covered in homeschool science textbooks at the junior high level are similar to those typically taught in 7th and 8th grade, including hands-on experiments that can be conducted using household items. Topics in the recommended 7th grade course focus on general scientific inquiry, while the 8th grade material centers on topics in physical science. Parents who do not feel confident in any topic area can use teacher guides and solution manuals which supplement the textbook.
High School Learning
The 8th grade physical science course should prepare students to smoothly transition into high school biology. For students who are beginning their course of home study upon entering high school, the initial courses are designed to reflect the same curriculum that would normally be taught in schools. Home school courses at this level are designed to prepare students for college-level education and provide a thorough foundation in scientific knowledge. Other courses available at the high school level include physics and anatomy, readying students for Advanced Placement (AP) or College Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests. Physics is generally taught in the 11th grade, while Anatomy is available as an elective course for study in the fourth year of high school.
A variety of reasons lead parents to opt for home education over public schools. Choosing to educate your child at home gives you the opportunity to ensure that they receive a strong foundation in scientific knowledge that adequately prepares them for the rigors of collegiate study. Homeschool science textbooks are specifically designed to guide both parents and children through the education process, setting a path for future success.
John Trinh has been writing for 10+ years. He first delved into the world of writing when he wrote his first article for his university's paper.