We're on our second week of Apologia science here, and as hoped for, it has been a great fit...so far! Micah was so excited about doing his own science experiments, he had one going in the kitchen at 7:30 a.m. last week.
Rachel is studying the Jeannie Fulbright botany textbook borrowed from a friend. We found the notebooking journal that goes along with it. Between the journal, daily narration, and an engaging textbook, I feel like she is learning and retaining quite a bit. Incorporating Latin roots helps with remembering vocabulary, and anything I can do to enhance her vocabulary at this point is a plus. The hands-on experiments look very engaging and will support what she is learning. Getting engaged with her on a higher level has been very helpful in encouraging her understanding of the material.
If the elementary Apologia continues to work well, I look forward to using it next year with Rachel and Josiah. It is appealing to think of using the same textbook for a kindergartener and sixth grader!! Here I go again, trying to find a way to do science together. There are some fun lapbooks designed for younger children that would draw Josiah into the lessons, and Rachel could continue with the notebooking journal more suited for older students. (I may change my mind about this several times, but it's always fun to dream!)
Micah has started General Science, the 7th grade Apologia text, again borrowed from a friend. (Thank you, Lord, for the generosity of friends!) My goal at the beginning was to combine the older kids for science, but this just wasn't working the way I had hoped. Micah is currently entertaining thoughts of a career in science, so moving into challenging text seems to be a great fit for him. That's not to say what we were using wasn't challenging--it was. However, the next book would have been mostly a science overview, and a review of things he has already studied. General Science will cover some of those same topics but at a higher level and from a little different perspective--young earth creation.
We are holding onto the Friday science from our Sonlight curriculum because the kids love it so much. It means doubling up science for Micah, but so far no complaints. (Not promising that will last!)
My entry into the world of homeschooling seems to be one of adjustments, finding what does and does not work with my children, and constantly tweaking what I thought would work 2 weeks ago, or what I thought would not. This is not an attempt to endorse a particular curriculum so much as to highlight that process for one mom.
And I'm lovin' it!!!
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