Sagerat Scribbles

• Feb. 21, 2007 - When Science is "Official"

Posted in HomesCool Mom

A new, fantastic blogger , (by the way,) asked me in my last post when we started "offical" science. As usual my return comment wound up an epistle so I figured I'd take advantage of it and just make it a blog entry.

We started "official" science in Kindergarten. How one defines official though is something else! Taking nature walks, reading books from the library about animals, plants and body parts, making corn starch goo, cooking and all those little things are "official" science. Science is the observation of the natural world, making deductions from what is observed and forming a hypothesis.

If however you are wondering about using an actual curriculum and following a schedule using that curriculum, then I started that "officially" at 4th grade. We did use curriculums before that, but I chose what we wanted to do, we skipped around a lot and it was more delight directed.

My son absolutely loved Apologia Astronomy! He loved the stories we read recommended by the LBC Guide. We went from beginning to end, and beyond! We kept the astronomy lessons going for another two months, using other good astronomy books.

I don't test my children in the normal sense of the word. Through their writing, narrations and discussions I know what they have learned. However starting in the 7th grade, Apologia uses tests at the end of each module. I have my girls take those tests, not to formulate a grade but so they can begin to get used to testing for college and so they understand that an area can be neglected because they put their focus on another area.

My girls may never go to college, we won't push them to do so, but we are tested in our lives from time to time. Can we give a concise answer to the question? Do we even understand the topic? Sharing our faith is much like a test, when we are questioned by a non-believer.

I stunk at tests in school, they make me emotional, mainly because I always studied the wrong thing. If only they would have just asked for a narration of what I knew and gave me credit for that! Sharing my faith is basically the same for me now. Which tells you and me that I'm not studying ALL of my Bible. I'm always asked the question I don't have the answer for. Still, when asked to simply share what I know, I am able to do so intelligently. (I think...)

Just like homeschooing though, the great thing about sharing our faith is that we can say we don't know and then look up the answer. The truth doesn't change because we offer it later. Science is like that, even if some theories are proven wrong, it only means that the truth came out.

• Feb. 21, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by cammiemelisabray

The thing I love about homeschooling the most is that we can teach through daily life. Science is such a natural part of life.

I like your take on tests. It is true. We often put so much focus on one area and totally miss another.

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• Feb. 22, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by drewsfamilytx

What a great answer, Tia!

We started in K/1 I suppose since we do Sonlight. But it's an introduction, we do fun experiments and just enjoy it! Nothing too in-depth yet, but they are exposed to the different ideas and the world around them. We'll continue to build on these foundations as the years go on...

Have a great day!

Marsha

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• Feb. 22, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by skdenfeld

Thanks for the great answer (and very nice compliment). We were going to use an entire sonlight package this year which included the science portion, but decided to just ease into things instead. We ended up ordering all of the read alouds and the books in the history section, as well as their language K language arts so that both my girls could do it. We ended up not using the language arts for more than two weeks because suddenly my girls just 'got it' and the rest of the year would have been redundant. We have been just winging it ever since, but do LOVE the books. I'm always very impressed by what kids will learn without a formal curriculum, but don't really know what we will do for next year. I have felt like this year God mostly wants us to get our house in order and fine tune our routine. Thanks again for you answer.

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• Feb. 22, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by KarenW

We did Apologia Astronomy a couple of years ago. I have a 7 year gap between my oldest child and my youngest but we all enjoyed studying that together. I'm hoping to do another one of those books soon.

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• Feb. 23, 2007 - We love the the astronomy book

Posted by jenntb97

My kids love it so much....and it bring great discusions. ...I just thought i would share that little blurb

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• Feb. 25, 2007 - Great Information

Posted by hugabunchmom

Thanks for sharing a rundown of your science experience. It sounds very much like ours and makes me feel like I am on the right track in our homeschool. I just love being able to "chase rabbits" with homeschooling, researching where interests lie and going after information just because we ran into a question or someone did'n't quite understand a subject completely. WONDERFUL! You just have to love homeschooling.

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The politically incorrect ramblings of a sage rat den mother. As well as thoughts on adoption, special needs children, and My Lord and Savior.

About my Avatar: Tia Turtle is a character in a new book by Gena Suarez, "And Then Mama Said...It Takes Time to Learn to Read." Kevin Collier is the illustrator and he made me my special avatar, because yes, Tia Turtle is named after Me! (Okay, so I'm bragging. Leave me a correctional comment in love.)