As a hands-on science teacher who some kids think is a bit wild, I’ve found that there are certain very specific keys to teaching science well, and without getting burnt out doing it (especially important for me, because groups regularly hire me to do multi-day science workshops for hundreds of homeschool kids). Actually, these keys just the opposite of how most schools try to teach science.
You’ll learn my 6 keys to getting kids to want to learn science, and for teaching it in a way that takes less time and is more effective (Otherwise known as the 6 mistakes parents make in teaching homeschool science).
Some of the topics we’ll cover include:
- How to teach science in a way that really works. Your kids will learn better and it will take you less time to teach it!
- How you can include academic material in a way that gets kids really excited about learning more.
- How to take what kids learn from an intellectual level of understanding to an everyday applied level. This way they’ll learn the foundation they really need to be successful in college and especially when they go looking for a job someday.
- …and more!
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Hi Maddy,
Yes, we’ve had several students ask about just this very thing. We’re in the process of reviewing more books now to make up for the wide gap in the middle. But these won’t be ready for a little while. If you have a favorite science text now, go ahead and use it until I have more details for you. I am sorry for the wait!
Aurora
dear Aurora,
I am an eigth grader and enjoy science, especially the reading part. But I am finding that the 9-12 grade textbook is over my head mathematically, as I am only in algebra 1, and the regular textbook is too simple. Do you have any suggestions as how to get the most out of both of the books?
Maddy
I agree with Emily’s comment and with Aurora’s response. I personally extrapolate from the content of a lesson (we have finally completed the first unit) what will excite my second grader. As Aurora has stated, it is the actual experiments. Once we complete an experiment, I give a brief quizz by asking hypothetical questions about the experiment. In addition to that, I review the vocabulary. This works well for our class, which includes two pre-schooler who really enjoy the experiments, as well.
Aurora,
Yes thank you! I want my kids to love science and I think they do. I was taught in school by, I am sorry to say, mostly horrible teachers. They made it so boring and restrictive. I want my kids to WANT to learn it.
They have been asking me about experiments that they can do for awhile, and now that we are registered with you guys, we can actually do some cool ones so thank you for that. I will look over the Syllabus and try that first.
Again Thank you,
Emily
Emily,
Great question – and one that we hear a lot. There’s no wrong way to do this… and since each family has different needs and we provide a lot of content, it can be confusing and overwhelming to know where to start. Here’s what you want to do in a nutshell – it’s going to sound basic, but if you don’t have these nailed down, no program in the world is going to help you achieve your goals. Here they are:
1. Figure out what you want. Do you want your kids to like science, pass college placements tests, or just appreciate the odd folks in glasses?
2. Determine how you’ll know when you get it. You know your kid ‘gets’ science when: they pass a test, invent something totally new, can teach it right back to you…or…?
Once you can answer those two questions, NOW you can see more clearly on how to use this program. For example, if you just want your kids to get their feet wet and learn to like science, and you’ll know you’ve hit this goal when they can do the experiments on their own… now you know that you need to:
1. Hook them with cool activities (which is what eScience is all about). So visit the experiments section and pick one or two that really make them say WOW!
2. Let them roll around and play with the experiment for a bit on their own.
3. When they run back to you and say: “That was cool… but how does it work?” now you pull out your reading download for the unit and go over the details together. You can also read up more in the text surrounding each experiment.
4. When they’re ready for more, point them to the experiment section again to pick the next ones they want to do.
5. Sit back with a camera and watch, snapping photos as you go along.
If the kids get stuck, that’s what the comment field is for. Simply have them post a question (like you did here) and you’ll get a response! 🙂
Sorry for the long response, but I figured others would have this same question. You can read up more in the Syllabus & Teaching Schedule area.
Does that help?
~Aurora
I am a little confused on how to teach my 6 and 7 year old the science on this site. I want to know where I should go for each lesson. I am having them watch the video and then I read through the info with them but it seems to be going mostly over their heads. Help me to simplfy this please. Do you have a format for kindergarten -2 grade that you recommend? thank you