Tackling Math and Science from Multiple Angles

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Whenever I talk with people homeschooling their children, the two subject areas that seem to be the source of much fear are math and science.  Usually, the younger grades are not a big concern for them as the basics are things most parents feel comfortable teaching.  But, once you reach middle school and high school, the perception is that these subject areas are too challenging to undertake in a homeschool environment.  So, I’m going to share how our family is tackling math and science from multiple angles in our home this year as part of the Virtual Curriculum Fair’s theme of Discovering Patterns: Mathematics, Logic, and Science (anything to do with mathematics, mathematical thinking, numbers, arithmetic, symbolic logic, critical thinking, and math-y sciences (physics, chemistry, etc.)

Tackling Math and Science from Multiple Angles ~ What Math Resources We Are Using in Concert this Year

In many ways, this year is looking pretty similar to years past. 

Math-U-See is still our base program of choice, although I had my 8th grader take a step away from it for a while and try Teaching Textbooks.  I was rather surprised that he didn’t love Teaching Textbooks as his is one of the boys who loves being on the computer.  So, we’ve restarted this semester with Math-U-See and are hopeful that he can finally complete Zeta and begin Pre-Algebra before 9th grade officially begins for him.  My oldest son had a similar issue with getting into pre-algebra before high school and he actually completed BOTH the pre-Algebra and Algebra I books that year.  However, I only counted it as Algebra I for credit.

 

I am also pulling from past review products as needed to help them get a handle on the material.  For my eldest son, that included having him get the TI-84 calculator tutorial from Math Tutor off the shelf so he could learn how to do work for pre-Calculus on it. (Read the review of the TI-83/84 calculator tutorial.) While I used to rock in calculus class in the day, it has been a number of years since I was immersed in the material.  So, I now have some sympathy for the times my dad, who is an engineer by trade, offered to help my study group only to need almost an hour to refresh his memory on the subject.  That’s where I am at the moment as just looking at the teacher’s guide is not sufficient for me to figure out where he has gone wrong when he’s missed a problem and needs instruction.

 

 

Tackling Math and Science from Multiple Angles ~ Physical Sciences and Physics This Year

This year, the boys have some overlap again as my 11th grader is working on physics and my 9th grader has just started to transition into the physical sciences again.  Conceptual Physics is the core text for my high school son and Sonlight’s Science Core E is what my 8th grader is going through at a quick pace this spring semester in anticipation of full on physical science next year.

 

Conceptual Physics is the physics textbook I wish we had when I was in high school.  (Link to the Amazon listing is the 9th edition which is what we are using.) Memories of my 12th grade year include my physics teacher refusing to answer a question I had, instead saying I was a smart girl and could figure it out.  And, he had a reputation for licking the chalkboard and other antics to get the kids attention.  Just lovely.  Conceptual Physics is appealing to me as the author takes the approach of wanting the student to first understand the why and how before tossing the math at them.  He includes plenty of simple demonstrations in each chapter as well as more practical applications for the theories.  That doesn’t mean the material can not be challenging.  However, it is more readily digested and quite possibly a better fit for that homeschool parent who is beyond nervous about teaching such ‘higher level’ science.  I also picked up a copy of Life of Fred’s Elementary Physics to help reinforce what is being learned in a sometimes comical fashion.  P did admit that he far prefers his main textbook, though.

 

Sonlight’s Science E has its focus on Electricity, Magnetism & Astronomy.  I know these are topics he’ll enjoy.  It has been a few years since we tackled Astronomy and both electricity and magnetism are areas of the physical sciences that resonate well with my boys.

 

While this particular curriculum is written below where he should be, I plan to supplement with Supercharged Science for more hands on experiments.  (See past mentions of Supercharged Science on the blog.) I may even have the older boys work together on a few of those experiments when their subject material overlaps.

Some day soon, I hope to share about my eldest son’s month long intensive aviation program this past fall which is more of an applied science with math involved.  He had a blast during his time in the interior of Galena and is hoping to attend flight school there next year.

 

Curious about past years in our homeschool?  Visit these past Virtual Curriculum Fair posts.

 

Learning Math Block by Block which covered math for the 2011 – 2012 school year.

 

Learning About The World Around Us talked about Science Investigations of the Natural World in the second half of the post (for the 2011 – 2012 school year.

 

How We Are Exploring Our World as Homeschoolers shares about the biology studies done during the 2012 – 2013 school year.

 

We also have several review posts for math and science that we’d love for you to check out.

 

 

 

 

How do YOU approach learning the math and science in YOUR homeschool?

Any favorite products or curriculum that you absolutely loved?

   

 

 

Check out all of the other great ideas for how homeschoolers are Discovering Patterns: Mathematics, Logic, and Science.

 

Our {almost} FREE 2nd and 4th Grade Math Program by Susan @ Homeschooling Hearts & Minds

Supercharged Science’s Mathemagic  by Kristi K. @ The Potter’s Hand Academy

Math & Logic Resources by Chareen @ Every Bed of Roses

How We Tackle Middle School Math, Logic & Science by Christy @ Unexpected Homeschool

 A Peek into our Homeschool: Math & Logic by Brittney @ Mom’s Heart

Math and Logic: Patterns and Reasoning by Leah@As We Walk Along the Road

2014 Virtual Curriculum Fair: Discovering Patterns: Mathematics, Logic, and Science by Stacie @Super Mommy To The Rescue

Virtual Curriculum Fair: The World of Patterns and Logic by Joelle

Discovering Science & Math w/ Apologia & Saxon  by LynnP @ Ladybug Chronicles

Make Math Fun: Your Kids Will Thank You by Tauna @ Proverbial Homemaker

Our Curriculum Choices 2014 ~ Mathematics by Renata @ Sunnyside Farm Fun

My Favorite Math For Boys by Monique @ Living Life and Learning

Discovering Patterns: Mathematics, Logic, and Science in our Classical Homeschool by Sharra @ The Homeschool Marm

Homeschool Math Choices for a Future Scientist or Computer Programmer by Amy @ Eclectic Homeschooling

Math–Our Four Letter Word by Nicole @ Schooling in the Sun

If I Knew Then What I Know Now by Kristen @ Sunrise to Sunset

Godly Patterns in Homeschooling by LisaN@Golden- Grasses

Math and Science anyone? by Michele@ Family, Faith and Fridays

My 7 Favourite Math Resources by Kim @ Homestead Acres

Basic Instincts by Chelli @ The Planted Trees

Getting My Teens Ready for Algebra by Debra @Footprints in the Butter

Math We Love by Laura @ Four Little Penguins

2014 Virtual Curriculum Fair ~ Math & Science by Jennifer @ a glimpse of our life

Our Take on Math, the Elementary Years – Charlotte Mason-style by HillaryM @ Our Homeschool Studio

Not a part of the participating homeschoolers, but want to share a post written THIS week about teaching math in your homeschool? Add your post to this linky!