Abeka vs. SOT Paces Science & Math

[faith]

I'm thinking ahead and trying to plan for next year, but I am in a dilemma. We are using Abeka this year and I like most of it. I know the Grammar does NOT work for us, but that's another post .

I'm debating between Abeka Biology & SOT Biology. Also, we will be doing Geometry this next year and again I'm debating between Abeka & SOT. Are the videos with SOT absolutely necessary? New they are $200-$250, and hard to find used. That's ALOT of $$$. Also, with Biology, how am I going to do labs? Are they required?

Charity, I know you've got some answers to these questions! C'mon, spit it out and give me the dirt ;D.

Thanks,
faith

[momof6]

We used SOT biology and really enjoyed it. I didn't do the labs though, kinda hard to do w/o the videos which are OUTRAGEOUS I believe Charity did quite a few labs in science co-op though.

We are also looking ahead to next year. I have strictly used SOT for everything and am happy with some but not all of it. Missy loves all of the subjects except reading. She says the Literature books are soooooo boring. If she is gonna read a book she has to enjoy it. So I will use Abeka Lit for her. My younger daughter (2nd grade) loves to read and does very well. I remember I was so scared I wouldn't be able to teach her to read I will use SOT english and creative writing & literature, Abeka science and social studies, modern curriculum press mathematics, I'm not sure about spelling though. She is above average in spelling and I have a hard time keeping her interested in this. Most of the books I've tried, that are her grade level, are too easy and do not challenge her. Do I boot her up to the next grade level in this?
Little guy (5 yrs old) is very immature in almost everything(kinda wondering if he may have some learning disabilities???) I can't use a prepackaged K curriculum for him because he is at different levels in everything. It is very frustrating at times.......

The wonderful thing about homeschooling is YOU know what works for your kids and can pick and choose what works best for THEM.

I have not had ANY luck teaching algebra. I can't afford the videos (SOT). My budget barely affords books each year. Does anyone know of an algebra program for DUMMIES (me) that is inexpensive?

[hope]

Are the videos with SOT absolutely necessary?

No. Hands on is much better if possible. You guys were in our biology co-op last year. You saw how much better the hands on was. Your guys did many labs of whcih you can give them credit for ya know.

[Charity]

Quote:I'm debating between Abeka Biology & SOT Biology. Also, we will be doing Geometry this next year and again I'm debating between Abeka & SOT. Are the videos with SOT absolutely necessary? New they are $200-$250, and hard to find used. That's ALOT of $$$. Also, with Biology, how am I going to do labs? Are they required?

Charity, I know you've got some answers to these questions! C'mon, spit it out and give me the dirt .





We actually used both last year and one other as well in biology. We also shared some of our labs in our science co-op last year. You guys were there for the frog and fetal pig dissection labs. Those were taken from ABEKA.

It is really a matter of choice. I like ABeka in some respects and SOT or AO for others. Go to lots of used curriculum fairs and try to find inexpensive sets.

[faith]

The only thing I don't like about the SOT is that if you switch over to it rather than start with it, you miss something that was covered the year before. For example, in 6th grade English, you have to find the direct object, that was originally covered in one of the 5th grade paces. I only found this out by calling ACE.

I doubt that will be the case, though, with Biology or Geometry. I really like the Paces, it takes less planning on my part than Abeka does. I spend several hours every Sunday night planning for the next weeks work.

Grammar is a real BIG problem area for us. This year I switched over to just simple workbooks on the individual parts of speech. They are put out by Garlic Press. That seems to be working well for us. I don't know what we'll do next year though. I know definitely that we won't be using Abeka. I tried to use it some with the Garlic Press workbooks, just to supplement -- when I brought out the Abeka book, my boys panicked, just at the sight of it. Sooooo, it went back on the shelf.

[Charity]

The scope and sequence for Abeka, SOT and AO are all different slightly. I mix and match with all subjects. I like the freedom.

[momof6]

My son (11th) has major trouble with english, especially parts of speech. I have a hard time finding a curriculum that I can use with him. He definitely is not on grade level in this subject. Do they HAVE to be on grade level or what

[faith]

Charity said:

The scope and sequence for Abeka, SOT and AO are all different slightly. I mix and match with all subjects. I like the freedom.

That's kind of why I'm wanting to do some changing - for the freedom. My 3 yr old is wanting to be so involved with school now and she requires attention, soo I want something that does require so much planning on my part.

[Charity]

My son (11th) has major trouble with english, especially parts of speech. I have a hard time finding a curriculum that I can use with him. He definitely is not on grade level in this subject. Do they HAVE to be on grade level or what

This is the beauty of homeschooling momof6. If your child has problem areas you can excel in some subjects and go slower in others. It is far better to go slow and make sure your son "gets it" rather than try to stay on a predisposed "grade level". By the time he is finished with school he will have a deep understanding of the subject whether he covered everything or not. He will have an opportunity in college to learn more in his weak areas. Spend more time on those weak spots and he will be where he should be in no time.

[faith]

Charity -- What's your thoughts on Apologia Biology? I checked out their website -- I like the layout of it, but the material seems to elementary. By that I mean, in their module 1, the material covered is stuff that we've already covered.

I think I'm going to end up going with Abeka Biology, but I'm still checking out other Sciences. Just wanted to see what you thought.

Thanks,
faith

[Charity]

All the biology choices you mentioned are good ones. You just have to decide which one works best for your guys. Sorry I have been offline for a few days. We got hit pretty bad with that ice storm and I am just now getting online again.