Category Archives: Reviews

What Is Secular Homeschool Curriculum?It can be challenging to find secular curricula and programs for your homeschooled children. To help, SEA Homeschoolers developed these definitions explaining what constitutes secular academic materials. Read on and be sure to connect with SEA Homeschoolers today! Secular Homeschool Curriculum: Science Secular science curricula and programs use empirical evidence-based information from peer reviewed research. Secular science curricula present the accepted facts, principles, models, and theories explaining how the natural and physical world works as recommended by a majority of practicing experts in that area of science. They do not incorporate religious philosophy into the curriculum …

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Why Neutral Science Isn't Neutral by Blair Lee Are there any science types reading this title wondering who I am? Or do you know who I am and think I've finally lost it? I am not talking about science as it is practiced and taught at most universities throughout the United States. I'm talking about the special brand of “neutral science" found in the homeschool community and increasingly in public schools in the United States. The neutral science I'm referring to is science that suffers from omission. These are middle and high school level science courses that leave out the …

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Review: Pandia Press Astronomy 1 Like many of you, I’ve been preparing for fall and the start of a new homeschooling year. Our personal pedagogy relies on my kids’ identifying their interests as the foundation of our projects, field trips, and goals. My job is to help provide a structure we can agree on and resources that will assist us in realizing our vision. Sometimes I start from scratch and create what we need; sometimes I supplement with pre-existing curriculum. Over the summer, I have been working diligently on collecting and creating the basis for my daughter ’s interest in …

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Science, Naturally! Review Clever STEM books for secular homeschooling families. Are you looking for a fresh new addition to your secular homeschool toolbox? Look no further than Science, Naturally! With award-winning, National Science Teacher Association recommended books for preschool through middle school, available in multiple languages (and bilingual books too), Science, Naturally! connects kids with STEM education through brainteasers, puzzles, fiction, and nonfiction by merging facts and fun. Though written for elementary students, my preschooler loves If My Mom Were A Platypus: Mammal Babies and Their Mothers by Dia Michels. It’s filled with information about how 14 different mammals are …

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Review of R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey Astronomy 2 R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey Astronomy 2 from Pandia Press brings top quality secular science into your home or classroom in an engaging hands-on manner. Scientist and author, Blair Lee, has a conversational writing style that opens up serious science topics to students in a way that invites them on a journey through learning. The combination of thorough science education, fun labs and activities, and the author’s ability to share vast amounts of information without overwhelming a novice makes RSO Astronomy 2 an excellent course for both students who love science, and those who do …

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 Out of the Box Learning, Empowering Your Homeschool Journey I don’t often read books on homeschooling. Not that I don’t think I can learn from others experiences, but finding a book whose author I could connect with, that didn’t push a specific methodology, and wasn’t dripping with religious references, was more of a challenge than it was worth to me. As the homeschool community has evolved so have the homeschooling books available and I have been pleasantly surprised by a few of them recently. When I picked up my copy of Beverly Burgess’ book, Out of the Box Learning, I …

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Mom, it isn’t really math. it’s too fun. The idea that math…of all things…is fun, well, who would have thought it! Lilac Mohr’s self-published book, Math and Magic in Wonderland is a whimsical story where math and science are interwoven with literary prose. It is both engaging to read and at the same time, it is educational. We often talk about the journey through learning at SEA Homeschoolers and this book fits that sentiment. It is a fitting tribute to the Carroll masterpiece upon which it is styled. Mohr’s degrees in Engineering and Computer Information Systems provide a solid basis …

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Review of Homeschool Teacher by Kate Laird November Book Review When Kate Laird contacted me to ask if I would review her book Homeschool Teacher, her email said, “of all the homeschooling communities I’ve seen online and in real life, SEA Homeschoolers is the one that most closely resembles my approach and where I feel I’ve found my “tribe.” I’m sure there are going to be elements of the book that you disagree with, but I hope you find it a book you wished you’d read when you began homeschooling. Like you, I read the Well Trained Mind early on, …

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Be Naturally Curious Review Be Naturally Curious specializes in science mini-courses. Each of these mini-courses focuses on a different scientific concept written by a different Naturally Curious expert. Each mini-course includes a beautifully illustrated story, a craft or manipulable, a game, and an experiment or outdoor field activity.     Subject Area: Science Type of Course: Unit Study each expected to take your child 5 to 10 hours. Age Range: K – 5 Format: PDF Cost: $9.99 each   Titles in the Series Take Off with Airplane Science! Amazing Animal Migration A Butterfly’s Evening Adventure The Adventures of Carbon Life in …

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For the past few months, I have been receiving emails asking for my help figuring out science for next year. The emails are from parents who are hoping RSO Astronomy and Earth Science 2 will be out for the start of the 2015/2016 school year. It won’t. I even get emails from people hoping RSO Chemistry 2 will be out. I only have 1 chapter of that book written, so it definitely will not be out next year. I will start writing it in time for Sean to use it for chemistry during the next school year, but that course …

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