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Isn’t it great when you find a piece that fits in the gap of your homeschooling curriculum puzzle? Up until three years ago, I had been exclusively using Abeka for my science curriculum for all ages. I was perfectly content with this for many years, but after awhile I found that it wasn’t “working” for our family the way I would like it to. (I am not slamming Abeka in any way! I depend on their curriculum in many ways, especially in the lower grades and teaching my children to read.)
On the positive note, Abeka science was very thorough and in-depth and contained all the quizzes and tests that I would ever want to give my child; it also was Biblically-based, which is a must for our family. However, I began to see that my children really struggled with memorizing all the facts presented and doing well in the subject. This was especially true as I had more kids I was teaching and I needed the older ones to be more independent in their schoolwork. I also began to notice that Abeka repeated the same information from year to year, while adding a little more depth all the time. This is not a bad idea, but the whole curriculum wasn’t working for us!
On the other hand, Apologia Science has worked out great for us!! Keep reading to find an exclusive Apologia Coupon Code link.
Apologia Biology
Then I was introduced to a high school Apologia Science book. My daughter completed Apologia Biology her senior year and really enjoyed it. Not only that, she was able to do well it it with very little input from me!! (This is in contrast to the Abeka science, which required lots of help reviewing and going over and over the facts in order for them to do well.) Because it went so well for her, we have since tried that same subject with two of my boys, as well as the boys taking Apologia Physics- all with similar results! One of my boys listed the Apologia Physics book as one of his favorite reading books!!! This year one of the boys is trying Apologia Chemistry, and we are branching into the elementary grades with Exploring Creation with Zoology 1: Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day.
The Pros of Apologia Science
So, with this introduction, how would I review Apologia Science? Within the subjects that we have used I would rate it five stars!!! We have found it to be very self-paced, not needing teacher direction or input. My children have really enjoyed the easy reading style and are able to convert the reading of the text to good grades on the tests. The books and tests are easily passed down from one child to another if you have them write answers to tests, etc. in a separate notebook. We also really appreciate the fact that Apologia is strongly Biblically based and emphasizes Creation.
The Apologia science experiments mostly include items a family would normally have around the house or could easily get from the store. My children have enjoyed these experiments and have also had reinforcement of concepts they are learning in that chapter.
In summary, Apologia Science would be a great fit for a homeschooling family that is looking for Biblically based science curriculum that teaches a motivated student without the need for much parental interaction.
The Cons of Apologia Science
I discovered one weakness of Apologia when trying to get the elementary curriculum for the first time recently. After a perusal of Apologia website, I have not been able to discover where they sell tests to go with their elementary science courses. It appears they do not make them for this level. I know it is personal preference, but I like to use tests with the different curriculum that I use so that I can assess how my children are doing and have a written record of that accomplishment (the grade in the grade book).
I am disappointed that Apologia does not provide this as an option, but I did find an alternative on www.teacherspayteachers.com. On this website, you can buy supplementary material, including tests, for different curriculum. These materials appear to be created by independent school teachers and sold for very reasonably prices; you can find tests for Exploring Creation with Zoology 1: Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day for $5 or $10!! Although I am pretty sure I would not agree with everything on this website, it may be a good resource to fill in gaps in curriculum.
One other con to Apologia is that they do not stick to the King James Bible for their Scripture references.
Cost Comparison
What about costs of Apologia as compared to other homeschool publishers? The elementary textbook alone costs $49 on the Apologia website. As a comparison, Abeka charges $40.30 for a similar grade science textbook. However, Abeka’s science textbooks are paperback; Apologia’s are hardcover and more durable. Also, to get the teacher manuals, tests and quizzes, and answer keys from Abeka, you end up getting the kits that add up to over $200. Apologia offers a kit that includes a notebooking journal, as well as the text, for $83 at its retail price. You can complete this with the tests/key from www.teacherspayteachers.com for $5 or $10 more.
(These prices are accurate as of 6/3/2024.)
Website Overview
A great place to start on the Apologia website is their Curriculum Path (or scope and sequence). Here you will find the different courses they offer by grade level. If you take a look at the Apologia website, you will find that they have different resources, including Book Extras that you have access to when you buy one of their textbook. They also have Online learning and Live Video classes. Although I have not explored these options, they might be a good fit for your family.
Coupon Code!
If you are like me, you love it when you can find a coupon code to make a purchase just that much cheaper! You can receive 10% off purchases made on the Apologia website through this link: Apologia 10% off deal When prompted, enter the following code: jennifer10
As you can tell, this article is focused on reviewing Apologia Science curriculum, because that it what I am familiar with. I see from their website that they also offer different courses in Bible, Language Arts, Math, and Worldview. I would love to see some comments below on what you, the reader, have found in these Apologia subjects, if you have experience in them. Also, join the conversation, and let me know what you what science curriculums you have used and what you like.
