This Online Course for Teens Builds Student Success Skills in Science
There are a few key student success skills in science teens need to learn as part of science class.
One of the best ways to guarantee that your kids get the information they need to build a solid foundation in science is to use a program like Student Success Skills.
It’s an online course for middle and high schoolers that will help set them up for success.
I received this product for free to write about my experience and got compensated for my time. I was not required to post a positive review. These are my honest opinions. See my disclosure statement.
*This course from College Prep Science is taught with a Christian worldview.
Fundamental Skills for Homeschool Science
Science is a subject that’s required for all students. And just like with other classes, there are certain skills and knowledge that kids need in order to excel.
How comfortable are your teens with the metric system, taking raw data and putting it into a line graph, or writing a lab report? These are all things that are a regular part of science classes.
Unfortunately, many students either aren’t getting this information or they’re not proficient with it, so they have to work harder and often struggle.
During the semesters I taught high school science in our co-op, a large percentage of my students did not know how to write a lab report or even why one was necessary.
And my daughter has often been one of the few students who is able to take notes and study effectively in her dual enrollment college classes.
Luckily, there are a couple of ways you can make sure your kids have what they need to succeed in science.
Teaching Science Skills Middle School Students Need
The way that most families go about teaching tweens and teens this material is to pick it up as it’s needed and work through it on their own.
This can be a challenge because a lot of it is just stuff we, as adults, either don’t remember clearly or it’s second nature, making it hard to backtrack enough to teach it effectively.
I’ve also found that lots of science curriculum assumes students have this knowledge already, so they don’t always go into the topics thoroughly. And what if you’ve just started a new program? They may teach these important fundamentals in earlier courses, so your tween misses out.
If we’re not purposeful, these study skills can fall through the cracks.
Thankfully, there’s a much easier way. My teen has been taking the Student Success Skills, an online course from College Prep Science. It’s a 7 module, self-paced class that’s taught by Greg Landry, a highly skilled science professor.
In this half-semester course, he lays everything your tween will need to build a solid foundation of skills in science.
The material is taught in a clear, step-by-step format that’s easy for teens to follow. And instead of just telling them what to do, he also explains the reasoning behind many of the topics, which my daughter appreciated.
Which essential skills are taught in this online course?
During the self-paced student success class, teens will learn how to:
- take effective notes and use them to retrieve information
- prepare for and successfully take tests
- use the metric system
- create graphs out of raw data collected
- write clear and complete lab reports
- employ statistics and probability in science experiments
As you can see, these are key topics found in middle school, high school, and college level science classes.
Through these studies, teens also learn life skills like critical thinking, research, and time management.
Things We Love About Student Success
My teen has definitely benefitted from this program. Here are a few of the reasons I think it’s an excellent choice for homeschoolers.
- If science is a challenge for you or your kids, this course is a simple way to get them the information they need, without relying on you to teach it.
- Teens can easily work through this class independently, freeing you up to do other things and giving them valuable experience.
- There are 7 chapters, or lessons, included that run approximately 25 minutes. During each one, students are encouraged to practice the skill that was taught and are often given ideas for how to work on it. If they watch one a week, students will have plenty of time to put the knowledge to use.
- It’s an easy to use online course. Middle schoolers need to gain experience with this type of platform, and this is a good one to start with.
- Because the cost is per family, not per student, it’s quite reasonable, especially if you’re teaching a few kids.
Key Skills for Students
In the video below, I share a bit more about the program and as a bonus; I outline how two of the modules will help teens tremendously in all of their school subjects, not just science.
Homeschool Science Class Online
Not only does College Prep Science have this awesome skills class for teens, they also have a ton of incredible virtual science classes too. They’re perfect for homeschoolers – no planning, hunting down supplies, grading lab reports, and no mess (yay for online dissections!).
Make sure you take a look at them while you’re reviewing the Student Success Skills course. They also have some helpful freebies for you too, like this keys to teaching homeschool science.
Luckily, with some focused attention, all of these essential skills can be learned. And with practice, kids can master the information and gain a leg up in science class.
This worked well for my teen and I think yours can benefit as well, so I encourage you to check it out for yourself.
What Excites You Most About This Student Success Skills Course?
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