Misadventures in homeschool program selection

I chose Reo’s homeschooling program based on my academic experience. Back in the dark ages when I was in middle school, my mother removed me from the local private school after removing me from the local public school and enrolled me in the Christian Liberty Academy Satellite School [CLASS] homeschool program.

My mother was not very good with follow-through so I almost exclusively autonomously studied, which worked so well for me that I actually completed two grades in one year, placing me as a sophomore when I returned to public school. Now, technically, I did not skip a grade. I completed a freshman year’s worth of school work and testing. However, since I did two years in the span of a partial single school year, I think I’ve earned the right to say that I skipped my freshman year of high school. I was awesome.

My experience with the material itself was positive. The only presence of Christianity was in the required Bible Study, which was understandable since this homeschool program came from a Christian private school. The Bible Study required biblical reading and consideration of non-denominational Christian principles.

I expected the same when I enrolled my third grader.

I was wrong.

"Exploring God’s Creation", part of the God’s Creation Series, is the Science textbook.

Science textbook.

Science.

Leafing through, I found the lesson that would teach my son photosynthesis. Unfortunately, the word “photosynthesis” was not used once. The term replacing the scientific process was, “God’s Water Pump”.

Unfortunately, I had already paid the tuition in full and we were in September, when I was aiming to start his school year. I decided that we would proceed with the program I already committed to use and I would make adjustments as we went along. I have set aside the Science textbook until I can decide exactly how I’m going to adjust the curriculum without hindering my son’s ability to perform on tests.

We are focusing on his Nature Reader, which explores biological life on the planet, and for fun we have Astrological lessons that get to use free apps and the NASA for kids website.