In short, my goal is to teach solid science courses that will prepare students for success in college science classes. I do include the topic of natural selection and evolution from the perspective of the most widely accepted theory in mainstream science when it is appropriate to the curriculum. At the same time, please know that I respect the personal beliefs of every student. My goal is to help students understand current scientific theories so that they are prepared for college, not to influence their personal beliefs.

Taylor Made Science classes are taught using a “flipped” class format. This means that students will cover the “passive” background material on their own before we meet for the live class. This will include completing a study guide through textbook reading and a teacher-made lecture video each week. Then, when we meet for class, students can ask questions about the material covered during the week and work together on labs, activities, and active problem solving. This format ensures that the live class time is 100% interactive.

All of my live classes meet together at a scheduled time through Zoom. I ask that all students keep their microphones and cameras on so it feels like we are in a real classroom. Students learn when they engage and take an active part in the learning process. I encourage discussion and questions throughout our live time together. This allows me to get to know my students. I also want students to interact with their peers and most classes include some time for them to work together in small groups while completing labs.

Pre-recorded classes are not self-paced, and are not watered-down versions of the live, online courses. All students taking the same course, whether live or pre-recorded, will follow the same schedule and complete the same assignments. Everything done in both versions of the course are identical except for the method used to complete labs and other activities. Students in pre-recorded classes will not watch a recording of a live class. The teacher will pre-record a special session in which she explains the labs and other hands-on activities step-by-step so that students can easily follow along on their own.

Most subjects are offered multiple times during the week. If your child has to miss their scheduled class they are welcome to log in and make up the class at a different time during the same week. If that isn’t possible, they will have access to the pre-recorded version of the class. This will allow them to stay caught up with the class, even if they have to miss interacting with their peers.

The Taylor Made Science program is not self-paced and students are expected to work within the published school schedule. The beauty of online learning is that students can log in and attend classes from literally anywhere! Or they can use the prerecorded material to stay caught up with the class even when they can’t log in for their regularly scheduled class. However, please be aware that students are expected to complete work during the week in which it is assigned. And, because the course materials are “timed” to open consecutively throughout the year to help students get used to a predictable schedule, being able to “work ahead” is very limited. If you often travel to areas with no internet access or prefer to have “no school time” during your travels, Taylor Made Science classes may not be a good fit for your child.

All science courses are organized through Canvas, a learning management system used by many colleges and school districts. Through Canvas, students will download and turn in assignments. The teacher grades all submitted work, including lab reports. Students and parents can view grades, upcoming assignments, and due dates through Canvas, but parents are never expected to do the grading themselves. At the end of the year parents will be able to print out a detailed grade report for the course to keep with the high school transcript as grade documentation.

I encourage students to contact me for help whenever they need it. Many questions can be quickly answered by email, and I monitor email regularly, even on the weekends and holidays. Sometimes the older students may need more help than can be provided easily by email. In that case, we set up a Zoom time so that I can answer questions and explain things live. Students taking a pre-recorded class also have the same access to get their questions answered when they need help.

Absolutely! Science is about observing and experiencing, and no science class is complete without the lab component. Each of my students receives a lab supply kit (mailed over the summer) which contains most of the supplies and equipment needed to complete a full set of labs throughout the year. Even though the labs are done at home, I have put together a lab program that allows my students to complete the same labs as they would in an in-person science class. Students taking live classes will complete labs during the Zoom class meetings. They work together in small groups as labs are completed and the teacher is always available if they have questions. Students taking pre-recorded classes will receive step-by-step video instructions and demonstrations that they can easily follow as they complete the lab on their own.

In middle school science students complete fill-in-the-blank labs as they become familiar with the layout of a good lab report. Then, as students progress through the high school courses they complete more and more of their own lab write-ups. In the early years there is plenty of direction and step-by-step help with Google templates for most lab reports. In the upper level courses students receive less and less guidance and do more of the lab designs on their own. Through this progression students are ready to write independent lab reports by the time they get to college.

The amount of time depends on the class, the ability level of the child, and their experience with using a textbook. I try to give homework so that the average student will be working on science for 30-45 minutes per day during the other four days of the school week. Many students complete the assignment is less time. Students who have never used a textbook sometimes find that it takes a little longer at the beginning of the year. As they become more skilled at using a textbook, the time almost always decreases as the year goes on. This can be a painful process at first but it is a very helpful skill to master before college! Of course, students in more advanced courses, especially AP level, may need to devote more time during some weeks as they cover more difficult topics or prepare for tests.

Most homeschool students taking my courses are highschoolers working to get their science requirements needed to apply to college. As Taylor Made Science has grown, I have tried to increase the number of sections of the core courses as needed to accommodate at least most of the students needing a specific science for graduation. This seldom leaves room in the schedule to add live sections of AP science courses. By offering both AP Environmental and AP Biology as prerecorded classes, students wanting those courses will have access to them every year, they can work the coursework around their extremely busy schedules, and they still have access to the teacher for help, and to peers if they choose to work with other students on their own time.

I would love to answer any other questions you may have. Please contact me by email at [email protected] or fill out the contact form. I will also be holding Zoom Open House sessions throughout the spring and summer if you would like to get your questions answered live.