Loving Nancy Larson Science!

We used Nancy Larson Science Levels 2 and 3 and we LOVED it!! The teacher’s manual is scripted, but if you don’t like that sort of thing you can just read over it and use your own words when teaching. The program came with almost everything you would need for the activities; you just supply household items like paper clips, scrap paper, etc. The program teaches the material in a very child-friendly way without insulting the child’s intelligence. The lessons take about 20-30 minutes and are hands-on. My kids always ended the lessons with a comment similar to “Wow! I can’t believe I didn’t know that already!” The material teaches so naturally! There are reviews and tests built into the curriculum, as well as science word lists to help with vocabulary retention. The CD-ROM has supplemental resources to help “drive the lessons home.” It appears to be a little expensive but it is sooo worth it! Keep in mind that the cost covers your supply kit, resource kit, teacher’s manual with solutions, tests, student worksheets, student booklets, and more! Not only does it include the things I’ve listed, but it even teaches study skills and the kids learn how and what to hi-light in their booklets to help them during study time. You will even find some grammar teachings, which may appear as a latent function to parents but never-the-less, it is intentionally and creatively woven into the curriculum. For example, level 4 teaches the Greek root bios, and then the child learns about the suffix –logy, then the derivative “biology” makes sense. NLS has a built-in reading reinforcement as well. My son struggled with reading comprehension for a few years and we were beginning to think there was some sort of delay or diagnosis. However, after using NLS for one year, his reading comprehension rocketed up to grade level! Now, here is the part that made my eyes swell with happy tears: After completing level 3, my son tested into 9th grade reading/comprehension! Oh my, I get weepy just thinking about it! After all, every mother wants her child to do well in school. Every mother wants her child to have confidence in his or her academic ability. Every mother’s heart hurts a little more each time her child cries because he or she just don’t seem to be able to understand something in school. It seems odd that a science curriculum can hugely impact reading, right? Well, Nancy Larson did her research and developed such a curriculum! It is fun AND easy to teach! My kids actually remember things they learned months ago so this alone makes me a happy camper. Click here to visit Nancy Larson Publishers ">