Customer Reviews

Real Science-4-Kids, Chemistry Level II, Student Textbook

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I teach a Chemistry class and this book was chosen based on content. Unfortunately, when I actually started presenting the material, I found that there were numerous typographical errors, and some answers to problems are incorrect. This is very frustrating for students when they are reading the material prior to class in an attempt to gain an understanding of the subject. Consequently, students and parents feel that the text is unreliable and therefore the cost is not justified. It was embarrassing to me as well!

The illustrations and simplicity of the explanations are very good , especially for children who have difficulty with the subject. I will definitely use it as a reference text.

I was very excited when I realized that there was a Real Science-4-Kids, Chemistry II available. My children have used Level I versions of all the Real Science-4-Kids books with great success. I found the Level I books to be clear and well-organized. They made science accessible and interesting for my kids.

Unfortunately, the Level II Chemistry did not live up to my expectations. There are numerous typographical errors in the text book and teacher's manual. Even worse, the text can be hard to follow. I don't find key concepts to be well explained. Instead of teaching my son more about chemistry, this book is frustrating him -- sometimes to tears. I normally sell our homeschool text books when we're finished with them, but I don't think I can bring myself to sell this book to someone. It's going in the trash.

After reading other reviews, I was concerned about 2 things: the accuracy of the text and whether it was enough matierial for a whole school year.I wrote to the company, Gravitas Publications, and was pleasantly surprised when Dr.Keller herself promptly responded. She expressed to me her concern about the editing problems they have had and her desire to make corrections. She also suggested that for a year long program it would be important to use the KOGS. The KOGS,connecting chemistry to other subjects, look fabulous and we are very excited to use them. However, the cost of the full program was out of our budget. Dr. Keller, sensitive to our situation and concerned about the typos in her work, very graciously offered to donate the texts and lab books if we bought the KOGS! That is what I call heart, which you don't see very often in a company these days. I have not yet received the program, but we are very excited about the opportunity to use it. I was also told that if anyone else would like this type of opportunity she would be glad to work something out. That is what I call 5 star service!

Very disappointed in this textbook. There were numerous errors which really confused my students. I teach a class of 12 students and this was a nightmare. I agree with the review that someone else gave saying they were going to throw it in the trash. It looks like a beautifully illustrated book, but is hard to follow and poorly put together. I rarely give book reviews, but this one can't go by without one. Don't buy!

I received a book with terrible binding, notation that it was dinged, damaged, and discontinued despite paying full price and not being informed that I would be receiving such a book. It had several pages of corrections stuck in the front cover but those didn't even begin to cover the errors in this book. It has been extremely frustrating trying to teach students and guide them through a book that has incorrect material and incorrect answers in the teacher manual. I have been less than impressed with the lab manual as well.