1. When are more R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey or History Odyssey courses going to be available?

RSO Biology 2 is available now! While we do have plans to complete the level one and level two series and to create level three supplements in the future, there are no other definite release dates available for new RSO books at this time. Physics 1, Earth & Space 2, and a supplement for Biology 3 are all in the works. Presently we have no new release dates for History Odyssey courses. While we do plan to complete the level three series, they are not currently in the works. American History for high school course is in the early stages of development. We are currently working on Parent/Teacher guides for level two. Modern Times 2 Teacher Guide is now available as an eBook. Please do not email requesting a release date as we do not have one at this time. When a book is within 3 months of completion, an estimated release date will be posted on this website. Until that time, for important reasons (i.e., my sanity), we cannot give any information regarding future releases. Instead, sign our mailing list for notification of release dates.

2. Is Pandia Press aligned with Common Core Standards?

Common Core Standards (CCS) are language arts and mathematics national standards created for public school. Currently there are no CCS for science or history (the subjects we publish). Therefore, the question about Pandia Press and CCS is nonsensical. We reject any attempt to pigeon-hole Pandia Press and our titles into one category or another in regards to CCS. It is misleading to portray a company or course as aligned (or not aligned) to standards that do not exist. However, if CCS are ever released for science and/or history, or if we publish a language arts or math course in the future, Pandia Press will be steadfastly independent. We do not produce courses for public schools; therefore, CCS will never be a consideration for course development.

3. Are your courses written from a Christian viewpoint, or are they secular? or, Is evolution or biblical creation discussed in your courses?

Our courses are secular, they are not written from any religious point of view. If you are looking for courses that primarily base history and science on biblical events and faith beliefs rather than on historical method and scientific method, History Odyssey and REAL Science Odyssey are probably not for you. History Odyssey courses begin at 6000 B.C., therefore evolution is not applicable. A scientist whose only agenda is to teach real science writes each RSO book. Therefore, RSO is not from a creationist’s viewpoint. RSO level 1 books do not directly address evolution, but level 2 books do. RSO Biology 2 has a unit on evolution.

4. Why is my eBook printing blank pages?

A few printers are interpreting the eBook files as images instead of text (especially the R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey eBook files). If your printer is printing blank pages, open the eBook file in Acrobat. Under File, select Print. At the bottom of this screen shot, select Advanced. You should now be looking at the “Advanced Print Set-up” screen. Look for “Print as Image” and check this box. Then select “OK” at the bottom to apply the setting. That’ll do it!

5. Do the History Odyssey levels follow the same order for each time period? or, Can I teach levels one and two simultaneously?

Because each level in History Odyssey uses different reference spines, the time periods do not follow each other lesson for lesson. For example, Lesson 5 in Ancients (level one) does not match Lesson 5 in Ancients (level two) or Lesson 5 in Ancients (level three). Early attempts to make levels in the same time period coincide with each other created confusion. The two courses that were modified to resemble the order of the third course, became so compromised and jumbled that they no longer had integrity or flow. So the decision was made to allow each course to follow the order that made the most sense with its reference spines and literature. However, the courses in the same time period do cover the same general events and people. It is helpful to have your children studying the same time period even if they are using different levels. If studying the same time period, your children can assist one another, books can be read aloud that all will enjoy, and field trips can be organized around history. Keep in mind that levels two and three are intended to be completed independently by students. Therefore, the only course you have to “teach” is level one.

6. Why are HO level two guides recommended for grades 5 and up? or, Can I use level two guides for high school?

Both our level two and level three courses meet and exceed high school level standards for history. Our level three courses are writing intensive and prepare students for college-level thesis writing and literature. For some high school students, especially those who have not been classically educated before or who struggle with writing, level two courses may be more appropriate. If you are using level two for high school, we recommend that you add literature from the level three reading lists and add essay-writing assignments that require thesis statements.

7. How many high school credits can I award for HO level three guides?

Pandia Press is not an accrediting agency and does not offer high school credits. However, an accrediting institution has informed us that each level three course would count for at least one full history (social studies) credit, one full literature/writing (English) credit (if a formal writing course is added), and possibly a half credit for geography. Many customers have told us that their high school accredited institutions have approved HO courses.

8. If my child did not complete Ancients (level three) what preparation work should he do before beginning Middle Ages (level three)? or, If my child skipped one of the first guides in the level two series, what preparation work should she do before beginning one of the later level two courses?

If your child skips Ancients (level three), he should still read How to Read a Book and A Rulebook for Arguments. We also recommend that you prepare him for thesis writing through a writing course that teaches the literary essay and thesis writing. (See suggested writing courses in the next question). However, level three guides do not get progressively harder as do level one and level two courses.

Level two courses build upon each other, with each course in level two being slightly more difficult and presenting new writing techniques and literature elements. There is some review in each course, but we recommend having your child practice writing summaries, short essays, and outlining if she skips either Ancients or Middle Ages (level two).

9. What writing courses do you recommend to complement History Odyssey?

We recommend courses that teach thesis writing, research papers, and how to write essays–literary, expository, descriptive, narrative, and persuasive.

Specifically, we recommend the following: 
• Teaching Writing Structure and Style offered by The Institute for Excellence in Writing (www.writing-edu.com)
• Writing Strands (www.writingstrands.com)
• Teaching the Essay and Teaching the Research Paper by Robin Finley (www.analyticalgrammar.com)

10. Where can I meet other people who are using History Odyssey and RSO?

There is a Yahoo group dedicated to History Odyssey. To join this group visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/history_odyssey/members

The Yahoo group dedicated to RSO can be found at http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/REALScienceUsers

11. Where can I purchase the Rock and Mineral Kit, science thermometer, inflatable globe, and balance scale for RSO Earth & Space?

Home Science Tools now sells supply kits for RSO courses!

If you wish to gather your own supplies, there are a few items utilized in RSO Earth & Space (one) that might need to be ordered:

1. The Rock and Mineral can be purchased from Rainbow Resource Center or Classical Home Education (see vendors). If you want to put together your own kit, you will need samples of: Talc, Magnetite, Mica, Pyrite, Feldspar, Quartz Crystal, Granite, Basalt, Snowflake Obsidian, Conglomerate, Sandstone, Shale, Marble, Slate, and Schist. Plus, you also need a streak plate or unglazed kitchen tile.

2. You can use a kitchen thermometer in place of a science thermometer in level one RSO courses. A science thermometer goes down on its own, unlike a medical one that must be shaken down. Classical Home Education offers a nice one for this age group.

3. The inflatable globe can be hard to find at local toy stores. Classical Home Education offers one, and so do many online toy stores.

4. You do not need a balance scale for the current RSO courses. Just use a common kitchen gram scale. If you want to purchase one, get a triple beam balance scale from an online science equipment retailer.