Frequently Asked Questions

Below is a list of frequently asked question about our products. If you do not see your question listed here, please contact us.

1. When are new R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey books going to be available?

Currently there are three books available in the RSO level one series - Life, Earth & Space, and Chemistry. While we do have plans to complete the level one series and to create level two and level three books in the future, there are no definite release dates available for new RSO books at this time. Physics (level one)and Biology (level two) are all in the works. When a book is within 3 months of completion, an estimated release date will be posted on this Web site. Until that time, for legal reasons we cannot give any information regarding new RSO books. Please do not email me regarding release dates. Instead, sign our mailing list for notification of release dates.

2. When will the timeline be back? When are new History Odyssey guides going to be available?

A new and improved timeline is being created. We hope to have it available in 2010 or early 2011. We will send out notifications to our mailing list when it is near completion. Please do not email requesting a release date as we do not have one at this time. Presently we have no new release dates for History Odyssey courses. While we do plan to complete the level three series, and we plan to create an American History for high school course, they are not currently in the works. We are currently working on Parent/Teacher guides for levels two and three.

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 particular religious point of view. We hope that customers of all faiths will be comfortable using our materials. History Odyssey courses begin at 6000 B.C., therefore evolution is not applicable. A scientist whose only agenda is to teach science writes each R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey book. Therefore, R.E.A.L Science is not from a creationist’s viewpoint. There will be mention of evolution in level two and three courses (when available) as it pertains to science. There is no mention of evolution in the level one books.

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.

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.

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