Saxon Math
Now that I've graduated two and have a junior, and have used several levels of Saxon Math, I have a few things to share with those of you who want to use it, but are overwhelmed. I have older editions, so I'm not sure what the newer ones tell the parents how to use the books. My versions instruct the parents that to be successful, and have any hope at all of making it in the world, the student MUST complete EVERY problem in the book. In each and every book.
Good grief. I about put my oldest in the hospital with that approach. I make all my mistakes on her, poor thing. Even bright math geeks need a good chunk of time per day to accomplish this, and I have noticed that many curricula of various subjects expect the same amount of work for the child to have a shot at a good life after high school.
I have come up with a more sane and realistic approach. One that will work on most kids, and allows them to work at their own pace. One that will allow the child time for other subjects, as well as trivial things like eating and personal hygiene and sleep.
Thankfully, Saxon does recommend starting your first grader with the second grader books. But that's where the sanity ends. You can buy all the bells and whistles that go along with the workbooks (there are 2 for second grade and third grade), or you can just buy the workbooks. I mean, how hard can this be, right? Be realistic here for a moment- it's elementary math. Most reasonable, intelligent adults can manage to work through these workbooks with nothing but a pencil or two. All the other stuff is unnecessary and time consuming. And expensive!
If your child seems to have a real knack for math, you can buy the 5/4 level and take a couple of years to work through it. It's at that level the books are text books and non consumable and can be used by younger siblings, further saving you money. As with the earlier workbooks, all you need is the text book and maybe the answer book to make checking the work go faster. Don't waste your money on all the other stuff. If your child needs practice with math facts, buy some blank index cards and task your child with making his own. Less money, and reinforcing knowledge.
But what about doing all the problems?? It's just not necessary. What is more important is the child work through each new concept and get some practice at it. Mom can usually tell if the child has grasped it or not. And some concepts will be way easier than others. So instead of doing every problem in every chapter, do every new concept and practice them until firm. Then move onto the next chapter. With easy concepts, you can knock out 3-4 chapters a day. Then, once a week, have the child work every problem in the current chapter. If you need to slow down, then slow down. If they seem to need practice on particular types of problems, have them work on those for a day or two.
It's more important that the child do some math every day and make progress than it is for them to do problems that they have mastered and could do in their sleep.
And if a book seems too easy- go into the next level and work slowly through that one (as mentioned above). Nowhere is it written that you must complete a book in one year for it to "count." You are in charge, you decide how much work is appropriate and realistic for your child and for you! Typically, most kids in public school never finish an entire book either. Not that we need to concern ourselves with what goes on in schools, but it helps to keep things
After level 5/4, I would definitely get the answer book, and if you want, the test booklet with the answers. I don't push tests on my kids until high school, but some kids really like them, and some moms want to gauge their child's progress.
Now for the upper levels and high school, where some parents want to award credits. Alegbra 1/2 is a nice transition, especially for a child weak in math, but it's not a must-have. Another item to keep in mind is that Algebra 1, 2 and the first half of Advanced Math also give the child one credit in Geometry. And since Advanced Math is a 2 credit book, you can stop at the first half and have 4 credits of math. Or if you have a child who really loves Geometry, you can go that route and forget about the Advanced Math. But the geometry book does have proofs. Approximately 20% of the book dwells on these buggers, so you could skip them entirely and still get enough geometry out of it. Proofs are not on the SAT or ACT anyway. Yay!
( A word about the Advanced Math book- the second half of the book gives scant practice for the new concepts, and often the student will never see a new concept in subsequent chapters. Then they pop up on the tests after too much time has passed and the student has forgotten them since he was not afforded enough practice to begin with.)
I have 7 kids. I cannot afford a different math curriculum for each child. I had to use what I already owned work for each child. Each child has received a version of the above outline (except my oldest who did every.problem.in.every.book. She has still not forgiven me for that, but, in time, I'm sure she will). I haven't bought a math textbook for years. I even bought my 8 year old just one workbook each for first and second grades (Saxon levels 2 and 3). He's fine and will be ready for 5/4 next year.
Honestly, there are more important things in life than hours of math a day.
Good grief. I about put my oldest in the hospital with that approach. I make all my mistakes on her, poor thing. Even bright math geeks need a good chunk of time per day to accomplish this, and I have noticed that many curricula of various subjects expect the same amount of work for the child to have a shot at a good life after high school.
I have come up with a more sane and realistic approach. One that will work on most kids, and allows them to work at their own pace. One that will allow the child time for other subjects, as well as trivial things like eating and personal hygiene and sleep.
Thankfully, Saxon does recommend starting your first grader with the second grader books. But that's where the sanity ends. You can buy all the bells and whistles that go along with the workbooks (there are 2 for second grade and third grade), or you can just buy the workbooks. I mean, how hard can this be, right? Be realistic here for a moment- it's elementary math. Most reasonable, intelligent adults can manage to work through these workbooks with nothing but a pencil or two. All the other stuff is unnecessary and time consuming. And expensive!
If your child seems to have a real knack for math, you can buy the 5/4 level and take a couple of years to work through it. It's at that level the books are text books and non consumable and can be used by younger siblings, further saving you money. As with the earlier workbooks, all you need is the text book and maybe the answer book to make checking the work go faster. Don't waste your money on all the other stuff. If your child needs practice with math facts, buy some blank index cards and task your child with making his own. Less money, and reinforcing knowledge.
But what about doing all the problems?? It's just not necessary. What is more important is the child work through each new concept and get some practice at it. Mom can usually tell if the child has grasped it or not. And some concepts will be way easier than others. So instead of doing every problem in every chapter, do every new concept and practice them until firm. Then move onto the next chapter. With easy concepts, you can knock out 3-4 chapters a day. Then, once a week, have the child work every problem in the current chapter. If you need to slow down, then slow down. If they seem to need practice on particular types of problems, have them work on those for a day or two.
It's more important that the child do some math every day and make progress than it is for them to do problems that they have mastered and could do in their sleep.
And if a book seems too easy- go into the next level and work slowly through that one (as mentioned above). Nowhere is it written that you must complete a book in one year for it to "count." You are in charge, you decide how much work is appropriate and realistic for your child and for you! Typically, most kids in public school never finish an entire book either. Not that we need to concern ourselves with what goes on in schools, but it helps to keep things
After level 5/4, I would definitely get the answer book, and if you want, the test booklet with the answers. I don't push tests on my kids until high school, but some kids really like them, and some moms want to gauge their child's progress.
Now for the upper levels and high school, where some parents want to award credits. Alegbra 1/2 is a nice transition, especially for a child weak in math, but it's not a must-have. Another item to keep in mind is that Algebra 1, 2 and the first half of Advanced Math also give the child one credit in Geometry. And since Advanced Math is a 2 credit book, you can stop at the first half and have 4 credits of math. Or if you have a child who really loves Geometry, you can go that route and forget about the Advanced Math. But the geometry book does have proofs. Approximately 20% of the book dwells on these buggers, so you could skip them entirely and still get enough geometry out of it. Proofs are not on the SAT or ACT anyway. Yay!
( A word about the Advanced Math book- the second half of the book gives scant practice for the new concepts, and often the student will never see a new concept in subsequent chapters. Then they pop up on the tests after too much time has passed and the student has forgotten them since he was not afforded enough practice to begin with.)
I have 7 kids. I cannot afford a different math curriculum for each child. I had to use what I already owned work for each child. Each child has received a version of the above outline (except my oldest who did every.problem.in.every.book. She has still not forgiven me for that, but, in time, I'm sure she will). I haven't bought a math textbook for years. I even bought my 8 year old just one workbook each for first and second grades (Saxon levels 2 and 3). He's fine and will be ready for 5/4 next year.
Honestly, there are more important things in life than hours of math a day.
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