Saxon textbooks?

Question

Could someone please tell me something about Saxon textbooks? Are they good? I have heard that they are reptitive and boring. I'm looking into textbooks and I've heard of Saxon, figured I'd give it a shot. 10 points 4 best answer!

Answer 1

Just finished up three years of Saxon Math. The only reason we are not going with algebra 1 in Saxon is the teaching co-op we are in is offering it with a different curriculum.
Ok, let's see if I can give you an answer worth 10 points.
Repetitive? Well they use a spiral teaching technique meaning they will continually put little bits of previous lessons in current lessons. you may be on lesson 87 and have a question from lesson 62. It's not so much that it's the same ol stuff, it just puts it in there to make sure you remember it. Kinda like a one question pop quiz. My daughter never had a problem with it, and as a matter of fact, when she was in something difficult, she always appreciated having a question from a previous lesson that she knew how to do right away. Kinda like a bonus. :)
Boring? Well, there aren't many graphics meaning color pictures and things like that. That worked well with my daughter because she had a math text with tons of pictures and graphics and she would get distracted. She liked the no nonsense approach, but it's not for everyone.
As far as quality of curriculum, I do not understand the answer that said teachers returned them because they did not measure up. I have found Saxon to be an advanced curriculum. A friend used Saxon exclusively and she had to put her child in highschool one year, and due to his high score on the math test they gave him, he ended up in an honors math class with students two and three years ahead of him. AND, he was the only one in the class that could do the work.
My daughter tests consistently above grade level as well.
but, that's just my limited experience with two students.
hope this helps.

Answer 2

You choose what feels best. Saxon is not repetitive, it is spirally incremental...that means it adds little new things in small steps and repeats and re-uses this throughout the years...so in a way...you learn easier, you barely notice that you are learning hard stuff...Regular math books teach A and then practice A and test A, then they leave A behind...and you forget! Saxon teaches A then B and then reminds you about A then teaches C and reviews A and B and you get a complete understanding of the steps because it does not dump everything all in one time and then closes the subject....
If you have a tough time with higher Math, I recommend a Saxon placement test, then get the books at the level you need. If you do well in math, choose something else, or skip some of the exercises and go faster. The books are excellent.
My daughter is at the University and finished Calculus and is in her final year of pre-med. She was home-schooled and used Saxon the last 2 years of homeschool.

Answer 3

Saxon and Singapore are considered the two best math programs for homeschooling. We've used Saxon almost exclusively and I wouldn't call it repetitive.

Many other programs teach a concept, then drill with 20-30 problems of the same concept, but never come back to it. Saxon teaches a concept, then has 3-5 practice problems, but the actual problem set contains only 2-3 problems of that type mixed in with 20-30 problems (in the 4th grade and up, only 3-5 other problems in K-3rd) from previous lessons. It will repeat 1 or 2 of that same type problem in the next 20-30 lessons, then drop in another problem every 5 or 6 lessons after that.

So it is repetitive in the sense that you will continue to practice a concept over several lessons. This can be good or it can be bad. For my older son (a natural mathematician), he would have been bored out of his mind to have to complete 30 problems if he "got" the concept. However, if he doesn't "get it", there aren't really any additional practice problems - I have to create worksheets for him (from 5/4 through 8/7, they do have an appendix with more practice problems for many of the lessons, but not for algebra and beyond).

My advice - buy it used and try it. If it doesn't work out, re-sell it and try something else. There are plenty of good math programs available, you just need to find the one that works for you and your child. Oh, and don't be surprised if it works well for one child but not another - different learning styles and all.

Answer 4

I only know what I have heard from others, some love them and others hate them and that goes for just about any program.

If you are looking for a low cost but excellent math program I suggest Ray's Arithmetic it is old school mathematics. Younger grades learn with manipulatives and then you move up from there. You can buy all 20 textbooks on CD for just $59 and it includes the higher maths of Algebra, Geometry, Calculus...so if you are home educating two or more children, this program is a steal! The instructions are clear and concise for each new concept and only after you've mastered a concept do you move on. There is no need to do each and every problem but the word problems are excellent and help in reading comprehension as well as math.

Here is a list of mathematics taught with Ray's...

Basic Math:
Primary Arithmetic
Intellectual Arithmetic*
Practical Arithmetic*

Higher Arithmetic*
Intermediate Math:
Elementary Algebra*
Higher Algebra*
Plane and Solid Geometry
Geometry and Trigonometry

Advanced Math:
Analytic Geometry
Differential and Integral Calculus
Elements of Astronomy
Surveying and Navigation

Here is the link www.raysarithmetic.com

Answer 5

I like them very much. They are divided into lessons, not chapters and sections as Houghtin-Mifflin is. It includes a glossary, answer key for the odd numbered questions, and index in the back of the book. The lessons start with an explanation, normally with a visual aid. They also have many examples. After many explanations, there are problems to solve. If you get this textbook, I recommend buying the D.I.V.E CD. It is a computer CD ROM which helps you to learn and understand the material. I know they have it for the upper grades. If you need more information, I would be glad to email you a scan of some lessons in my algebra II book. All and all, it is a through curriculum that is highly regarded for a good reason!

Ellen Marie

Answer 6

We use Saxon math because our friend is a mathematician and scientist. His children home schooled with Saxon and have done very well. One is now a practicing veterinarian, another is a research chemist, another is at the Univ. of Iowa studying veterinary medicine, two are studing nuclear physics in Graduate School, another will graduate from the Univ.of S. Oregon with only 1-1/2 yr campus study. We like these results!

The repetition used in Saxon is critical to building the base for future math function comprehension. Saxon is incremental and easily lends itself to *self-teaching*. A student that is well prepared in reading skills and math-fact mastery can study Saxon independently and learn all of the material with minimal aid.

My daughter used Saxon to self-teach into Calculus and is doing very well at the college of her choice.

Answer 7

it is one coaching Textbook question i'm uncertain approximately. possibly evaluating Saxon's placement attempt for the Calculus e book with coaching Textbook's classes might exhibit greater information. i could think of that taking a Pre-Calculus course from an stunning software like coaching Textbook could prepare you for Saxon Calculus. I even have additionally heard rumor that coaching Textbook plans to place out a Calculus course.

Answer 8

they get repetivie -- when i worked int he book store at school they got returned by teachers, or weren't chosen because they just aren't up to speed like the mainstrem textbooks. Houghten Milflin (i beleive that is right) is who we ordered from all of the time. They are consistant -- which is what you want -- and they had the best teach aides associated with the books -- great for teachers and students. Good luck!!!

Answer 9

They are probably fine if you are a left-brainer; for a right-brainer, they are not so good! There is no color, no pizzazz, no FUN, and it goes over a whole bunch of different topics each day. The same laundry list of topics, over and over. My kids (both right brainers) get really bored and frustrated with that approach.

My children are liking Bob Jones's Math curriculum better, as it only focuses on one main topic per chapter. It just makes more sense to them, plus it has more color and personality.

Answer 10

They seem a bit pricey to me.

What grade level?

Have you go to big book stores like Barnes and Noble

Barnes and Nobel used to publish some nice text books.