KSGrace Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 Saxon 1/2 Algebra?? Sonlight doesn't offer Saxon 8/7 but is does offer Saxon 1/2. Does anyone know why this is? Should my 7th grader just skip 8/7 and use 1/2 instead? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nestof3 Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 I used 8/7 and Alg 1/2, and if I had to do it again (which I will actually with my other boys), I'd skip 8/7. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coffeegal Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 lol, my ds is finishing Saxon 76 right now and I have 87 and Algebra 1/2 in front of me. We've always planned to complete both books but most people go straight into Algebra 1/2. The biggest difference I see is that 87 is in the style of 54-76 while Algebra 1/2 has a smaller font and is in a more 'mature' style. Also, in the last lesson, Alg. 1/2 has the child solving: 15-6+2x-4=3x+16-5x+14 while 87 only goes as far as:.4n+5.2=12. Alg. 1/2 also requires the use of a protractor and compass. 87 does not. Personally, I ended up with 2 years of pre-algebra (due to a move) and thrived in high school math. Thus, my reasoning behind 2 years of pre-algebra. HTH! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coffeegal Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 I used 8/7 and Alg 1/2, and if I had to do it again (which I will actually with my other boys), I'd skip 8/7. Why will you skip 8/7 with your other boys? Was it simplly too redundant? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nestof3 Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 Well, to be fair, I will have to look at 8/7 and Alg 1/2 -- it might be the 1/2 I will skip. I cannot remember, as my oldest who used it is now graduated, and it has been some time since I used it. Of course, if either of the youngest struggles, I'll probably use both, but my oldest learned so very little that he could not have learned by skipping one. Yes, to me, it was very redundant and frustrating for him to have to do so much work that was review. Aside from that, I love Saxon and its element of review. I checked my son's work every day, he corrected all mistakes, and I knew immediately when a concept was difficult for him. This was very different than the experience I had with math growing up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anissarobert Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 My oldest skipped 8/7 with no problems. I'm not planning on using it with my younger two at this point. Someone once told me that it was mainly for those that need more practice before pre-algebra. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coffeegal Posted September 11, 2008 Share Posted September 11, 2008 Thanks, nestof3, that does help me make my decision. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockermom Posted September 11, 2008 Share Posted September 11, 2008 Thanks, nestof3, that does help me make my decision. :001_smile: Be sure to visit the Saxon homeschool website and you may even want to talk with one of their Cust Svc Reps. They have very recently revised 8/7 and their recommendations have changed From the Saxon Website FAQ's: What do you recommend for students after they have completed Math 7/6? The recommended path after finishing Math 7/6 is to take Math 8/7. If your child finishes Math 8/7 with at least 80% mastery, skip ahead to Algebra 1. In previous editions, many people skipped Math 8/7 because they found it to be a weaker text than Algebra ½. In the newer third edition, pre-algebra has been added to Math 8/7, making it a much stronger book. I had read this and just thought it may be of interest. I'd hate for you to skip the wrong book based on older editions. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nestof3 Posted September 11, 2008 Share Posted September 11, 2008 Rockermom, That's good info to have! I still have my texts from Aaron, but those who haven't bought yet will definitely need to know that. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melanie Posted September 11, 2008 Share Posted September 11, 2008 We're using the 3rd edition, and we used 8/7 and skipped algebra 1/2. So far we haven't run into any problems in the algebra 1 book, so I would say 8/7 was adequate preparation for algebra. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donna A. Posted September 11, 2008 Share Posted September 11, 2008 So for those of you who skipped one or the other, do you think it makes a difference which one? Would 8/7 or Alg 1/2 be the better book to skip if I need to speed things up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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