I think I love Saxon.

[IfIOnly]

Why have I waited so long to try it? It's a wonderful curriculum. Anyone made the switch this year? Or did you switched some time ago and not regret it?

Edited September 25, 2016 by ifIonlyhadabrain

[freesia]

I switch dd last year (87) and loved it for her. I'm still loving it for Algebra. Ds is doing Calculus with Saxon and it is going well.

[SparklyUnicorn]

I used it for Algebra 1 and 2.  We currently use Advanced (not daily though).  We really like it.

[bethben]

I like it.  We switched from Singapore which I love in theory but doesn't have enough built in review.  I am trying to have it fit my daughter in 3rd grade and am doing a 1/2 speed Saxon and full speed MathUSee because I do like how Saxon teaches math.  She may not be a good fit which is why I'm keeping MathUSee in my back pocket.

[KarenNC]

We switched from Singapore 4A, placed in Saxon 6/5, and haven't looked back. She's in Advanced Mathematics right now. My daughter went from tears every math lesson and saying she was stupid to actually admitting parts of math could be kind of fun. :)

 

You might find the Virtual Homeschool Group's free online Saxon math courses to be a useful adjunct. They also have free live online classes (which levels depends on who volunteers to teach, and the classes fill in late July/early August for the year). Even if a student is using the at your own pace option, they have access to online open office hours if they have a problem. We've used a live class one year but also used the ayop option in various ways---as the primary course, used the video/voicethreads to supplement working from the book at home, just using the online tests but doing the homework out of the book, etc. http://www.virtualhomeschoolgroup.org/

[michaeljenn]

I have used Saxon for years!!  My older 3 have used Saxon 1 through Advanced Math.  Great program!

[Hypatia.]

I just switched to it this year, first for my 6 year old and soon for my 8 year old. I've been quite happy with it so far.

[IfIOnly]

I love the review and thoroughness, yet it's gentle or "incremental". It's such a great fit for us. :)

[...................]

We went from loving it to hating it back to accepting it.

 

The fact is that not all of us are able to view math as a whole to parts subject, and Saxon does a great job putting the parts together to create the whole. It's so user friendly and it works. I'm glad we have it otherwise I'm not sure what we would do!

[mommyoffive]

I just switched this year and I have no love for it yet.  

[happypamama]

I started DD on Saxon in about 4th grade with 5/4, and she used it through last year, 8th grade and algebra 1. No complaints. She didn't overwhelmingly LOVE it, but math isn't her favorite subject anyway. However, she didn't complain about it or hate it, and she has no math anxiety (and she has excellent math test scores), so I consider that to be a win. It didn't attempt to be cute or funny; it was no nonsense and get it done.

 

We left Saxon for AOPS this year because I wanted a change, and because my one complaint with Saxon is that it is easy to learn the algorithm without necessarily understanding the why. Although AOPS uses a different teaching approach from Saxon, it has many words on the page like Saxon (compared to Singapore), and it's easy for the student to teach him/herself, so it's been easy for her to make the transition. So that was a nice bonus.

[Cake and Pi]

My DS#2 switched to a public charter this year and they are using Saxon for math.  He's in the class for intermediate 3, but taking the tests for intermediate 4 while the various powers involved argue grade level placement.  It's all been review so far, but he seems to like it well enough.

[....]

We're using the Saxon high school math series.  It's one of the few programs I could find that has ALL the problems worked out in the solution manual.  And you can actually find the solution manual...   :glare:   And it's not $3 million used...

 

My kids are doing fine with it.  We're just going to continue using it through Calculus.

[tm919]

Why have I waited so long to try it? It's a wonderful curriculum. Anyone made the switch this year? Or did you switched some time ago and not regret it?

 

We are in 5/4 but have been using it since K. We supplement it with other stuff (LoF, challenge math, etc.) but it really does seem better than its reputation.... at least better than its reputation here. IRL the homeschoolers I know who use it, love it, but it seems to  have a terrible reputation online.

[SorrelZG]

I switched my oldest to Saxon last year for fourth grade after intentionally avoiding it up until that point. In spite of his natural, strong conceptual awareness, no math curriculum, not even living math, could make him dislike it--and act up over it--less. In hope, I had tried so many different curricula and approaches with him that he hadn't actually completed anything and he had large stretches of no formal math at all. I wasn't comfortable with that so I intended for his fourth grade year to be different and decided to finally try Saxon. He has not developed a love of the subject but it has been largely drama free since the switch and he requested Saxon for this year, also. It has not harmed him conceptually. He still tested ahead of the bell curve at his state required testing with his highest results being in the area of conceptual awareness and unfamiliar problem solving.

 

I switched my second oldest to Saxon just this year. She is a very different student but I am happy with how it is going for her, also, though for entirely different reasons.

[Guest]

Why have I waited so long to try it? It's a wonderful curriculum. Anyone made the switch this year? Or did you switched some time ago and not regret it?

Yes, it is a really wonderful program. It kind of makes me crazy to see it being panned for any variety of reasons by people who haven't even used it, or didn't use it properly (skipped problems, placed too high for student to succeed so as to avoid review, etc). It's not well suited for every single student, but I believe the vast majority of neurotypical children would get a superior math education with the program compared to many others I have seen and had to sit through, myself.

 

Those who say it can't properly prepare a student for high level math and science careers are also wrong - we have proof in the pudding in my own family and among my FIL's multiple years of students. They can think creatively and problem solve exceedingly well thanks to Saxon - not in spite of it. So yeah, it's like number two on my homeschooling pet peeve list to see it panned in general terms or pidgeonholed as a poorly formulated or executed sequence that doesn't work for high achieving students.

 

It's another ball of wax for a parent to say it didn't work for their kid for ______ reason - no problem there, each kid is unique and has their own needs. But general trashing of it sets my teeth on edge :lol:

[amsunshine]

We used Saxon for Algebra 2 and Advanced Mathematics after finishing Singapore/Discovering Mathematics.  We really liked it (although not quite as much as we liked Singapore).  It is no-nonsense and very thorough.  No complaints whatsoever!

[jgrabuskie]

My DS20 used Saxon at the charter school in 6-8 grade and did fairly well. I decided to switch DS8 to Saxon for grade 3. He tested into 5/4 but after a few days, I thought Intermediate 3 was a better fit. DS8 has dysgraphia. Getting away from conceptual math made all the difference. Math is not his favorite subject but I can see improvement already and I am not fighting teaching him to add 6 different ways to only be tested on the "old fashioned" way to add.

 

I have read Saxon's reasoning for creating this math program. We use the whole program. No skipping, etc. Yes, it can be time-consuming but I found with DS8, it was time-consuming because he did not know his math facts by wrote. Over the past week we worked on this and now math is going faster. I feel like his confidence is boosted also because the lessons are short and concise. The spiral review may seem like a pain in the rear but the practice really cements the lessons in the head. With DS8's other math program I spent 1-2 days reviewing for the chapter test, not with Saxon, he reviews all the time. Which in reality, if you peruse any method on how to learn study skills it's better to review each day. Saxon teaches this way.

[SparklyUnicorn]

We used Saxon for Algebra 2 and Advanced Mathematics after finishing Singapore/Discovering Mathematics.  We really liked it (although not quite as much as we liked Singapore).  It is no-nonsense and very thorough.  No complaints whatsoever!

 

Yes we loved Singapore.  Wish we had liked DM as much, but we didn't. 

[Tiramisu]

My DS20 used Saxon at the charter school in 6-8 grade and did fairly well. I decided to switch DS8 to Saxon for grade 3. He tested into 5/4 but after a few days, I thought Intermediate 3 was a better fit. DS8 has dysgraphia. Getting away from conceptual math made all the difference. Math is not his favorite subject but I can see improvement already and I am not fighting teaching him to add 6 different ways to only be tested on the "old fashioned" way to add.

 

I have read Saxon's reasoning for creating this math program. We use the whole program. No skipping, etc. Yes, it can be time-consuming but I found with DS8, it was time-consuming because he did not know his math facts by wrote. Over the past week we worked on this and now math is going faster. I feel like his confidence is boosted also because the lessons are short and concise. The spiral review may seem like a pain in the rear but the practice really cements the lessons in the head. With DS8's other math program I spent 1-2 days reviewing for the chapter test, not with Saxon, he reviews all the time. Which in reality, if you peruse any method on how to learn study skills it's better to review each day. Saxon teaches this way.

I have a DD with writing issues and I'm curious if you us the adaptations workbook? I was very tempted to switch to Saxon from Singapore, but. if I made the switch I'd be tempted to use the Intermediate series or Course 1,2, 3 so I could use the workbooks. Of course, I have 65 through 87 already on my shelf. 😕

 

We stuck with Singapore but DD placed into Saxon 76 after finishing 4B, but I think she could not have handled the number of problems at that level.

[Tiramisu]

Here's our little Saxon success story. CLE takes part of the credit.

 

Dd14 had become a C math student in middle school. She decided to hs 8th grade and we used CLE and then the first third of Saxon algebra. After that DD, who always got average scores in the math section of standardized tests, got a 98th percentile math score in June. She's back to school this year and just got her first math test back and she got a perfect score! If you knew this kid you would understand the TRANSFORMING POWER of CLE AND Saxon. 😀

[IfIOnly]

I just have my kids write in the book. They do all the problems and it doesn't take any longer than any other curricula we've used when writing in to homeschool paperback textbook.

[Guest]

I just have my kids write in the book. They do all the problems and it doesn't take any longer than any other curricula we've used when writing in to homeschool paperback textbook.

The only reason I wouldn't do that is how much work needs to be shown in some lessons, even in the low levels. Scanning or photocopying would work but it also wouldn't make more room if it was needed, through.

 

Well, that and we reuse the same hard copy that made it though daddy, uncle and aunt ;)

Edited September 26, 2016 by Arctic Mama

[KarenNC]

I have a DD with writing issues and I'm curious if you us the adaptations workbook? I was very tempted to switch to Saxon from Singapore, but. if I made the switch I'd be tempted to use the Intermediate series or Course 1,2, 3 so I could use the workbooks. Of course, I have 65 through 87 already on my shelf. 😕

 

We stuck with Singapore but DD placed into Saxon 76 after finishing 4B, but I think she could not have handled the number of problems at that level.

 

Check out the free online ayop courses at VHG I linked above. The problem sets and tests are online, which might help with the writing issue.

[IfIOnly]

The only reason I wouldn't do that is how much work needs to be shown in some lessons, even in the low levels. Scanning or photocopying would work but it also wouldn't make more room if it was needed, through.

 

Well, that and we reuse the same hard copy that made it though daddy, uncle and aunt ;)

The homeschool version had 2 inch wide margins, and we use mechanical pencils and extra paper when necessary. :P

[Guest]

Oh, Gotcha. I assumed the margin was the same as the original few editions, which wouldn't be enough for most monetary computations or long division :)

[Guest]

We've used Saxon with five children, from Math 1 through Calculus. One of my homeschool graduates is currently an engineering technology major (junior in college). I was a math major myself (B.S.). I don't understand the bad reputation Saxon receives on this forum. It is a very solid program when used as intended.

[Sahamamama]

I don't want to hijack this thread, but since Saxon-lovers are here already.... :blushing:

 

If you wanted to (perhaps) transition from CLE Math (which we very much like) to Saxon (which we tried once in 3rd grade and didn't like -- we used Intermediate 3), when would you make that switch? My oldest daughter (6th grade this year, in CLE 600 series) would like to accelerate the CLE pace this year, so that by the end of 6th grade, she will have finished 705. Then, next year for 7th grade, the plan was to do the rest of the 700s and all of the 800s (except 701 and 801). She's nearly done with 603 now, and it's the end of September.

 

If you've used CLE and/or Saxon, when do you think would be a good time to move to Saxon? I ask this because Saxon seems to have more "helps" than CLE in the upper levels. For example, there are DIVE CD-ROMs and also online courses (I think) using Saxon, whereas with CLE, it's the student, the text, and the teacher. So if we don't understand it, there is not really a back up with CLE. And Saxon seems to go farther in Math than CLE at this point (from what I understand).

 

FWIW, my daughters (all three) really like the no-nonsense, get it done, incremental, built-in-review approach of CLE Math. If Saxon is similar, it may be a good fit, but I'm still a little gun-shy.  :001_unsure:

Edited September 27, 2016 by Sahamamama

[jgrabuskie]

Yes, with DS8 Dysgraphia issues I use the modified workbook. On some the questions in Intermediate 3, I will write/draw the diagram, but I also show him how I do it. This always happens at the first of the school year then by the end of the school year his confidence has grown and he is doing it himself.

 

Example 1: Jasmine is 7th in line. Darren is 3rd in line. How many people are between Jasmine and Darren?

 

I will draw with X's the people in line:   X X X X X X X X X X X     (i used 10 x's, DS will have to make the 3rd and 7th and do the math)--for some reason Mom doing the x's alleviates his anxiety over having to draw the problem out.

 

Example 2: The short hand of a clock points between the 10 and the 11. The long hand points at the 5. It is daylight outside. Write the time in digital form.

 

I will give DS our practice clock and he can manipulate the hands, then he writes the answer on the sheet.

 

Example 3: The temperature outside is 32 degrees F. Dave said that it is a hot day. Do you agree? Why or why not?

 

DS likes to do these orally and I act as scribe. However, I do make him do a complete answer, i.e., The temperature is 32 degrees F is it a hot or cold day? At 32 degrees F, water freezes. So it is not a hot day.

[FriedClams]

We have used and loved Saxon for years. We start in algebra 1/2. I have one working through the second half of advanced math this year. I'm very pleased.

[Tiramisu]

I don't want to hijack this thread, but since Saxon-lovers are here already.... :blushing:

 

If you wanted to (perhaps) transition from CLE Math (which we very much like) to Saxon (which we tried once in 3rd grade and didn't like -- we used Intermediate 3), when would you make that switch? My oldest daughter (6th grade this year, in CLE 600 series) would like to accelerate the CLE pace this year, so that by the end of 6th grade, she will have finished 705. Then, next year for 7th grade, the plan was to do the rest of the 700s and all of the 800s (except 701 and 801). She's nearly done with 603 now, and it's the end of September.

 

If you've used CLE and/or Saxon, when do you think would be a good time to move to Saxon? I ask this because Saxon seems to have more "helps" than CLE in the upper levels. For example, there are DIVE CD-ROMs and also online courses (I think) using Saxon, whereas with CLE, it's the student, the text, and the teacher. So if we don't understand it, there is not really a back up with CLE. And Saxon seems to go farther in Math than CLE at this point (from what I understand).

 

FWIW, my daughters (all three) really like the no-nonsense, get it done, incremental, built-in-review approach of CLE Math. If Saxon is similar, it may be a good fit, but I'm still a little gun-shy. :001_unsure:

With two kids I have successfully moved from CLE 805 to Saxon Algebra 1.

 

By 805, I hit a point that I just felt ready to move on. Even though I had always appreciated the constant review, a feeling of redundancy creeped up at that level.

 

My last one is using Singapore, if this year goes well, I will probably do level 6 of Singapore and then possibly the newer Saxon 87, since I have it on my shelf, and as long as she can manage the writing. The benefit of that over CLE is a more focused single year of pre-algebra. I think one could easily go to the newer Saxon 87 with pre-algebra after CLE 600.

 

I really love CLE and appreciate the workbook, especially for kids with writing difficulties, but the 700 and 800 level just drag on. I love the integrated consumer math aspect, too, but the problem is that I haven't seen retention of it to convince me it's worth it.

 

A benefit of CLE is that there's less explanation than Saxon for a kid who gets really frustrated with long explanations. With a kid like that, I might stick with CLE longer since the explanations are just more succinct.

 

I love the idea of the Saxon middle grades Course 1, 2, and 3 with the special workbooks, but I wonder if I'd get the same dragged out feeling. And then there's the problem of not getting to algebra one in eighth. The only reason I worry about that is because I'm not convinced my youngest will get a really great algebra teacher if she takes it at the brick and mortar high school in ninth grade, and a solid algebra one foundation is really important to me. I'm also pretty confident this girl will be ready for algebra then.