Why are the older editions "better"?

We switched to Saxon this year from Horizons. We finished up Horizons 4 last school year and went into Saxon 6/5 even though my son tested into 7/6 with the placement test. I felt he would need a little easier of a level because of the transition. Boy, was I right! It has not gone smoothly and that is putting it mildly. This is a child who previously never missed more than one problem on a worksheet with Horizons and that was even the rare occasion. He is doing just awful with Saxon! This is the second lesson he has gotten a D- on and I am just so unsettled by it. He knows what he is doing and how to do the problems because when I sit with him and have him do the problems he missed again, he does them perfectly on his own the first time. I don't know what is going on. I've thought of going back to Horizons, but then I wonder if that is the wisest decision we could make for him? I don't know if it is even Saxon that is the problem... maybe it's age... or ... ugh, I just don't know. Does anyone have any help for me? Tips? Advice? Anything? He is s bright kiddo and has always done well with all his school work. It is so disheartening to see him getting these kind of scores on his work. Help! Please!!!!

Trail blazer series.

We did Adventures with a 2nd & K'er. Worked great! Five in a row is also great!

I have both of some of the levels. When I checked through them the only thing that was different was the spelling and grammar corrections made to them.

I must admit that the thought of going back to Horizons brings a feeling of peace to me. I know the program and how to teach it (besides those small bumps in the road), he liked it and did well with it, and I know it is a good solid math program. Does it stay in the form of a workbook the entire way through? How does that affect them later?

Just went over and read your post. Sorry you are dealing with math woes too. It's SOOO frustrating. Today I sat with him for the entire lesson and even went over a lesson from a few days ago that he obviously didn't get. It went better, but he kept yawning and losing focus the entire time. Is that an age thing with boys? I don't think it's just the level of math (grade 4 math) because he did grade 4 horizons last year and did great with it and he's working on Saxon 6/5 even though he tested into 7/6 so I don't think the work is too hard for him. I think it really is just the difference in the two math programs and the style of teaching... with a TON of 9/10yr old boy stuff thrown in. I just need to decide if we should keep drudging along with Saxon or go back to Horizons.

We switched our 4th grader from Horizons math to Saxon this year and it has been a nightmare. He completed Horizons 4 last school year and has been using it from the beginning. He did great with this program always scoring 100% on his tests. The problem was with me. I didn't feel that Horizons gave me enough instruction when I was unsure how to explain a topic and would have to search online or ask a mathier person to help me with explaining. So, we switched. I had him take the placement test for Saxon and he scored in the 7/6 level. After looking through 6/5 that a friend loaned us, I felt that it would be better to start there to make the transition easier. So we took the plunge. Dreadful! That is the perfect word for how math has been going for us. We are on lesson 18 and it just isn't working. It is taking him forever to do math, problems that he knows how to do are now confusing him (either because they are explained differently or because the formula they give confuses him... and me), and he just got a D on the last test. I just don't know if I should stick it out and maybe sit with him through the entire lesson or throw in the towel and go back to Horizons. Is it because Horizons wasn't really teaching him??? Or is it just that Saxon seems to teach more rote memorization and the memorizing of the formulas is confusing him? What do I do... need some guidance please.

Bumping because I have the same question and would like more answers. :) We just switched from Horizons math (completed through grade 4) to Saxon 6/5 even though my son placed in 7/6 according to Saxon's placement test. The switch has been hard. Not because he doesn't know the material, the problems are actually pretty easy for him. It's mostly just learning a new program. He really dislikes the DIVE cd's (says they are too boring), we aren't liking having to drag around that HUGE textbook, and he seems to get confused as to what they are asking for in a problem. The switch was because I needed something written to him and giving him more instruction to free me up some to be with my little ones. I know there is an adjustment period with switching... but I would hate to keep going with it if it's going to keep being a burden. Should we look at CLE? Opinions please...

Are you referring to the sheets in the back of the worksheet packet? They look just like graph paper, but broken up into rectangles?

What type of paper is best to use with Saxon math? Graph paper or lined writing paper?

We've been using AOP's Horizons math since the beginning and my son is just completing grade 4. It has worked just alright for us and seems to be getting more and more cumbersome with each grade. Needing more teacher guidance seems to be the main issue. With the two little ones under foot and my son's growing need for independence I was thinking something with more computer instruction would be nice. He does well with math and as long as there is ample instruction seems to pick it up rather easily. I want him to enjoy math more without it being too easy. You know, that perfect balance of challenge that doesn't frustrate. This is my fear of TT. I have heard rumor that it is way too easy and that you have to place a grade or two grades ahead, even then still missing concepts. Anything you can tell me about either program would be much appreciated.

We are doing Prima Latina this year with a 9 and 7 year old. It is too fast for our 7yr old and perfect for our 9 year old. My 9yr old is a bright kiddo, but I am glad we've started with Prima. We aren't very far into it though and he will be 10 in a few months. I plan on keeping going with him through the summer and letting my younger mature a bit more before going on.

Many of the books from SL would make good DITHOR or storytim books for HOD. In fact HOD suggests many of the same books in their book lists. I don't think I would get both programs and combine though. That seems like it would be WAY too much. I would maybe just do HOD and add in titles from core D (not get the whole package). We are doing Bigger this year and have read some of the books from core D... can't remember off the top of my head and I can't get the SL page to come up on my computer right now.

I had thought of doing this when I was planning on doing CtG. I think it would work well if you didn't try to do ALL the activities in both programs. Pick and choose what you want and what fits your family. I think if I did end up doing this, I would do the audio and the activity guide. However, I would NOT plan on doing all of the activities in both.

I tried to comment on your blog, but it wouldn't let me. I just wanted to say that I think we have all been there at one time or another and it is a true blessing that your husband was there to point it out to you. My oldest had a major mind block with subtraction for the longest time. I thought he would never get it. Hang in there, it will click eventually.

Week 28 with Bigger Hearts for His Glory. Heart of Dakota (HOD). http://joyful-homeschooler.blogspot.com/2013/05/week-28-wright-brothers.html

We use dry erase markers right on the table. We don't have room in the dining room for hanging one either so this has worked very well for us. It has left no marks on our table either. Comes right off.

I bet he would LOVE being able to mark in the book, since that is a "no-no" around here. :) I do have three more children coming along after him though... hmm the student book is pretty inexpensive though. I am seeing big smiles from him in my mind if I tell him he can use colored pencils in the book!

Wow! That is a huge help! I suppose the terminology is why sticking with one curriculum is ideal. We might just stay with R&S then. He learns well with it, just doesn't like it as much. He likes worksheets and the more colorful the better. :/ Thanks so much for your help! Do you have a preference out of the two programs being as you have used both?

I was hoping to go from R&S 4th this year (just finishing up) to BJU5, then back to R&S at grade 6 the following year. So that would be great if you could compare BJU5 to R&S5 for me! Such a help!!!

We are using R&S4 this year for english. My son previously used BJU3 and he wants to use it ( BJU5) for next year. I am obviously the one to make the final decision, but I like to take my kids preferences into consideration. So my question is if we go with BJU 5 and end up wanting to go back to R&S the following year will we be able to jump back in at grade level with it?

Can anyone tell me what the difference is between this TM and the one offered by BJU? I'm specifically looking at grade 5.

We chose to wait, because after looking through CtG I thought my 2nd grader was too young for most of it. I was going to pick it back up for 4th and 3rd, but now our path has changed. :) We did ECC for 1st and 3rd and it was a fun year, but my then 1st grader, doesn't remember much of it.

I haven't used CtC, but when we switched from MFW to HOD I had to drop PLL for R&S because it was too much overlap. There is already poetry, dictation, narration, etc. in the HOD guide so for us doing PLL was overkill. We switched to R&S. Does that answer part of your question?