I used Saxon through Advanced Math with my older 3 children, but knew it would not be a good fit for my youngest son, a late reader with dysgraphic weaknesses. I posted on the old board for insight, and got some great suggestions from LoriM.
Here's what we did:
1. TT Algebra 1+2 in 8th and 9th
2. MEP Math for Geometry supplemented with Aleks over two summers
3. MUS Precalc in 10th supplemented with Aleks (TT Precalc wasn't available in complete form when ds was in 10th
.
4. This year (11th) precalc divided over two semesters at community college, both semester courses using the Hornsby Lial text, Precalc a Unit Circle Approach.
Results and Plans
1. Tested into calculus after completing MUS precalc. I talked to one staff member and 2 profs about the Compass scores and they all said to go straight to calc as they considered the scores very high.
2. I chose to do the year long cc precalc to make sure all was solid, especially wanting ds to experience the heavy use of the graphing calculator and to ramp up to doing an increased number of problems daily before calculus. My decision was sealed when LoriM had posted sometime last year that her daughter did cc precalc even though she had an excellent high school prep through calculus. Ds received an A last semester in College Algebra with Limits. His prof told him he was an excellent student and was either 1st or 2nd in rank in the class.
3. This semester ds is continuing through the Hornsby/Lial text via the five credit course, Trig and Analytical Geometry. Ds just completed the first exam and got an A.
4. Next year, as homeschool senior, ds plans to take Calc 1 and 2 at cc.
His current plan is to major in finance, possibly with a math minor. He is also considering computer science. We will be looking at texts when he moves to a four year college for his freshman year. I've considered having him start the calc sequence with Calc II, as a freshman to make sure he is solid before going into Calc III.
5. For our situation, the "math lite" sequence with about 60 hours of Aleks supplementation has worked out well. We had for more math discussion since we weren’t doing as many extensive math calculations. And now ds can get used to doing those pages of calculations while feeling confident of his mathematical ability.
Although most on this board will benefit from one of the more rigorous college prep math programs, I wanted to share my experience in case there are others who need to choose a less rigorous route to better fit thier children's unique needs.
Jolene