stupidusername
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Posts posted by stupidusername
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I'd probably try out kindergarten for a month or two and see how it goes. Worst case, she doesn't make any friends and the academics are a joke. In that case, you simply pull her out of school and homeschool. She is no worse off for the experience.
When she is a bit older, I suggest she join a team (gymnastics, soccer, swim) or a good dance company. This would give her a great opportunity to make friends outside of school, allowing you to opt out of the public school should you wish to do so.
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Forgot to mention that I have been using an App called Anki for continual review of roots and words.
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we've used it for about a month; so far so good. We do not have the Teacher's Manuals, though I probably should get them. I am not always able to figure out the answers on my own.
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In Colorado, we are required to take a standardized test every other year. This year, my 10-year old son scored 9.1 on the 5th grade ITBS math, meaning he is performing at the same level as the average 9th grader.
Here's the catch: This put him in the 95th percentile. Is it really the case that 5 percent of 5th graders are performing more than four grade levels ahead in math? Something doesn't add up.
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we mainly use Saxon, but we are supplementing with AoPS.
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Does he complain?
No.
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my son doesn't read for pleasure. I require him to read science, history, and fiction as part of his home school day. He doesn't like it, but he does it. His reading comprehension is excellent, thank goodness.
It isn't optimal but it's not the end of the world.
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My 10-year old spends about 20 hours per week on academics plus another 10 hours or so per week on music.
He loves music and doesn't want to cut back.
Just curious if others think this seems like too much, too little, or about right.
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Saxon Algebra I (7th grade)
Jacob's Geometry (8th grade)
Saxon Algebra II (9th grade)
Saxon Advanced Mathematics (10 & 11 grade)
Saxon Calculus (12th grade)
I am intrigued by the idea. I have heard great things about Jacobs' Geometry.
Am unsure, however, whether it makes sense to tackle Jacobs before Algebra II or after.
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However, I think Hunter does have valid points about the books changing to keep up with ever widening standards. So Hunter's advice about Alg 1/2 instead of Course 3 does have merit.
The problem is that Algebra 1/2 is very similar in content and difficulty level to 8/7. (My daughter did both.) From what I have seen (and admittedly I have just flipped through the book), Course 3 seems like a step up from 8/7. As such, it is perhaps a better bridge to Algebra 1.
That is what Stephen Hake seems to believe (thank you for posting your interview!), and I trust his judgment.
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OK, Saxon peeps, question for you all: My daughter is fairly strong in math and just finishing up 7/6 (almost entirely 90-100s); we do every problem, as directed, from warm-ups to mental math to all the problems. My plan is to have her complete 8/7 next year and then move into Algebra I in 8th grade. Art Reed recommends Algebra 1/2 following 8/7, I think, but my God, I think she would be bored to death! Can I just pop into Algebra I after 8/7, without doing Course 3 or Algebra 1/2?
There are many roads to Dublin.
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This is what I was planning, minus the Course 3.
Just curious: What is in Course 3? Is it similar to the old Algebra 1/2?
We haven't started it yet, but I have flipped through it. It appears to be a beefed-up, rigorous version of the old Algebra 1/2 book.
Stephen Hake has recommended that students go from 8/7 to Course 3 to old Algebra 1; we are following his recommendation. It will mean lots and lots of pre-Algebra, which is fine with me. We are in no rush.
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Sorry for any confusion.
Here are the old Algebra 1 and Algebra 2 books, which are excellent:
http://www.amazon.com/Algebra-Incremental-Development-Edition-Saxon/dp/1565771346
Here are the new Houghton-Mifflin Algebra 1 and Algebra 2 books, which are a nightmare:
Keep in mind that John Saxon died 20 years ago. Houghton-Mifflin bought his company and published these horrible books under Saxon's name. Yes, he is rolling over in his grave. Anyway, stick with the old Algebra books and you will be just fine.
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Saxon fan here too!
Can you speak to the differences between Saxon integrated math for high school, and the books Saxon has for high school that treat Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II separately? If we don't plan on going back to public school for high school. I would like to use Saxon integrated math, but I have heard so many bad things about integrated math. Do you have experience with integrated math at the high school level? Why the bad rap about integrated math? I searched the high school boards and came up with very little info that I needed.
The old sequence worked very well:
Saxon 5/4, Saxon 6/5, Saxon 7/6, Saxon 8/7 Algebra 1/2, old Algebra 1, old Algebra 2, Advanced Mathematics, Calculus.
The new sequence goes something like this:
Course 1 (excellent), Course 2 (excellent), Course 3 (excellent), new Algebra 1 (disaster), new Algebra 2 (total disaster), Geometry (not familiar with this one, but it's probably a disaster) ... and then nothing after that.
My son will be using the following sequence:
Saxon 7/6, Saxon 8/7, Course 3, old Algebra 1, old Algebra 2, Advanced Mathematics, Calculus.
The new Algebra books are a mess. They introduce too many topics in too little time and there is not enough review. Many of the questions are incredibly confusing and the answer key is frequently wrong.(In fairness, the old Algebra 2 book has a lot of errors in the answer key, too.)
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I have heard many great things about Saxon. HOWEVER- are all of these great things on older edition SM books? Or can I just go to the SM site now and order the same book that y'all rave about? What is the recommendation?
Regarding the new books (published by Houghton-Mifflin): Course 1, Course 2, and Course 3 are excellent. The new Algebra books, however, are a disaster. Definitely stick with the older ones.
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I like Saxon a lot.
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AP Calculus BC in 11th grade and AP Statistics in 12th.
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Get him a new one, and a case. Tell him not to read while charging. That's it. Be glad he loves books.
This.
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She is a serious ballet student, if she stays on track her future means going away to a pre-professional ballet school, where she would have to finish her schooling online.
Just curious: What percent of pre-professional ballet school grads are able to find work as professional ballet dancers?
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The "Teacher Supported" class costs $650. Has anyone done this? Is it worth it?
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You say he did great in Saxon 8/7 and well in Algebra 1/2. He did every lesson and didn't skip problems. If that's all true, he shouldn't be struggling in Algebra 1. Something doesn't add up.
Important question: Which edition of Algebra 1 are you using? If it "classic" Saxon (one of the books written by John Saxon)? Or is it Houghton-Mifflin "Saxon"? If the latter, throw your book in the trash and find an old classic version. The Houghton-Mifflin version is crap.
If you have been using classic Saxon all along, I recommend you drop back 30 chapters and take it from there. If he's still having problems, go back another 30 chapters.
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My 10-year old 4th grade son has been making his way through one of the Prentice Hall Science Explorer books. He reads one section most days (about four sections per week), and outlines what he has read in a spiral notebook. When he is done, I quiz him to make sure he understood everything. We haven't been doing any of the experiments so far.
The material is dry, but that is OK. It is important for kids to learn how to read and comprehend material that is boring.
So far, we have not been reviewing old material. I think I need to start doing that to ensure retention.
Also, I have been meaning to incorporate videos into the mix. I think this, too, will help with retention. We would watch a video only after he has read the related section. This ensures that the video supplements the book rather than the other way around.
So I'll start both of those things -- review and videos -- next week.
If anyone has other suggestions, please let me know.
One question: Do I need to purchase supplementary materials such as the teacher's edition? These can be rather expensive. This one costs $130 used: http://www.amazon.com/Teachers-Edition-Explorer-Prentice-Physical/dp/0132012537/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1399133078&sr=8-2&keywords=prentice+hall+science+explorer+teacher%27s+edition
Since we are probably going be going through all 15 books during the next two years (5th and 6th grades), the total cost of buying all the teacher's editions would approach $2,000. Is it worth it? What exactly is in the teacher's editions that isn't in the student editions?
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Gary Paulsen, "Hatchet"
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Suzanne, if you decide to stick with Saxon there is another option. I have spoken with the author Stephen Hake and his preference for homeschoolers is to try to do the Course 3 book between 8/7 and Algebra 1. My son is in the middle of 8/7 and is doing fine but I will require him to do the Course 3 book as per Mr. Hake's suggestion before hitting Algebra 1. He is just turned 12 and I agree with Mr. Hake that it is important to build that foundation strong and deep before going to Algebra and beyond. Here is an email interview I did with him where he mentions Course 3.
http://homeschoolingodyssey.wordpress.com/2014/02/27/saxon-math-author-stephen-hake-part-2/
You can do the 8/7 again, or even the Alg 1/2. but I think Course 3 is better than those options if you can find it. It is not sold as an official homeschool product but only to schools as an 8th grade book. I was able to purchase the student book, and solutions manual through an Amazon.com reseller. It is definitely a great bridge between 8/7 and Algebra 1.
Good luck with whatever you choose!
Scott
My son is in Saxon 8/7 now and we're planning to do the Course 3 book next, just as you suggest above. We are also spending about 15 minutes a day on AoPS pre-Algebra.
Help with ITBS results interpretation
in K-8 Curriculum Board
Posted
Here are my 10-year old son's scores on the 5th grade ITBS test (taken April 2014):
SS GE NS PNPR NPR
Reading 236 7.6 7 90 77
Language 293 13+ 9 90 99
Math 253 9.1 8 92 92
Survey Total 261 10.0 8 92 95
Notes:
1) He took the 5th grade test even though he is a 4th grader. Long story.
2) I see that he has a NPR in math of 92, not 95 as I stated in another thread. My bad.
3) I have doubts about some of the NPR numbers. The reading number, for example, seems way too low.