Kirsten in MO Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 I have never use Saxon before but am considering it for my son who will be a 7th grader next year. We have used Horizons math for the last 4 years and he has done well with it. I used the Saxon placement test and he got enough correct to place into Algebra 1/2. Should I start there, or should I have him do the 87 since we have never used Saxon before? If I go with the Saxon I will buy the DIVE cd for him to watch as well. How different is the 87 from the Algebra1/2? Thanks! Kirsten Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedHen6 Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 If you are using an older version of Saxon, the recommendation is to skip 8/7 and do Algebra 1/2. The current version recommendation is to do 8/7 and skip 1/2, moving straight to Algebra 1 in the 8th grade. In either case, doing both 8/7 and Algebra 1/2 is only recommended if your child needs the extra practice. If it were me (and it almost was, except I decided not to do Saxon after all), I would go the cheaper route and use an older version of Algebra 1/2 rather than paying the higher price for the latest version of 8/7. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 If you are using an older version of Saxon, the recommendation is to skip 8/7 and do Algebra 1/2. The current version recommendation is to do 8/7 and skip 1/2, moving straight to Algebra 1 in the 8th grade. In either case, doing both 8/7 and Algebra 1/2 is only recommended if your child needs the extra practice. If it were me (and it almost was, except I decided not to do Saxon after all), I would go the cheaper route and use an older version of Algebra 1/2 rather than paying the higher price for the latest version of 8/7. Good luck! The earlier edition of Alg. ½ was *tough*! I wouldn't recommend doing an older edition for a first-time Saxon math user. The actual recommendation was that a student who zoomed through Math 76 would go to Alg. ½, then Alg. 1; if he struggled, then he'd do Math 87, then Alg. 1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirsten in MO Posted June 10, 2009 Author Share Posted June 10, 2009 Okay, I think I see what you guys are talking about. I have heard that some people skip 8/7, but I wondered why. From what you both said, it sounds like maybe the 87 eases the child along a little slower, but either text will bring you to the point that the child should be ready for Algebra I by the time they are finished with either 8/7 or algebra1/2. Did I get that right, or am I off base? :001_huh: Thanks! Kirsten Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Debbie in IL Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 Yup, that sounds right. Dd did 7/6 then jumped to Alg 1/2, skipping 8/7. I really, really regret making that decision. We ended up slowing WAY down to make sure she mastered the material in 1/2. With ds, he finished 7/6 this year and will do 8/7 even though he is a stronger math student than his sister. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babysparkler Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 (edited) Okay, I think I see what you guys are talking about. I have heard that some people skip 8/7, but I wondered why. From what you both said, it sounds like maybe the 87 eases the child along a little slower, but either text will bring you to the point that the child should be ready for Algebra I by the time they are finished with either 8/7 or algebra1/2. Did I get that right, or am I off base? :001_huh: Thanks! Kirsten Yes, that is correct. 8/7 gives a very thorough review of elementary math with pre-algebra mixed in. We decided to skip 8/7 this upcoming year b/c our son has been doing Saxon for a few years and has mastered all of the skills and concepts in 8/7 and is ready to dig into prealgebra (wish I would have previewed the book before we purchased the set... I have it for sale in the swap & sale section if you are interested). I would think that being new to the program it would be better to do 8/7 so that you can, as you said, "ease into" it. 8/7 looks like a very comprehensive book that will give your child a great start into Saxon. Edited June 10, 2009 by babysparkler Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingersmom Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 I am on my 3rd year of Saxon Math with my 9 year old and my 7th/8th grader just began Saxon Math 76. After using it for one year, you will get a feel for the program and it will move much quicker. That being said I would start out at a lower level and take it at a slower pace. It is a not a race to the finish kind of math program. It is extremely thorough. I received a dive cd with my most recent order and I thought it was awful. Saxon math is only sale (I think till the end of the month) at http://www.rainbowresource.com. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirsten in MO Posted June 11, 2009 Author Share Posted June 11, 2009 Sounds like I may have to think about this a bit. I HATE picking the wrong math curriculum (been there, done that) and I REALLy hate it when I pick something too advanced and then have to stop and go back... Thanks for all the advice! Gives me some things to think about. Kirsten Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cabertmom Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 We're in the same situation in that we are finishing up Horizons and figuring out where to go next. I actually have a daughter who will be in 9th grade and a son going into 7th, and they are both finishing up the 6th grade Horizons. Just this afternoon, I had a long discussion with my mother-in-law, who taught math at community colleges for many years. She was confident that Horizon 6-2 covered pretty much all of arithmetic and that it should be possible to go straight to algebra after that. Since my daughter is so far behind in math (due to a year in school in which she learned nothing as well as some switching of curricula when she was much younger and I was not very confident in homeschooling), I'm very relieved by this. We've been going back and forth between Saxon Algebra I and Jacobs' Elementary Algebra and tend to be leaning toward Jacobs. If anyone has gone from Horizons 6-2 straight to any algebra program, it would be great to hear about successes and difficulties. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InHisGrip Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 Hi, Cabertmom - I just wanted to say that it might help you to start a new thread with a clear subject title of what you're looking for (Where to go after Horizons 6-2? - something like that); you will probably get a lot more responses that way. Hope you find some help - I'd help you, but I have no idea! :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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