River notes Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Currently my ds is doing Saxon prealgebra and like it. I am now trying to decide if we should switch from saxon to chalk dust algebra. He recently told me he really like geometry and he would like to take a geometry course, which made me think of Jacobs geometry. I know Saxon includes geometry but he wants a hands on course for that specific class, he is good at building,just a natural when it comes to th subject. This is what my ds needs in his algebra program which is does not come natural: For it to be broke down in steps Repetition Practice at word problems He can be independent but likes instruction He can learn in units or increments From your experiences with the programs which looks like a better fit. I could really use the advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teachin'Mine Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 I'm not familiar with CD, but we have used Saxon from 6/5 through calculus. We did use a separate geometry text after algebra 1 because I was trying to slow things down and thought a formal geometry class would be good. We used this text http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_12?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=geometry+jurgensen&sprefix=geometry+jur%2Caps%2C185 I've since learned that it's the same one used by Duke TIP and I can understand why. It's very thorough and provides lots of challenging problems. The problems are divided into three sections a, b and c with a being very easy and c being very challenging. I was pleased with the content, but the solutions manual is little more than an answer key. Proofs are difficult to correct as there are usually several ways something can be proven and there's only one way given in the manual. But the course was excellent for learning formal geometry. Not sure if any of this is helpful. :tongue_smilie: My dd loves Saxon's way of teaching and the variety in the problems worked each day and has done very well. It sounds like your son likes their texts, so I'm not sure why you'd want to change. Personally, I would do Saxon Algebra 1 next and then if I wanted to try CD, I would use their geometry text. After that I'd have had experience with both programs and could choose which to use next for algebra 2. Good luck with whatever you decide. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammyla Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Saxon has a separate Geometry course now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
River notes Posted February 24, 2012 Author Share Posted February 24, 2012 It sounds like your son likes their texts, so I'm not sure why you'd want to change. :) I was trying to avoid for him to do the double geometry since the saxon alg1 and saxon alg 2 course include geometry. Then he would be left with half of advance mathematics to just cover the geometry credit or just complete the whole course to get the half of trig credit. Ds wanted a separate hands on geometry course though, well it made it an issue. I do see what your saying. thanks for the input, I am still thinking.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teachin'Mine Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 When you mention a "hands on" geometry course, what do you mean? The geometry text we had used was anything but hands on. It had perimeter, area, volume, angles, etc., but the majority of it was formal proofs. My dd didn't mind doing geometry "again" in algebra 2 and Advanced Math as it was good review and the proofs were much easier than what she had already done. Advanced Math is trigonometry and pre-calculus. The geometry is spread throughout Saxon's Algebra 1, Algebra 2 and the first half of Advanced Math. Many schools give a full credit for the first half of Advanced Math and a full credit is earned for geometry at that time as well. So, doing alg 1, alg 2 and 1st half of AM gives four math credits. The 2nd half of AM needs to be done to consider it pre-calculus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Testimony Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 I have a friend who teaches Saxon Algebra 2 in a co-op and has graduate 2 children using Saxon. She said that if you do Saxon Algebra 1 and 2 plus the Advance Math, you will have a complete geometry course. Saxon does have a seperate Geometry course for those who want it all in one book, but you can do it by following that plan. Just a thought! Blessings, Karen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
River notes Posted February 24, 2012 Author Share Posted February 24, 2012 When you mention a "hands on" geometry course' date=' what do you mean? Advanced Math is trigonometry and pre-calculus. The geometry is spread throughout Saxon's Algebra 1, Algebra 2 and the first half of Advanced Math. Many schools give a full credit for the first half of Advanced Math and a full credit is earned for geometry at that time as well. So, doing alg 1, alg 2 and 1st half of AM gives four math credits. The 2nd half of AM needs to be done to consider it pre-calculus.[/quote'] We were at coop a 2 years ago and my ds met a boy that was doing jacob's math. He told him it wa really hands on. He told my ds he had activities that had him draw alot, plus there were activities to build actual items. Now that I am talking about I wonder if his mom just added these activities in. My ds was on the pursuit of wanting to do the same type of geometry class. I am starting to lean on the " why fix if it is not broken.. " frame of thought. On that note, thanks for correcting me I don't know why I thought they would get a credit in trig if they finish Advance mathematics ( your right it is precalc) Thanks for letting me think out loud... i am a pre- planner. I need to see the 4 year out look. I don't mind tweaking and changing things to what ds needs, but I need a plan. I am just trying to make the right choices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teachin'Mine Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 We were at coop a 2 years ago and my ds met a boy that was doing jacob's math. He told him it wa really hands on. He told my ds he had activities that had him draw alot, plus there were activities to build actual items. Now that I am talking about I wonder if his mom just added these activities in. My ds was on the pursuit of wanting to do the same type of geometry class. I am starting to lean on the " why fix if it is not broken.. " frame of thought. On that note, thanks for correcting me I don't know why I thought they would get a credit in trig if they finish Advance mathematics ( your right it is precalc) Thanks for letting me think out loud... i am a pre- planner. I need to see the 4 year out look. I don't mind tweaking and changing things to what ds needs, but I need a plan. I am just trying to make the right choices. There's nothing wrong with adding in a hands on geometry class. If you ask specifically about Jacob's geometry, you should get some good information. I'm just not familiar with it. Hands on sounds great - I wasn't aware of a text like that. :) I remember doing some building of cubes and different things in the investigations in the pre-algebra and earlier texts, but they don't do investigations in the high school levels. Since your son enjoys that, I'd definitely add it in - whether doing a full year of another text, or supplementing with one as you go. You're not wrong about getting a credit in trigonometry for the first half of Advanced Math. The second half of the book completes pre-calculus. Planning is a part of the fun! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trilliums Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Would he like something like Patty Paper Geometry for the hands on component? http://www.keypress.com/x5837.xml DS did Saxon pre-alg and algebra, but switched to AoPS for Geometry. He enjoys this, but it is slow going for him. He plans to take alg. 2 at the public school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
River notes Posted February 24, 2012 Author Share Posted February 24, 2012 Would he like something like Patty Paper Geometry for the hands on component?http://www.keypress.com/x5837.xml Thanks for the link this definitely looks like something he would like. Ds is looking over my shoulder and said Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrulySusan Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 You may know this already, but Saxon has put out new books for Algebra 1 and 2. They have removed the geometry and expanded the algebra. I don't have these new books, but Cathy Duffy reviewed them recently and you can see table of contents and sample pages at christianbook.com. It has given me a lot to think about... we were previously planning to abandon Saxon before algebra but now I'm not so sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
River notes Posted February 25, 2012 Author Share Posted February 25, 2012 You may know this already, but Saxon has put out new books for Algebra 1 and 2. They have removed the geometry and expanded the algebra. I don't have these new books, but Cathy Duffy reviewed them recently and you can see table of contents and sample pages at christianbook.com. It has given me a lot to think about... we were previously planning to abandon Saxon before algebra but now I'm not so sure. http://drshormann.com/2012/02/08/differences-in-3rd-and-4th-edition-saxon-algebra-1/ I thought of jumping to the fourth edition , but I read the above blog about what is going on with the saxon curricula and I decided to stay away for fourth Ed. I also found other discussion that pulled me away from fourth. From what I gather it is not homeschool friendly, no dvd guidance and the solution manual is basically just an answer key. The more I talk, the more I am deciding to stay with Saxon and just supplement the hands on activities for the geometry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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