................... Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 My dd who will be in 3rd this year is very good at conceptualizing math and she does not need a ton of review. FOr K we used Miquon and Abeka and for 1st we used Abeka and things were rolling smoothly along until I stupidly decided to use Calvert for 2nd. We lost a TON of ground this year. Right now she knows most typical 2nd grade math concepts and her adding is fast, she can do multi-column addition with regrouping. Her subtraction is a little slower but if she is timed she churns out a whole page of mutli digit subtraction with borrowing extremely fast. She has also come up with several mental "tricks" on her own, and we own 130 board games, and she is one of the best players, though the youngest of the family, often beating our whole family in the shorter logic games, and coming in a close 2nd or 3rd in the 2 hour long resource management games. BUT she is a creative, crafty child who would rather paint pieces of bark and float them downstream while singing about rainbows and birdies...than do math. I have Saxon 3 sitting here unopened. I am a Saxon fan and I believe in it. It works, and at least it has many different problems on each page. Plus she can use her brother's old books, saving me a TON Of money. But...help me decide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
................... Posted February 26, 2012 Author Share Posted February 26, 2012 (edited) nm Edited February 26, 2012 by Calming Tea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Twain Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 I voted for Horizons just because I use it and I really like it. Horizons has colorful pages, and may be more interesting than Saxon. Horizons is my main program, and I supplement with various Singapore workbooks (CWP, Mental Math, probably going to get IP) in order to mix in some of the Asian-style math thinking and mental math. I have heard others say that they use Singapore as their main program and supplement with Horizons. BTW--if you use Horizons as your main program, defintely do the activities and drill in the TM. However, if your dd is good at math, she would probably do well with any of those programs. I have not used Saxon, but it sounds very solid for elementary years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkateLeft Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 (edited) Personally, I'd just use what you already have and save the money. If she doesn't need the copious review that Saxon provides, then just assign fewer problems and let her move more quickly. (Edited to add: All those elementary math programs pretty much end up in the same place by the time pre-algebra rolls around.) Edited February 26, 2012 by sailmom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wapiti Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 I vote SM or MM, which both involve a lot of conceptual teaching and mental math, and are organized in a mastery style, which would go along with her lack of need for review. MM is a great value. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbpaulie Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 I didn't vote, but will provide an opinion:001_smile: If you were purchasing new I think that SM would be a good fit. Sounds like my guy - can do math w/ his own tricks. Wondering if your daughter would get bored w/ all the reivew of Saxon? I know my son would. But, if I had something on hand already I'd give it a try first and see how it goes... maybe changing it a bit to fit the needs of my kid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudoMom Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 Well, all of my boys use Saxon. I like it and it works for us, and it's cost effective (I couldn't afford to buy multiple math programs). However, I would give her the placement test. We use it one level above grade level for the most part. She might be ready for 5/4. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Wife Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 I vote SM or MM, which both involve a lot of conceptual teaching and mental math, and are organized in a mastery style, which would go along with her lack of need for review. MM is a great value. :iagree::iagree::iagree: You can get the full grades MM 1-6 "blue" bundle for only $95 from Currclick and then print out only the sections she needs. It's not free, but a lot cheaper than buying year after year of Singapore, Horizons, Abeka, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mama25angels Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 Well, all of my boys use Saxon. I like it and it works for us, and it's cost effective (I couldn't afford to buy multiple math programs). However, I would give her the placement test. We use it one level above grade level for the most part. She might be ready for 5/4. :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anabelneri Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 Take a look at MEP. It's a strong program, with puzzles and interesting diversions built into it. It also won't cost you more than paper & ink to print what you need. If she hasn't done any multiplication yet, you would probably want to start at Week 19 in Year 2 (page 91) and you'll be just fine. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxbridgeacademy Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 I would go with what you have except skip the review when she doesn't need it. You can find all kinds of free printables online to challenge or tailor your review with. If you feel that Saxon is missing something or you want more in a certain area you should check out Math Mammoth Blue series. It is seperated not by grade but by subject(Light Blue is by grade). This is an affordable option that a lot of parents swear by. MM is excellent as a supplement or stand alone and it is mastery based. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cynful Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 I'd also suggest using what you have but I'd recommend supplementing with Singapore Intensive Practice. They are cheap and challenging. Good luck, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TracyR Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 We really like Christian Light Math. Its a very good math program. Its similar to Saxon but better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SebastianCat Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 I would not recommend jumping right into Horizons 3 without giving her a placement test. Horizons 2 teaches multiplication, equations, graphs, and several other topics you didn't happen to mention in your post. I've used Horizons 1-4 for my "math-y" child, and he has done very well with it. He loves the variety, color, and intensity of the work in Horizons. My "non-math-y" child is struggling some in Horizons 2 this year, and we have started doing some review with MUS, anticipating that we might switch to MUS permanently next year. So based only on the information you provided, I would consider either using what you have, or if you feel you NEED to switch to a different program, I'd consider (in this order) Math Mammoth, Singapore, or Horizons - with the caveat that you administer a placement test for whatever program you use. But I don't see a compelling reason to switch, unless you just don't like Saxon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErinE Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 I advise you think long term. Do you have Saxon up to Pre-Algebra or Year 6? If you have the full curriculum, I vote Saxon because you have it and you could skip problems if they are overwhelming. If you only have year 3, I vote Singapore. Whatever path you choose, try to stick with it. Each of the math providers have a slightly different scope and sequence so it's best, if you can, to stick with one curriculum for elementary math. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
................... Posted February 26, 2012 Author Share Posted February 26, 2012 I have Saxon up to 6/5 and I will keep on having Saxon available because my older child uses it. Ok, I decided to use the Saxon for my dd but be prepared to cross out extra review. I also bought her a critical thinking book to challenge her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RootAnn Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 Since you have Saxon 3, I'd go with that. I'm not a big Saxon fan in the upper grades, but if she did well with Abeka, I'm sure she'll be fine. (If you are going to buy new, I'd go back to Abeka & start her with 2 - taking the tests until she doesn't do well (under 80%) & starting from there.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarrieF Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 I vote SM or MM, which both involve a lot of conceptual teaching and mental math, and are organized in a mastery style, which would go along with her lack of need for review. MM is a great value. :iagree:Just recently switched from Horizons to MM and SO glad we did! It is a fantastic value and the content is impressive. Go for it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kristinannie Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 I vote SM or MM, which both involve a lot of conceptual teaching and mental math, and are organized in a mastery style, which would go along with her lack of need for review. MM is a great value. :iagree: SM is very good for conceptual math. I don't think you would have to do level 2 because there is so much repetition in the early grades. Whatever you do, I would pick one math program and stick with it now. I don't think there is anything wrong with Saxon. I think it would be fine to use it as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nikicole Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 If you believe in it and like it, stick with Saxon! Sounds like she's going to be fine with any program. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
besroma Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 I vote Singapore or MEP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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