Do you usually use Saxon 8/7 or Alg 1/2 (or both)?

[Vida Winter]

Since I don't own either of these I thought I would ask. Are they roughly equal?

[coffeegal]

They're roughly equal. Saxon 87 is similar in setup to the lower Saxon maths. It's also has more arithmetic, but still covers the algebra. Algebra 1/2 is setup like the upper Saxon math. It's slightly heavier on the algebra versus the arithmetic.

 

Many families do one or the other, but some use both.

[Carol in Cal.]

87 has been beefed up quite a bit, and the newer edition is a fairly thorough pre-algebra course.

I recommend using it, and then doing 1/2 only if you don't feel that your child is ready for algebra after 87.

[stlily]

My student is on Saxon 7/6 so we'll be right where you are, next year.  Here is what is recommended in TWTM: "In recognition that many seventh graders won't be ready to start pre-algebra (Algebra 1/2), Saxon provides Math 8/7 to serve as a bridge between Math 7/6 (the sixth-grade book) and Algebra 1/2. If your sixth grader is still stumbling over the concepts in Math 7/6, don't push her into Algebra 1/2; use Saxon's alternate sequence (see the table "The Saxon Program," below). Either sequence is perfectly acceptable for a middle-grade student (TWTM pp. 259-260, third edition).

 

 

The Saxon Program: Regular Versus Alternate

 

Regular Saxon Sequence

 

5^{th  -} Math 6/5

6th - Math 7/6

7th - Algebra 1/2

8th - Algebra 1

 

Alternate Saxon Sequence

 

5th - Math 6/5

6th - Math 7/6

7th - Math 8/7

8th - Algebra 1/2

 

Hope this helps.

 

Lily    :001_smile:

Edited January 16, 2016 by stlily

[Ellie]

Since I don't own either of these I thought I would ask. Are they roughly equal?

 

I always follow the publisher's recommendation: with current editions, students who complete Math 76 with at least an 80% average go to Math 87, then Alg. 1; students who complete Math 76 with less than 80% do Alg. 1/2, then Alg. 1. The only reason I might do both is if a child is very young and it might not be a good thing for him to be doing Alg. 1 when he's 12. :-)

 

IOW, I don't just pick one. I follow the publisher's recommendation.

[Vida Winter]

I always follow the publisher's recommendation: with current editions, students who complete Math 76 with at least an 80% average go to Math 87, then Alg. 1; students who complete Math 76 with less than 80% do Alg. 1/2, then Alg. 1. The only reason I might do both is if a child is very young and it might not be a good thing for him to be doing Alg. 1 when he's 12. :-)

 

IOW, I don't just pick one. I follow the publisher's recommendation.

 

Are you sure about this? It seems like if they complete 7/6 with less than 80% they would go into the slightly easier book. Do the different editions matter? We are using the older ones.

[tmstranger]

When we first started homeschooling, we used the placement test from Saxon.  My son blew through the 8/7 section, but started struggling in the Algebra 1/2, so he started in that book.  To me, knowing the way the placement test is set up, I would think that those books are not the same. 

 

That being said, I don't know what advice to give someone who has been using Saxon up to this point.  We came into at that level, so no experience prior. 

[bethben]

I went from 76 to Algebra 1/2 with my 2nd ds and will go from 76 to 87 with my 3rd ds.  I want to give him the option of an additional year of pre-algebra in case he needs it.  

[Ellie]

Are you sure about this? It seems like if they complete 7/6 with less than 80% they would go into the slightly easier book. Do the different editions matter? We are using the older ones.

 

With current editions, yes.

 

With older editions, it's the opposite: Math 76, Alg. 1/2, Alg. 1, unless Math 76 was completed with less than an 80% average. And it isn't that one is easier than the other; it has to do with what is covered.

[hsmom10]

I always follow the publisher's recommendation: with current editions, students who complete Math 76 with at least an 80% average go to Math 87, then Alg. 1; students who complete Math 76 with less than 80% do Alg. 1/2, then Alg. 1. The only reason I might do both is if a child is very young and it might not be a good thing for him to be doing Alg. 1 when he's 12. :-)

 

IOW, I don't just pick one. I follow the publisher's recommendation.

 

This is exactly what we did. My dd did the 3rd edition of 87 as a 7th grader and is now doing Alg. 1 in 8th, and is doing really well with it.

 

I know the old recommendation was that Alg. 1/2 was stronger than 87. I believe that to be the case if using the 2nd edition books. But that in the 3rd edition, 87 is the stronger text, and you would use Alg. 1/2 on a slower track.

[mschickie]

We did 87 with dd and then Algebra 1.  I wanted to make sure she had a solid foundation.  here is a great article on what you should use: http://homeschoolwithsaxon.com/newsletterpage-2015.php#1015

 

[Vida Winter]

 

 

With older editions, it's the opposite: Math 76, Alg. 1/2, Alg. 1, unless Math 76 was completed with less than an 80% average. And it isn't that one is easier than the other; it has to do with what is covered.

 

This is what we need to follow - I was confused because we are using older editions. She has a high average in Math 7/6.

[Ellie]

This is exactly what we did. My dd did the 3rd edition of 87 as a 7th grader and is now doing Alg. 1 in 8th, and is doing really well with it.

 

I know the old recommendation was that Alg. 1/2 was stronger than 87. I believe that to be the case if using the 2nd edition books. But that in the 3rd edition, 87 is the stronger text, and you would use Alg. 1/2 on a slower track.

 

It wasn't that Alg. 1/2 was *stronger;* it was that it taught things a little differently. I liked Math 87 better than 1/2. I still do. :-)

[happypamama]

DD skipped 87 and went straight from 76 to Algebra 1/2, where she found it to be very easy.  Very little new information, and what was new was very intuitive because it was just a smidge different from what she already knew.  We use older editions, though; I think our 1/2 is the second edition.

[Mommy22alyns]

I have not used Saxon all the way through, but I did do some research and talked to some other homeschoolers before deciding to put Rebecca in Algebra 1/2 after completing through CLE 600.  She is doing well.

[...................]

Unless your student is remedial, you should use Algebra 1/2. It moves them into the Logic Stage with plenty of word problems that actually require a small amount of thought and the book also has plenty of algebra and beginning geometry.  It's much more interesting than 8/7 which is very much a drudgery.  

 

(I am not really a Saxon fan and would not recommend it after seeing the lack of conceptual solving my son had due to Saxon...but of the two books Algebra 1/2 is far superior and a lot more fun.)

[PineFarmMom]

We just finished Singapore 6a and plan to do Saxon 8/7 then Algebra 1.  I am hoping this is a good sequence because it is what I have been told by several people.  We will use 3rd edition, and it was given to us, so that is a plus!!  

[SparklyUnicorn]

I bought both.  I ended up using Algebra 1/2.  The 8/7 version is just too much.  There are WAY too many problems and review.

 

 

[Mommy22alyns]

Unless your student is remedial, you should use Algebra 1/2. It moves them into the Logic Stage with plenty of word problems that actually require a small amount of thought and the book also has plenty of algebra and beginning geometry.  It's much more interesting than 8/7 which is very much a drudgery.  

 

(I am not really a Saxon fan and would not recommend it after seeing the lack of conceptual solving my son had due to Saxon...but of the two books Algebra 1/2 is far superior and a lot more fun.)

 

 

^ You were one of the people I talked to that helped me choose Algebra 1/2!

[ZeldaRules]

My 6th grader is on Saxon 8/7.  He has been missing too many questions in his math these past few weeks (really because of silly errors, he can do it) - so I slowed down to do a lesson over 2 days.  One day he does the odd questions, the next, the even.  My plan is to do Algebra 1/2 in 7th.  We have used Saxon the whole way through.  It's nice to know that 8/7 seems more like drudgery to others, because I feel the same.  I'm taking things slower with my daughter in Saxon. She will be doing 7/6 or 6/5 in 6th grade.  :)

 

Vicki