Question about Saxon math track

[hsmom10]

I'm also searching old threads. My 8th grader is almost done with Saxon Algebra 1 (3rd edition). She is an average math student and has done well in this Algebra course, and scores well on the tests. She also uses the Saxon teacher DVD. My question is what path we should choose for high school. She has been doing Saxon since 4th grade and it has been a good fit. I'm reading that while the 3rd editions of Algebra 1 and Algebra 2 include geometry, it isn't necessarily a strong amount of geometry. She is on a music/vocal/theatre track for what she wants to pursue, but I still want her to be strong in math and science in case she changes her mind. Kids in the public school near us typically take geometry as a 9th grader and Algebra 2 in 10th. Should I switch her over to Saxon Geometry (4th edition) and then continue on with the 4th edition of Algebra 2 when she is in 10th? Would that be a hard jump for her? While I want a strong math track for her- I don't necessarily see her in Calculus in 11th. I've kind of just sailed along with Saxon figuring it was getting us where we need to be- but seeing there is no 3rd edition geometry and I am having some hesitation. Is the 3rd edition Algebra courses less strong than the 4th? I had heard somewhere that the newer editions were losing some of the feel that people like about Saxon. 

 

ETA- I guess she could take Algebra 2 next year and spend 2 years with Advanced Math with the 3rd editions? Would she have received enough geometry?

 

Thank you!

Edited March 14, 2016 by hsmom10

[G5052]

My oldest used Saxon Algebra 1/2 through Advanced Math, all 3rd edition. He actually did Algebra I twice, in 8th and 9th grade, because it just didn't go well the first time. I was concerned because Saxon gets a bad rap sometimes, but he did beautifully on the SAT (700+ on math). He got into several selective schools ("public Ivies"), but chose to go locally to explore a bit.

 

His transcript has this.

 

9th -- Algebra I

10th -- Algebra II

11th -- Geometry with Advanced Algebra

12th -- Trigonometry with Pre-Calculus

 

This is what is recommended by an associate of John Saxon (Art Reed) who wrote a book about Saxon math and has videos with it. He has a website with a lot of articles as well.

 

Ironically my next one did NOT do well with Saxon. She did fine with Saxon Algebra 1/2 and Algebra I, and then bombed Algebra II. I decided to put her into a different track. She's using Jacob's Geometry this year and then do Foerster for Algebra II. She probably will graduate early at that point, but I'm fine if she takes a little longer in college. She's acing Geometry this year, so I'm glad we backtracked.

[Junie]

This page was very helpful to me.

[hsmom10]

Thank you for the input! My daughter did 87 last year, and was not breezing through every test with 100%, but was consistently scoring 85% or better, and many times her mistakes were careless, not because she didn't understand the content. I went with Alg. 1 this year and feel she is doing better than she did with 87- mostly scoring 90% or better. I almost wish I would have had her do Alg. 1/2 to buy some time. I guess if she struggles with Alg. 2 we could slow that down as well. I do think Saxon works for her so I am nervous to go a different route, but don't want her getting in over her head (or mine, lol) and having a failure because we moved too fast.

[mschickie]

There is enough Geometry in Algebra II and Advanced Math for the 3rd edition that you do not need a separate Geometry program.  Sd did just fine in college with out a separate program and so have other kids I know (some who went into STEM majors).  

[cbollin]

Agreeing with mschickie that it is Alg 2 and Advanced where the Geometry credit in Saxon 3rd edition comes from.  There's not a lot in Alg 1.

That's on their FAQ and that was our experience as well. Here's that link to the Geometry credit

edit:  the link didn't go directly to the FAQ page....  hold on...

How can a high school student receive a geometry credit on his/her transcript when they use Saxon Algebra 1 (3rd Edition), Algebra 2 (3rd Edition), and Advanced Math
Geometry concepts are introduced in Saxon's early textbooks, but the heart of the geometry course is embedded in Algebra 2 and Advanced Math. Students who complete Algebra 2 have taken the equivalent of one semester in geometry, but they will need to complete Advanced Math in order to complete one full year of Euclidean geometry. Because Advanced Math is a rigorous book, it is most often completed in three or four semesters. Students completing Advanced Math will have taken the equivalent of one year of geometry and one year of trigonometry and advanced algebra. For those who prefer to spend a full year studying geometric concepts, we now also offer the Saxon Geometry homeschool package. - See more at: http://www.hmhco.com/shop/education-curriculum/math/homeschool/saxon-math-homeschool#credit

 

 

 

 

We preferred having a year of proof based and did add in jacob's geometry between alg 1 and alg 2.  That's just our preference.  Oldest did great on math ACT and is doing braggy rights in college. (She's engineering.)

 

Yes, if you need to slow down, you can.  My middle daughter benefited from adding Jacob's.  She is the type who did 87 and alg 1/2 b/c she needed more time.  Not as math person as big sis is.

 

no, don't switch to 4th for geometry seems to be what I hear from others.  Not the same author. stuff like that.   Don't know if that helps or not on the decision.

 

Yes, some people do Advanced over 4 semesters. 

 

 

Edited March 15, 2016 by cbollin