Has anyone used Saxon to supplement Beast Academy 4

[Kezia]

I love Beast Academy 3, well except that chapter devoted to squares, that was just crazy, not sure how I feel about my new superpower of squaring numbers ending in 5 or numbers that are two apart in my head. Currently almost done with 3D (seriously a whole chapter for estimation and rounding?) and will start 4 mid January. Using it currently as a stand alone math. My son says he doesn’t love it (he also didn’t love T4L level 4 or khan academy so I take that with a grain of salt). I know he would hate doing full Saxon with its constant repetitive drills each lesson with another 30 problems. He does like the amount of problems in Beast but cannot connect with/understand all the info in the guide books in Beast on his own.  Maybe too colorful? I am sure he likes the mastery/conceptual type of learning with math. I now start each beast academy chapter with a 5 min. teaching of my own before we read through the chapter, and he just flies through the beast workbook. He has a much deeper understanding of numbers and math concepts than I do, I might even say very intuitive. 

 I thought about doing a “conversational run” through saxon 76 (he tested into it in october) just to ensure that he is really gaining a deep understanding and not a superficial one.  I also just looked into LoF and have Liver on the way as a fun review. And LoF fractions and decimals for after BA 4 or just a fun once weekly read a chapter type of review and different outlook. 

Does this sound like it will work? Folks either love or hate Saxon and say it should not be used as a supplement. I just am not sure he remembers or has necessarily covered every little thing, we are new homeschoolers. 

[BusyMom5]

It doesn't sound like a good fit (I have had and used both programs with different kids).  Have you looked at Math in Focus?  I use it and Saxon for my 4th grader.  Its got a nice workbook with plenty of white space to work and good diagrams, ect.  There is also a textbook that I use to teach from.  You can get a TM, but they are very expensive and I haven't needed it for the lower grades.  It might be a better pace, has mastery chapter style with cumulative reviews, not as slow as Saxon but not as fast as Beast,  more in depth problems snd critical thinking.  

[EKS]

On 12/30/2020 at 6:47 PM, Kezia said:

I thought about doing a “conversational run” through saxon 76 (he tested into it in october) just to ensure that he is really gaining a deep understanding and not a superficial one.

When you eliminate all of the practice of Saxon, you're left with a mediocre math program.  Using it in the way you propose is unlikely to give deep understanding.  I'd use Singapore (or Math in Focus, as BusyMom5 suggests).   

[Ellie]

I would never use Saxon as a supplement. Not ever.

if he tested into Math 76, then let him do that. You don't have to make sure he knows...whatever it is you think he needs to know. He tested into it.

If you think that Saxon is "constant repetitive drills each lesson with another 30 problems.," then you don't understand it. It's ok not to understand it, but it would be worth your while to do the research so that you do understand it.

[EKS]

4 hours ago, Ellie said:

If you think that Saxon is "constant repetitive drills each lesson with another 30 problems.," then you don't understand it.

This is important.  The problem sets are carefully constructed so that they end up drilling previously taught skills while also creating a bridge to the next material to be taught.  It's really quite well done, and it's the reason that eliminating problems is a bad idea.

[Kezia]

Ok, I won’t try to use it as a supplement. 🙂

I know it is a solid program on its own, and I like it because I know it would suit ME as a kid. I am very procedural with math. Spiraled short and varied lessons with review that builds would be great for me. I know saxon would not suit my kid, however. BA in 3D did some same denominator fractions, but the kid wanted more, (he had already done same denominator), so we moved to the appropriate section in BA 4 to extend the fractions. 
 

BA is a great math program. It is not too fast, he flies through the problems that are not starred. Most of the one starred problems are solved also, some of the 2 stars are done with some discussion. We are going through it fairly fast because some has been review for him. We use the physical books, no online material. I just wonder about possible gaps and the review is much more subtle. I will just use BA and continue to make up my own short reviews every 3 weeks or so. 
 

Maybe I could follow up with Life of Fred after BA level 4 is done? 
 

Also considering maybe MAP testing (he is familiar with it) or CAT or even Iowa if it can be done by me at home (I have the required BA). Not required by my state at all, just for my own reference.

 

 

[Not_a_Number]

3 hours ago, Kezia said:

BA is a great math program. It is not too fast, he flies through the problems that are not starred. Most of the one starred problems are solved also, some of the 2 stars are done with some discussion. We are going through it fairly fast because some has been review for him. We use the physical books, no online material. I just wonder about possible gaps and the review is much more subtle. I will just use BA and continue to make up my own short reviews every 3 weeks or so. 

I can imagine there being gaps with BA, but it does reinforce the learning by making them use the concepts over and over again. 

Do you feel like he has gaps right now? If he can test into Saxon 7/6, then he's probably pretty good with arithmetic anyway, right? Is there something you'd worry about him not learning in 3rd grade math? 

(For the record, I like that square trick, lol. 35^2 = 1225, whoohoo!) 

[Kezia]

8 hours ago, Not_a_Number said:

I can imagine there being gaps with BA, but it does reinforce the learning by making them use the concepts over and over again. 

Do you feel like he has gaps right now? If he can test into Saxon 7/6, then he's probably pretty good with arithmetic anyway, right? Is there something you'd worry about him not learning in 3rd grade math? 

(For the record, I like that square trick, lol. 35^2 = 1225, whoohoo!) 

He tested into 76, does that mean he is strong in every concept taught prior? The placement test surely didn’t cover every little thing. He turned 10 exactly 3 days ago and he is ready for 6th grade math? Or my nephew will be doing 76 in 5th grade in his university model school, so maybe he is indeed ready? 
 

My dad always said, “You can’t go wrong with...” fill in the blank. He always had something that fit the bill for everybody. I know there is no curriculum that fits in that blank. Most math curriculums will do an excellent job educating, especially if following the same one through the course. Just they differ in scope, sequence and method. Find the one that fits your kid. 
 

I really think all my concern is more centered on the fact that I learned differently than he does. I am new to homeschooling and still learning his strengths and weaknesses and am not confident about placement or pacing, yet. I also am very aware of my public school background and mindset and am going to great lengths to make our homeschool adventure very customized to him and ensure  I am using this customization to his advantage. 
 

 

[MeaganS]

Honestly, I use both the books and online for the very reason you are talking about. Online has more practice. What I do is work through the books in order but I let my kids decide what to do online for a set amount of time each day (30 mins). Over time they are getting review and practice. I have had to lock certain chapters if they are sticking with particularly easy topics for too long, but mostly it has worked well. So I use the book for new learning and BA online for review. It's worked wonderfully. We also use prodigy math for fun review/practice and Xtra math or Reflex math for math facts memorization until they mastered them. It's been a great combo and my kids who are Beast Academy kids enjoy it. 

I also agree that BA has a deceptive amount of practice in it. Future problems require concepts already learned to be applied. Sone problems require you to try several things to find the perfect solution. But it doesn't look like rows of computation so it isn't immediately obvious.

Edited January 3, 2021 by MeaganS

[EKS]

2 hours ago, Kezia said:

He tested into 76, does that mean he is strong in every concept taught prior?

Yes and no.

Saxon does a lot of review in the first third of the book, which is intended to get kids back up to speed after summer vacation and also fill gaps.

If you intend to homeschool for the foreseeable future, and you are committed to working with him on math and not simply handing him a textbook and telling him to go for it, I honestly wouldn't worry about gaps.  Just fill them when you find them.  You can run through a strong prealgebra program before he does Algebra 1 if you're still worried at that point.  

A better use of your time might be to make sure your own knowledge of math through high school geometry is solid.  This will allow you to teach elementary math with confidence.

[Not_a_Number]

5 hours ago, Kezia said:

He tested into 76, does that mean he is strong in every concept taught prior? The placement test surely didn’t cover every little thing. He turned 10 exactly 3 days ago and he is ready for 6th grade math? Or my nephew will be doing 76 in 5th grade in his university model school, so maybe he is indeed ready? 

I would guess that he's at least quite strong at the concept taught prior if he could test into 76 math, having looked at the test. Especially if he tested in easily with no prep. 

To be strong conceptually, you don't need to know every little thing 🙂. But if he just turned 10 and tests into 6th grade math, he should probably be doing something about 3rd grade math, no? Or are you planning to go through the Beast books quickly? They are fun and tricky, but they are not way ahead of grade level. 

Edited January 3, 2021 by Not_a_Number

[Kezia]

3 hours ago, Not_a_Number said:

I would guess that he's at least quite strong at the concept taught prior if he could test into 76 math, having looked at the test. Especially if he tested in easily with no prep. 

To be strong conceptually, you don't need to know every little thing 🙂. But if he just turned 10 and tests into 6th grade math, he should probably be doing something about 3rd grade math, no? Or are you planning to go through the Beast books quickly? They are fun and tricky, but they are not way ahead of grade level. 

He did test into 76 with no prep. We did khan academy some during covid shutdowns and over the summer.  I initially bought BA 4 but then I read it needed to be one level behind because it is advanced or so they say. When I looked through it in August of last year, I was uncertain that it was his level so backed up a bit. 
 

We will have done BA 3B-3D in a tad over 4 months. I just am worried I will then go too fast and have to back it up.

I love homeschooling, everything about it. I am not certain how long I will have my husband’s blessing. So yes, I am thinking about what happens IF we send him back to public sooner rather than later. 

[Not_a_Number]

17 minutes ago, Kezia said:

I love homeschooling, everything about it. I am not certain how long I will have my husband’s blessing. So yes, I am thinking about what happens IF we send him back to public sooner rather than later. 

He sounds like he's good at math 🙂 . So I really wouldn't worry about that aspect of it.