Teaching helps for Saxon Algebra 2

[Laurel-in-CA]

I am a retired homeschooler who never used Saxon. But my *husband* (now involuntarily retired) has taken a p/t position teaching Algebra 2 at a local private hybrid school. He'll have a class of 5 for an hour three days/week. Anyway, he's been an applications engineer (IEEE) and he was "Math Dad" to our 4 kids, but he's never done a lesson plan or a schedule or assignments, etc. He's just ordered himself a TI-84 plus calculator.

We are looking for ANYTHING that can help him with scheduling, planning, etc. BTW, everyone gets the hardback text (copyright 2009), solutions guide, and test booklet. But I remember when I used Houghton-Mifflin materials in other settings that there was a teacher guide too? Or an "answers only" book for students, so they could see if they got a right answer but not how to work out the problem?

Are there web sites that would have a schedule for a 130-day school year?

Anything you can help with would be much appreciated by my newbie husband!!

[Ann.without.an.e]

I feel like Saxon is pretty easy to schedule. What are the parents hoping to gain from this class? How many weeks does he have for the three day a week schedule?

When it comes to math, most people want explanation and tutoring. If I were him, I would focus on going through the problems as a class on their class days to make sure that the students understand the concepts and assign the other problems to work on at home. So if he is with them M-W-F, could he explain and work through the lesson problems (the ones labeled a., b., c.) for two lessons with them on Mondays and Wednesdays and then spend the rest of the time working through some of the odds for both lessons with them and then assign the evens for homework at home? Then on Fridays he could review and give a test? This is just my random thought off the top of my head.

[Tanager]

My dd uses Saxon and is in algebra 2, but she uses the homeschool version. She tries to do one lesson or test a day.

I agree with the above, except (if the school version is like the homeschool version) I’d teach the examples then have the kids attempt the a, b, c problems in class on their own. That way if there’s any confusion you can see it right away. 5 kids is a nice small class size for individual attention. 

My daughter also likes the lesson numbers that are given with each problem, it’s helpful to know where to look if she forgets something.

[BusyMom5]

I have the Saxon Teacher CD Roms that work out every problem in the book.  We only needed to use it a few times, towards the back of the book.  

I would want to have clarification on how the school wants the course set up.  Only doing 3 days per week with lessons and tests won't get them very far.  I would want 4-5 lessons done per week,  with a tests after every 5 lessons- probably one per week, maybe on the 3rd day.