Saxon Algebra 2 Books
PUBLISHER: Harcourt Steck-Vaughn
GRADE LEVEL: 10th or 11th Grade
PREREQUISITES: Saxon Algebra 1 or placement test
REQUIRED MATERIALS: None
GENERAL APPROACH: Lesson-practice-problem set; incremental with spiral review
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Saxon Algebra 2 books basic set for home study contains just two books, a student book and a book of answers with tests. A number of supplementary items are available as well, individually or combined in other sets. Two very helpful such items are a solutions book for the teacher (which contains the correctly worked out problems, not just answers) and a DIVE CD-ROM to assist the student.
The familiar Saxon format is followed throughout this text. There is a lesson with a few pages of explanation, then a set of practice problems of that type, followed by a problem set of 30 or so problems that review all the old problem types that the student has encountered in the book, and even sometimes in previous books.
The DIVE CD’s directly correspond to the Saxon Algebra 2 books. There is a teacher who explains the lesson, going even deeper to ensure students completely understand not only the concept, but how it relates to everything else they have learned in math. The teacher works detailed example problems, explaining each step, and also works practice problems that demonstrate the day’s concept.
TOPICS AND METHODOLOGY
Some of the Saxon Algebra 2 topics covered include: graphical solution to simultaneous equations; roots of quadratic equations, even including complex roots; inequalities and systems of inequalities; logarithms and antilogarithms; exponential equations; basic trigonometric functions; vectors; polar and rectangular coordinate systems, and so much more! There are also many different types of word problems requiring algebra in their solution, and real world applications in areas such as physics and chemistry are discussed.
Saxon Algebra 2 books are rather unique in that they not only cover second year algebra, but also a good deal of geometry, equaling about a semester’s work of informal geometry, including proof outlines. There is also treatment of set theory and probability and statistics.
Saxon Algebra has a teaching philosophy that says learning doesn’t have to be something hard; on the other hand, it does take time. Saxon Algebra 2 books take the time to break concepts down into small increments and teach these one by one. The problem sets take the time for daily review, so that eventually how to work these problems becomes cemented in the students mind.
STANDARDIZED TEST PREPARATION
Saxon has an excellent reputation for preparing students to do very well on standardized tests.
TEACHER REQUIREMENTS
Teaching algebra with Saxon Algebra 2 books does not require any special math background. The lesson formats are designed to facilitate independent study. Generally, adults find that the clear explanations in the lessons are enough to jog their memory of their own high school math, especially if they follow along with their student, regularly skimming the week’s lessons as they grade his work. For extra help, the solutions manual is absolutely indispensable tool, with its fully worked out solutions to every problem. Also, alternative explanations even more detailed than the Algebra 2 books provide are found on the DIVE CD’s.