Saxon Geometry Books
PUBLISHER: Harcourt Steck-Vaughn
GRADE LEVEL: 9th or 10th Grade
PREREQUISITES: Saxon Algebra 1 (see placement test)
REQUIRED MATERIALS: None
GENERAL APPROACH: Lesson-practice-problem set; incremental with spiral review
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Saxon Geometry books are offered as an option for families who like the Saxon methodology, but want a dedicated geometry course. The basic home study kit includes student text, solutions manual and answers and tests book. Saxon still integrates geometry into Algebra and Advanced Math sequence, but Saxon Geometry books are useful for students who want a dedicated course or who do not plan to take math beyond Algebra 2.
The format of Saxon Geometry is different from most other geometry books. It uses the same layout as all the Saxon books, lesson/practice/problem set. The lesson explanation introduces some new geometric concept, then the student practices with that concept on his own, before working a problem set that reviews previous geometry concepts and even algebra as well. In addition, there are two-tone illustrations to assist with understanding the geometric concepts. Students will also appreciate the sidebars which contain helpful notes, hints, and food for thought.
TOPICS AND METHODOLOGY
Saxon Geometry books teach postulates and theorems and two column proofs. They also teach triangle congruence, surface area and volume, vector addition, slopes and equations of lines. With topics like these, Saxon Geometry books cover all the ground of a traditional high school geometry course, with some additional topics thrown in to connect with real life applications as well as Algebra review.
The Saxon math philosophy has been applied to create a unique geometry methodology. This book is written as an “incremental development” just like the other books in the Saxon series. Each lesson covers a small “increment” of a concept, and the daily problem sets review extensively, providing students the opportunity to master concepts over time so they will not be quickly forgotten.
STANDARDIZED TEST PREPARATION
Saxon has a reputation for facilitating excellent student performance on standardized tests. With Saxon Geometry, students should find themselves better prepared than ever to tackle the geometric problems on SAT or ACT or other standardized tests.
TEACHER REQUIREMENTS
Teaching from Saxon Geometry books is straightforward. The format and methodology facilitate independent learning, as students read the lesson, work the practice, and proceed to the problem sets. The solutions manual makes grading daily work and tests very easy, since it not only provides final answers, but also fully worked out solutions. There is no need for the teacher to work each problem from scratch in order to give partial credit or explain where a student went wrong.