Saxon math is a K-12 homeschool math program with both public school and homeschool editions. It is an incremental program with daily review. Modern Curriculum Press (MCP math) is a K-6 math program, mastery based, with solid daily drill. There are pros and cons to each program.

In kindergarten through third grade, Saxon math is very hands on, teacher intensive program. There is a special teacher book and “meeting book” with a detailed script of how to present the lesson to the child and exactly what to say. Children learn numbers, counting and skip counting, basic addition, subtraction, and multiplication facts, how to tell time, money, and more. Math manipulatives are used to aid understanding, and flash cards to develop … Read the rest of this post…

After years of integrating high school geometry with their algebra and advanced math programs, Saxon Math has recently published a brand new Saxon Geometry textbook. Should homeschoolers continue using the traditional sequence, supplement with another geometry curriculum such as Alpha Omega Lifepac, or use the new Saxon Geometry?

The pluses to continuing with the traditional Saxon sequence – Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Advanced Math, and Calculus – are twofold. For one thing, integrating geometry with algebra is the way curriculums are written in Asia and Europe, and students there consistently outperform US students on international math examinations. For another, students who complete calculus prior to college statistically tend to have higher grades overall in college. While one might … Read the rest of this post…

The math wars of the 1990′s have quieted down and are almost a thing of the past.

With the release of their 2006 guidelines, the National Council for Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) effectively ended 17 years of promoting ‘reform math’ programs and acknowledged the need for schools to return to more traditional math programs.

Teachers and Homeschool parents can now move on to the next question. Which traditional math curriculum is best? The correct answer depends largely on the needs and preferences of each teacher and student.

There are many traditional math programs to choose from. This provides a brief review of two of the most popular programs, Singapore Math and Saxon Math. These two curriculums have some things in … Read the rest of this post…

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s new program, Math Expressions is a response to changes in the Federal standards for public school curricula and tests.  It is billed as a curriculum which, “incorporates the best practices of both traditional and reform mathematics curricula.”  It seems that someone recognized the problems of the so-called “new” or reform math and so a new “new math” has been created to avoid some pitfalls.

Math Expressions is a new and unproven curriculum that nevertheless seems pretty sensible in content.  Its primary innovations are a questionable new “partner numbers” method for children to conceive of quantities, a strong focus on providing scripts for assisting ESL students, and family letter templates to involve parents more.  It borrows one or … Read the rest of this post…

The Saxon Advanced Mathematics course is designed to follow the Saxon Algebra 2 course for the advanced 11th grade student or the average 12th grade student. In the traditional Saxon program, Advanced Math followed Algebra 2, but now Saxon offers a Geometry course which could be included between the Algebra 2 and Advanced Math courses.

Strengths:
Our family has followed the Saxon math courses to educate our children for many years. Saxon did not previously offer a separate Geometry course. Saxon publishers designed the combination of Algebra 1, Algebra 2, and Advanced Math courses to adequately cover all the topics normally included in a traditional Geometry course. Saxon Advanced Math also introduces concepts from algebra, trigonometry, and math analysis. This … Read the rest of this post…

DIVE Saxon Math Software CD’s are a wonderful tool for busy home school moms. We have used Saxon Math all through our home school years. By the time our oldest was in Math 54, I was busy with a crew of little ones and needed to plan my time wisely so as to make sure the needs of the younger ones were being met while still teaching our oldest daughter. It was about that time that I learned of the DIVE CDs, which go with each of the levels of Saxon Math starting at Math 54. DIVE was the answer to my dilemma! Mr. Shoreman, the teacher on the DIVE CDs, has given me the teacher’s assistance that I needed.… Read the rest of this post…

During the 1990s, reform math programs like ‘Everyday Mathematics’ were widely embraced as the new wave by President Clinton’s Department of Education. As a result, school district after school district across the country adopted this new approach. But despite the adoration of the “experts”, the end result was dismal test scores.

For example, California schools embraced reform math programs in the early 1990′s. By 1996, California test scores plummeted to one of the lowest in the nation on the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Finally in 1997, the California State Board of Education recognized reform math was a mistake and revised state standards to return to traditional math curriculum.

The problem with these reform math programs is that they approach … Read the rest of this post…

This article compares Saxon Math and Singapore Math. These two brands are both popular K-12 math curriculums with an outstanding reputation for quality and sizeable following among both school teachers and the homeschool community. But these two programs are quite different in approach and flavor. It is a sometimes hotly contested debate which one is better overall. There may be no one right answer. Ultimately it is a decision each teacher must make for themselves.

Saxon Math is distinctly American, and while it has its own unique features that set it apart from other texts (such as an odd looking numbering system), it still fits the American expectation of a textbook with explanations to the student, and plenty of support … Read the rest of this post…

Two well-known names in homeschooling, Saxon math and Alpha Omega Lifepac math have very different approaches. Each is designed for homeschoolers and is a complete K-12 series. Saxon math is recognized as a solid, rigorous academic curriculum suited for slow, average or bright students and fully college preparatory. Alpha Omega Lifepac math is seen as a solid curriculum, slightly easier than some, though still college preparatory.

The format of Saxon math is characterized by a gradual, incremental (concepts are broken down into “bite sized” pieces) approach to concepts and constant, daily review. In K-3, there is a scripted teacher book with reproducible worksheets instead of a student book, as well as manipulatives and flashcards for the kiddos. Basic counting, addition, … Read the rest of this post…

Go Math!  is a new Kindergarten through sixth grade math curriculum designed to follow new “Common Core” standards developed “to ensure that all students are ready for college or work when they graduate high school.”  The design is intended to make teaching these mandated Common Core areas easier to teach.  The format is mastery-based, with each chapter containing several lessons on the same topic.

Saxon Math is proven to turn failing math districts around in just a few years.  It uses an “incremental development” rather than mastery basis; Saxon teaches lessons on several different topics before circling back around to another lesson that builds on one of the same topics again.  Saxon Math has also become popular in a … Read the rest of this post…