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 argue that this is not necessarily a result of the early calculus, but a result of the already greater ability that enabled the early study of calculus, nevertheless, it does seem reasonable that the mental discipline acquired by such rigorous mathematical study would carry over into later academic pursuits and lead to higher grades.
There are two arguments for supplementing with a separate geometry curriculum. One is that colleges do not accept a transcript that simply lists the Saxon sequence. They expect to see Geometry listed as a distinct course for it to appear rigorous enough preparation for college work. This is answered by recording the Advanced Math year as “Geometry/Trigonometry” (which is true enough, even if Saxon doesn’t title it that way).
The second argument for supplementing the traditional Saxon sequence is that it enables students to practice the excellent logical exercise of proving geometrical theorems (the geometry integrated in the traditional sequence barely touches on proofs) and gives them a more unified view of the subject. To this end, many homeschoolers select an outside geometry publisher such as Alpha Omega Lifepac and spend a year on that. Now they have the option of using Saxon Geometry as well, which offers the unified approach, along with practice in working proofs.
Alpha Omega Lifepac has its pros and cons. The format is very homeschool friendly, being broken down into a set of ten workbooks for the year, rather than a single heavy textbook. It’s designed for independent work by the student, who reads a lesson and works a set of practice problems. There are self-tests for the student to gauge his progress, as well as periodic reviews and tests. However, there are complaints from parents that the explanations are not always clear, nor are the diagrams always accurate, even in the answer key. The review is less frequent than in Saxon books and not as comprehensive.
The Saxon Geometry program has the advantage of offering the same tried and true homeschool friendly lesson-practice-problem set format found in other books in the Saxon series. Not only are the geometric concepts reviewed in the same thorough spiral used in the other texts, algebra problems are included as well, to keep the student fresh during the “year off”. The disadvantage of using Saxon Geometry is that the more advanced trigonometric problems and pre-calculus concepts from Advanced Math are left out. With a year devoted strictly to geometry, there’s only one year of high school left for additional college preparatory math, meaning you have a choice of diving straight into calculus (somewhat of a reach, but perhaps doable depending on the student).
The recommendation Saxon is giving is that college bound students stick with the traditional four year sequence, but non-college bound students use the geometry for one year of their math. Other homeschool sources have varying recommendations. Most recommend that if you plan to supplement you choose a proven traditional text such as Harold Jacobs geometry, instead of the untried Saxon Geometry or the Alpha Omega Lifepac.
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