Hi,

I would like to make contact with anyone who has used Saxon Math at the high school level. Preferably some of the following courses: Advanced Math (Geo/Trig/Alg), Alg 1, Alg 2.

Thanks.

j

-- j (jw_hsv@yahoo.com), March 15, 2001

Answers

We have used both the Algebra I and II texts. They are very user- friendly for both teacher and student, especially if math is not your background. As with the other Saxon texts, they take the "incremental" approach. This is great if your student prefers their math in small steps. They tend to review previous material in the practice problems too. They cover a lot of area though. If you have a student who is bored with this approach, you may want to choose another publisher. Some people complain that more problems relating to each lesson should be covered at one sitting, but like I mentioned, the review tends to keep reinforcing previously learned material. A family I know has a son who just entered the Citadel. He used Saxon from day one. He scored quite high in the math section of his SAT's. I think he did use a Jacob's geometry text also, come to think of it, but the other higher math classes he took were all using the Saxon books. Hope this helps.

-- glory (mornglorfarms@ncconnect.net), March 15, 2001.

Hi J, We are currently using Saxon Advanced Math for my twin girls, age 15 1/2. They did the Alg. II last year. I'll be glad to help however I can. Nancy

-- Nancy in CA (sonflower35@icqmail.com), March 15, 2001.

My children used the Saxon Math texts up to and including Calculus. We found them very good to work with. One child was mathphobic and the other was math gifted. The child that did well in Math went on to engineering in college and didn't find the Saxon Calculus good preparation. I just thought I would let you know that incase any of your children are planning on the same route.

-- Cindy Clarke (rclarke@revelstoke.net), March 15, 2001.

Saxon is AWESOME. I was actually in the prepublishing test group in... seventh grade(?) It was the pre algebra text, but the methodology is consistent. It was the first time I actually enjoyed math. I've since utilized this series while teaching in several high school classrooms, with good results. If your kids are even remotely motivated, I think you'd be pleased with it. My father, who is Math Dept head at OSU HATES the Saxon books. He feels that it does not provide enough real world application. But, he and I don't agree on everything. Saxon will provide sample texts to teachers. They might do the same for homeschoolers... I don't know.

Good luck!

-- witness (carlaevans@hotmail.com), March 15, 2001.

We are up to Algebra II. Be glad to answer your questions. Mary

-- Mary Fraley (kmfraley@orwell.net), March 15, 2001.

Cindy, I'm curious if you can elaborate on your son that didn't feel that Saxon calculus prepared him for college-level engineering. I have a son who is very good at math and we've been using Saxon since K. He's only 6 but is flying through the 2nd grade book right now. He was a little bored with the repetition so we tried Miquon for 2nd but it was a horrible choice for me as well as my son. So far, I've been very pleased with Saxon. I'm curious as to what he felt was missing and not covered well. I know we're quite a ways from Calculus but I suspect we'll be hitting the upper level math areas within a couple of years. Thanks!

Hoosiermom

-- Hoosiermom (hdnpines@hotmail.com), March 15, 2001.

In response to Hoosiermom -- My son didn't find Saxon Math good preparation for theoretical or abstract thought in Math. He has really struggled with Calculus at the university level even though he had always been intuitive in the math area and found the work easy. (Saxon Calculus and the whole series for that matter uses a process approach rather than a critical thinking approach -- I might not be using the right educational terms, I am not an educator) I had heard this previously about Saxon Math, but felt because we were having such good results we would stick with it. Overall I highly recommend the series, just consider the long range plans of the student and possibly consider supplementing with some other texts in the highest levels to prepare the student for different presentations and skills.

-- Cindy Clarke (rclarke@revelstoke.net), March 16, 2001.

Put me down as another pleased customer of Saxon math. We've only used up to Alg.II, but my kids have very high ACT and SAT scores in Math. We also slip in a year of Jacobs Geometry - great for logic skills. My son is heading into an engineering program at college next year, but he's had all his calculus and physics these last two years at the local high school, so I can't comment on Saxon's upper math courses. Good luck with whatever you choose.

-- glynnis in KY (gabbycab@msn.com), March 16, 2001.

I really appreciate all the responses.

I've got to 'fess up' to the question.

I've got a background in business and I'm considering a career change into an engineering field. As such, I've got to get through a whole series of math courses (alg,trig,calc,diff eq) and my background consists of just college alg. (some 20+ yrs ago).

So I'm looking for something to use as a refresher/review prior to starting at the college alg. level. I'm thinking a Saxon course or two is going to be a lot cheaper to find out where I stand instead of spending $$$ at a college and possibly having some poor grades on the 'ole transcript.

j

-- j (jw_hsv@yahoo.com), March 16, 2001.

Sounds great, but I would supplement Geometry. Geom is integrated into Saxon, and not a separate course, so it doesn't get enough attention, in my (and other's) opinion. I don't know about supplementing different teaching methods, but it sounds good to make sure you are hitting all areas. The Teaching Company makes great videos to supplement higher level math. These help with understanding difficult concepts. Alg I teaches the graphing calculator, which is supposed to be necessary for college today. Their phone # is 1-800-832-2412. Mary

-- Mary Fraley (kmfraley@orwell.net), March 17, 2001.