I love Saxon math, but my oldest is starting to hate it. When we first started it she loved it. Now she tells me it's boring and moves too slow. At the beginning of the year she loved doing her math lessons, but now it's a chore to get her to sit and do it. I do skip lessons, but deep down I think we need to move on to something else that will challenge her. We went to Mardel a few days ago and she begged me to buy a Horizons math book. That was the first time I looked at an actual book, and really liked what I saw. Part of me wants to ditch Saxon now and start her on Horizons first grade, book two. I am so confused and don't know what to do. Help!
Not sure if there is a right or wrong answer. You could buy the Horizons and just do a quick review up to whever her current lesson would be. I would NOT start whole book over again...talk about boring and moving slow. Or you could make her stick it out with Saxon...or just supplement math with something else. The real question is: Do you want to buy a math book you will only use for whatever is left of the school year? Personally, if something doesn't work, I ditch it. I think like would be easier for you and her if you ditch Saxon and start something new. There's always room for improvement, right? There is no reason to struggle through the rest of the year if you don't have to, right?
Saxon has a ton of repetition, and I've heard many people complain about it, particularly with kids who are good at math. We really liked Singapore math when dd was in elementary level. It is also quite cheap - www.singaporemath.com. I've never used the home instructors manuals, just the textbook and workbook. However, they evidently have lots of hands on ideas and may be worth it for the younger grades. (we started with 3rd) Also there is a great free math curriculum - MEP http://www.cimt.plymouth.ac.uk/projects/mep/default.htm There is also an associated yahoo group. I wouldn't stay with Saxon if it is killing her liking for math. Math is a great subject and tons of fun, you want to keep it that way!
I love Singapore! I didn't mention it because I thought you were set on Horizon. However, it is worth a try.
My ds is older and doing Algebra. He's liked Saxon for the last 3 years, but this year the Algebra was really boring him, so we switched texts. Another thought....we don't "do" math based on what grade the kids are in. We do it based on ability. For example, if my son or daughter finished a text partway through the year, we just started the next one. They just keep going. Carol
I agree with Ava Rose - we switched from Saxon in 4th to MCP in 5th, which was Ok but not great, to Singapore. And now I wish we had done that from the beginning - I think it would make more sense in his head. But as a result he is very strong at math, if unsure. But the more he "gets" Singapore math (it's like a challenge) the better he feels about his skills, and even tho he is in 7th grade, we are working slowly though the last book and plan on doing pre-algebra next year with Teaching textbooks, which should seem easy after Singapore!
If you can afford the change and think a change is due, then why not. Worst case, you can use the extra material for review, or speed drills in higher grades. We changed from Horizons to BJU just for a change. We did like the Horizons alot, but my student wanted a change as yours does. I had no reasons to not to change from one quality program to another. There are lots of quality choices.
How far are you? Can you look at the next level up in Horizons and just start from there? No need to stress out over math if there is a solution (which seems tough)
I love Horizons. Though I will say that the first grade book looks like it has alot of review so you might want to skip the first part at least. Also I believe that the publishers website has a placement test that might be worth giving DC to see which book to place her in. http://www.aophomeschooling.com/diagnostic-tests-horizons.php
Ok, she just took the placement test for Horizons 2, and scored an 84. The only thing she got stuck on was time and money....she has always had trouble with those two. I think I'll just work with her on time and money, do the fact sheets from Saxon, and start Horizons next year. At least that is my plan for now, LOL.
Sounds like a good plan! That's what I would do with those test results. My dd always got mixed up with time and money and she is awesome in math. lol.
Yes, good plan. No matter what you start out with, if the child is beginning to hate it, or gets frustrated with it--GET RID OF IT! It cheats them out of realizing the potential fun math can be, and makes them thing they're dumb, not good in math, or something like that! That happened to my dd a couple of years ago. She was doing the Saxon 76. She liked it at first too, but then began to dislike it, and before I realized it she hated "math" in general, and was very unsure of her abilities! Arrrrgh, I wish I'd caught on sooner. It's taken until just recently to find something that helps her feel better about her abilities and possiblities! I know Saxon has worked for many, but not for my children--we've given it a good try twice, and it bombed. Well, actually three times. When dd was 5 and in K, we used the Saxon 1st grade math, and it went well. Otherwise it didn't work. We used the Alpha Omega Life Pacs for a couple of years as well (only for math), but they got tired of those after awhile, so we moved on. Last year we used Teaching Textbooks, and this year we're using Life of Fred, and supplementing some with R&S and Singapore. She and my ds15 both love LoF! And they do very well on math testing, so I'm sticking with it until they don't like it anymore!
