I am new to homeschooling. My oldest son is 16 and has ADHD. I think I have narrowed down our choices to Saxon Algebra with DIVE cd and Teaching Textbooks Algebra. I need something that will keep his interest as best as possible and something he can do mostly on his own. I'm having a hard enough time keeping up with pre-algebra with my 7th grader. I would love to get some input from someone who has used these. Lydia
I've heard great things about both of those, but haven't used either, so I'm no help. I'm sure someone will come along soon with great advice. In the meantime, I wanted to say welcome from another Houstonian!
I have used Teaching Textbooks and it is very easy to follow. I have switched from using it just because I need something more challenging for my kids. I have never used Saxon, but in our homeschool group every mom who has used it at high school level says it is horrible. They say it is OK until then - but they all suggested finding anything else/. Sorry I don't have personal experience, but as these are all very experienced h/schoolers who gave this advice, I have never been at all tempted to try Saxon. Meryl
okay heres hwo to decide--- do you plan on doing actual teaching or do you want to guide encoruage and help? Saxon will require you to teach full out .. I think from what I have heard the Dive cd helps but that its still a lot on you. The TT as I have seen this one at a friends is really in the hands of the student, they watch, work, and learn on thier own with your assistance when understanding is needed... Some one correct me if I am wrong there? just to throw one in there have you checked otu Math U See as well?
TT definitely can be done on you own - I agree. And a friend of mine uses Math U see and really likes it, so I would also say that is one to be considered rather than Saxon. Meryl
*waves to Marylyn_TX* I really need something that he will be able to do mostly on his own. At least until I can get him into dual credit classes at the college. I was under the impression that DIVE made it to where the parent really wasn't needed much. I have two younger boys that take up most of my time so my oldest will need to be able to work on his own and understand the subject. I have heard of Math U See. I thought that was more for the younger kids. I was thinking about that one for my 10 yr old. I'll look more into it for all of them. I'm really stressed and a bit of panic is hitting me with all this curriculum stuff. Thank you for your replies. Everything is very much appreciated!!
Since I was able to teach math to my son myself, I haven't actually used any of these curriculum options, but I did look at a number of them. I was really impressed with Teaching Textbooks - the samples on their website look like they cover things very thoroughly. Saxon seemed rather boring, and I don't know how well a student with ADHD would do with that. I liked the Math U See approach because of the manipulatives - I like the idea of students being able to touch math. Your son is also welcome to register in my online algebra course, which he could use as a supplement or by itself. This course is free, and I monitor the Help Forum. Hope you find something that works well for your son. Erna.
We switched from the DIVE DVD to the new Saxon Teacher DVD's (there are 4 or 5 DVDs in the set) and it is SOOOOO much better! Every problem is worked out and shown how to do it. My son finally "gets it" because of the switch - and I think Christian Book has the Saxon Teacher on sale for $62 or so if I remember correctly.
Another great program is CLE (Chritian Light Education) Math. My dd is using that this year and we are enjoying it. I t doesn't have Bible stuff all over in it, in case that might be a problem. It might be worth looking at. http://www.clp.org/store/by_subject/4 That's the site for the math in general, but their language arts get high marks as well... I love TT, we used it for a year after a failed year trying Saxon. My kids did NOT like Saxon at all, though some kids love it. The levels mentioned are a bit high for the content inside though. For example: If it says 7th grade math, it's really more like 6th grade math, or maybe a little less. My dd has done pretty well at math, though she's not gifted in it or anything, and she tested into the TT Pre-Algebra when she was in 4th grade. She did it with no real problems. HOWEVER, she was NOT ready for general Algebra in 5th, she's starting that this year in 7th. We just expanded and strenthened her math base instead of jumping into Algebra. I think she's better off for it! Anyway, the difference in content levels is not a problem, you just adjust to the level that has what your child needs. If it seems too easy--move up a level! Too hard--move down a level! It's a good program! They have Placement Tests on-line so you can place them in the right level. Best wishes as you look and decide!
I remember using Saxon when I was hs and remember not liking it. We eventually switched to the book used by our college for math 90-99 and it worked well.
I can't speak for higher levels of TT. BUT we're using the 5th grade, and my daughter adores it. Often asks to do more than one lesson a day. Our plan is to do TT continuously and not take breaks during the summers in math. I do have a friend who has just switched to the higher levels of MUS (I am pretty sure her son's doing the geometry) and she loves it. He watches the DVD, figures the homework, she uses the teacher book to grade it. Done. Hope this helps.
we finish Algebra Teaching Text with my dd who was in 8th grade. We love it. We love teaching text its wonderful. we tryed Saxon and it didn't work for us.
We've used Saxon Algebra with pretty good results, but it WAS boring to the students and we had to *teach* a lot of it. I believe the new Teacher dvd's ought to make this much better! I've heard that Teaching Textbooks is pricey, and a bit "lower level", in other words, a fourth grader could do the fifth grade, a fifth grader could do the sixth, and so on, and that you have to do two algebras to get all of one. OTOH, Saxon is now considered "below level" too -- compared to what they used to be. Because public schools are pushing skills down, to be taught in earlier grades than they used to be, not because Saxon has "gotten slack". Where 54 used to be advertised as for "average fifth grader, advanced fourth grader", now it would be average fourth grade; 65 used to be for "average sixth grader, or advanced fifth grader", but now would be considered regular fifth grade. And so on. Therefore, with 76 in sixth grade, 87 in seventh grade, and Alg 1/2 in eighth grade, Algebra I comes out to be ninth grade, where it always was. But nowadays, public schools are pushing Algebra I (as a course, not necessarily Saxon's) for eighth grade. And with Saxon, you need to do Algebra I and II and Adv Math in order to also get a complete Geometry course because it's integrated and not a separate course, although I think now since John Saxon died and another company has acquired Saxon, they've added a geometry course for schools. Nobody mentioned Jacobs' Algebra here. Has anybody used this??
Lindina wow they push 8th grade for Algebra 1? Here they integrate the algebra with jr high levels but dont push it unless its in the AP level courses. Course our state up to a couple years back was striving to meet the 50 % level as its goal so...
TMom, yep, most places are trying to get students to do Algebra 1 in 8th grade. In fact, it's the norm some places, and they consider the student behind who does Algebra 1 in 9th grade! Glad it wasn't that way when I was in school! :0
Saxon is DEFINITELY one that needs more teacher led learning, so I wouldnt go with it. I agree with the MUS suggestions.
Just FYI - Saxon has released a new seperate Geometry Course this past year. Haven't heard reviews yet - but it does exisit I know ds will be doing Algebra II next year with Saxon and then probably go for the Geometry Course. DD is in 4 grade and I will say some of the stuff in 5/4 is right on her level if not a little below her. We are about to get into multiplication which is where she struggles more and so I can't wait to see what happens. I bought her Life of Fred Fractions and I thought I would add that in with it as she does seem to be reading better and I think she'll love the story-line concept and grasp more. I heard Jacob's Algebra is really good - I just couldn't find anyone to tell me how teacher intensive it was if at all. With the new Saxon Teacher things I really don't have to work with ds at all and he's been getting B's or better on all his tests.
okay so why are they pushing Algebra so much> this being one of the weirder maths in my book, the one that is used least in life that is highly confusing to most students at somepoint until they just learn it and don't try to totally understand it.. uh dont mean to high jack ,just curious maybe I shoudl start a thread?
