I am trying to decide which math curriculum to use with the kids at home next year. My two older girls have learned with SAXON math at school and are doing well but I really like the way MUS appears to use different ways of teaching concepts that would appeal to different types of learners. Opinions?
I know a lot use Saxon, and many swear by it, but I was given everything for grade 3 through Trig and just couldn't stomach it, I passed it on to someone else, even though a free math program fit my budget way better than what I use (we have to homeschool really cheap in order to keep doing it ). I use McRuffy for it's hands on, interactive and fun aspect. My kids love it, even my one who isn't mathy and struggles likes the hands on and games of McRuffy.. from there I like Teaching Textbooks. I know I didn't answer your question at all, but wanted to share 2 other spiral options like Saxon is. MUS is mastery.
We use Saxon and so far we like it. I have noticed that my kids do better with the spiral approach and because of that they seem to master things better. I like that if my kids have trouble with understanding a concept it is "taught" in every subsequent lesson so that over the course of the next few lesson it "clicks" for them and they don't struggle with the concept any more. I haven't used MUS or TT so I can't compare them.
We also have not used MUS, but I have a copy of Saxon. The material in Saxon seems heavy. I wasn't impressed with it, so we haven't used it. There aren't many pictures, the print and problems are very close together, and it looks more like a college textbook than anything. It is easy to see why it would be a very thorough math program, but it wasn't a good fit for my more visual learners.
I grew up on Saxon (through Calculus) and did very well with it; HOWEVER, my kids were overwhelmed to even look at a page with all those problems. We switched to MUS pretty early on. I really like the mastery approach and the way it teaches concepts. The only thing I would advise is that if you will be having your kids go back to public school, consider that it is difficult to transition from using a mastery approach and then going into curriculum using the spiral method. My daughter just went back to public (8th grade) and her math tests were odd because there were concepts she hadn't seen quite yet. She is doing well in her math class, but it was a bit concerning for her at first.
They are totally different! Saxon spirals and my kids don't do well with that. If your kids are used to Saxon and do well with it, no reason to change. If you have to take a standardized test in your state, they will do well on the math part. I tried Saxon with DS and we were both in tears! There is so much work and I am a less is more type person! He is now taking BJU pre-algebra in a co-op class. It is more mastery and that is best for him. MUS is mastery and once they get it, they move on. I use MUS with DD and it is great for her because she struggles with math. She is in pre-algebra now and I will keep her in MUS through the end of high school. I agree with Brooke about MUS and any plans to return to public school. It would be a difficult transition back to the spiralling approach.
Saxon and MUS are complete opposites. If your kids are doing well with Saxon, I wouldn't make such a drastic change. If they do want a change from Saxon, they'd probably do well with something like Teaching Textbooks, which is also spiral, but less incremental and with less drill. If I had to choose between Saxon and MUS for a 5-year-old (if you're planning on homeschooling through at least middle school), I'd go with MUS. It's much more enjoyable.
I'm a MUS fan, but if you use Saxon you have to give your child permission to not do every question in the book. When they think they have got the concept, let them move on. There are way too many questions and that's why children complain it's boring. I also agree with the poster above, if Saxon is working, why change? Saxon's been around a long time and wasn't designed for use in the home. I prefer curricula that have been designed for homeschoolers or by homeschoolers.
I love Saxon and I disagree with this statement. The program was designed so that kids do every problem. The only problems that are really not necessary to the program are the warm ups as they are designed for the classroom. The rest of the problems are an intrinsic part of the spiral approach. If they are not getting the continual practice on previous learned material they are not getting the reinforcement that is crucial to the spiral approach. I know many homeschoolers feel if I think my child knows it so I can skip it but that is more of a mastery philosophy and not the spiral philosophy. Saxon is really not the proper fit for someone with a mastery philosophy towards mathematics. I would also say if the kids are doing well with Saxon keep going with it.
If your children are doing well with Saxon I would stick with it. I wouldn't switch to a different math curriculum unless it wasn't working.
I haven't used Saxon but we just got our first real math curriculum (after 3 years of living math) and went with MUS, but I choose it because I prefer mastery to spiral. If your kids are used to spiral (and used to Saxon in particular) and doing well with it well then I say if it ain't broke, don't fix it...
