Math Curriculum

Discussion in 'Homeschooling' started by Jayne, Jul 4, 2015.

  1. Jayne

    Jayne New Member

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    I'm new to homeschooling (just posted on the intro thread). I'm looking at Saxon and Jacobs high school math. I'd love to hear recommendations, critiques, praise. etc., about these curriculums and/or others. It seems that Saxon helps with retention, and Jacobs facilitates conceptual understanding. I would like to hear other views on this topic.

    Thank you!

    JW
     
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  3. Lindina

    Lindina Active Member

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    I've not used Jacobs, so I can't say much about it. What I've always wondered about it is whether it covers what is commonly taught in both algebra 1 and 2, or only algebra 1. Maybe someone will answer both our questions about that.

    I have used Saxon. It's good, but if you're not really math-minded, it can be tough to slog through. I've heard the Teacher dvds do a great job of explaining, but I've never seen one. I've heard the Teacher ones are better than the DIVE ones...

    Wish I could be more help.
     
  4. Jayne

    Jayne New Member

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    Thank you

    Thanks, Lindina.

    Jacob's has both Algebra 1 and Geo. I'm far from a math whiz, so I'd need something that my son can work through, for the most part, by himself. I'm sure I can read and comprehend the material and help, but I can't actually teach it.

    From what I've seen from Jacob's it's conceptual, somewhat incremental development, and visual/sensory. It looks like the concept is presented visually, and you work through different iterations for a deeper understanding, i.e., you work Venn diagrams by organizing the data into the diagrams yourself. Then you answer questions related to the Venn diagram that you created. The student is required to draw figures and diagrams, use a graphing calculator, and use Sketchpad.

    My son has difficulty with retention, and I think if he really understands the material, it would probably help with retention. The flip side is that I also think that Saxon would help with retention because it reportedly has a lot of exercises for the student. I just don't know how conceptual it is and how much of an understanding he'd gain from the Saxon material. I don't want him to just memorize the material.

    If I go with Jacob's, I plan on having him review the Algebra text, and focus on areas where he's weak.

    Another factor is which program's content is stronger. It's a lot to consider, and I have no experience. The public school used a typical Common Core text, but they didn't even finish it, so who knows what he missed.
     
    Last edited: Jul 5, 2015
  5. Jackie

    Jackie Active Member

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    Welcome, Jayne! I'm Jackie (Hello!) and have graduated two and still have one at home. My oldest is a math/science geek (graduating college in Electrical Engineering in December), so math was a big deal in our house. When she started at that level, my husband had a discarded public school text he wanted me to use (key word: FREE). IT WAS HORRIBLE!!! I finally had a temper-tantrum big enough to get his attention, and we switched to another retired text (much older) that worked very well for us. We did that with both Pre-Alg and Alg 1 for all three kids. We then went with Teaching Textbooks, because while Rachael's my geek, math and science was very much against my religion ;). I took Alg 1 and Geom in high school, and that was IT!!! So I needed something that would do the teaching for me, and TT was just coming out. It was a God-send!!! Some say it's not rigorous enough, but it didn't hurt Rachael at all when she got into college!

    You might want to check it out. I don't know how it would work for you; I'm not sure it has enough practice for a kid who has trouble retaining. We tried it with Pre-Alg for my youngest, and it wasn't working, partly because Phillip's lazy when it comes to school and likes to breeze through as quickly as possible so he can play computer. Sigh.... It took him TWO YEARS to get through Alg 1, and I'm still not sure he's "got it"!!! But we're putting him in TT Geometry this fall, so we'll see.....

    Good luck!!!
     
  6. mschickie

    mschickie Active Member

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    We used Saxon with our sd who we pulled from ps in 9th grade. She loved it (as much as a kid loves a math program that is). Saxon does deal with the concepts just not in a visual manner, some kids need that others do not. Saxon does a very good job explain the concepts they just do not present it all at once. It is a spiral approach and builds upon itself where as from what I know about Jacob's it is more in line with mastery. So it really just depends on which way the student learns best focusing on one topic or slow build with a concept.
     
  7. kelleydh80

    kelleydh80 New Member

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    HI! I'm new here too. I don't have experience with the high school levels as my oldest is 8th grade, but wanted to throw my experience out there. Saxon for us was a nightmare. My daughter absolutely hated it and thought it was extremely boring. What has been a win for us was Teaching Textbooks. Very easy to use for a non-math-whiz like me, plus the kids have all liked it. Another program we absolutely love (and my kids would prefer it as our sole curriculum) is Life of Fred. Very entertaining and educational at the same time.
     
  8. Jayne

    Jayne New Member

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    Thanks, all!

    Thanks everyone for their recommendations.

    I called Rainbow Resource, and a consultant recommended A Fresh Approach (to math). I purchased the Alg 1 and Geo. My kid needs to only focus in Alg 1 on the material that he didn't learn. The Geo emphasizes proofs, which is the hardest part of Geo to learn. It is apparently, a guided-inquiry-based product, which IMO helps retention

    I only got through Geo, too, in high school (and that was a long time ago), so I need the material to teach my kid.

    My son's passion is really history (we all love history), but it's not a great major for a well-paying career. He's really bright (gifted/talented-identified), but he's on the autism spectrum and has moderate to severe anxiety. I think it was just the high school without the kind of support he had in elementary and middle school, was beyond his ability to cope. He was really distracted last year (doesn't have ADHD), so we're working with a counselor to identify the problems and develop solutions.

    He is somewhat inflexible (a rule follower), and the kids' behavior in the traditional classroom can unnerve him, and classrooms are less structured at the high school level than they were in K-8.

    I'll keep reading here, and post questions and comments here. I'm looking for more curricula, such as Spanish instruction. And, I'll let everyone know how this new math works for him.

    I appreciate everyone's comments, and feel very welcome on this forum.

    J
     
  9. mschickie

    mschickie Active Member

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    Don't discount history as a major. There are well paying jobs out there. Besides working in a museum there are many history majors found in law, foreign relations, editing and publishing, and even a variety of corporate jobs. History majors are valued because of their research skills. (now just because I was a History major with a math minor, I might be slightly prejudice)
     
  10. aggie01

    aggie01 New Member

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    I'm a little late since you have already bought something, but I recently found that Math Mammoth has a great over view of some Pre Alg, Alg1 etc books. I was so thankful for finding it.
     

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