If anyone wants a comparison let me know. I can't figure out why they didn't either make them a real workbook or keep the hardcover texts. They will never hold up like the old ones did. They did add a little color, just one though. :? Tammy
I loved the hardcover versions and have recently purchased the new soft-cover of Saxon 7/6 for my friend's daughter I tutor. I agree ... they don't appear as though they'll stand up to years of use. I did make covers for mine out of brown paper ... so at least they'll stay clean and not become dog-eared. I know that hard-covers are significantly more money to produce than soft-cover and perhaps they figured including the solutions manual would save one separate set of binding, while justifying the price hike. The problem with THAT line of reasoning is ... who needs a solutions manual up to 8/7 anyway ??? They didn't make new soft-cover editions of the levels beyond 8/7. :roll: Kathe
Personally, I agree that the hardback ones are more expensive to make AND don't last as long. So they figure they save money in making them, plus perhaps they'll sell more since they won't last as long and so people won't be able to buy/sell used as much. Well, I purchased 76 for next year...used AND hardback! Next year, I'll be looking for probably Algebra 1/2, again used and hardback! Are they any cheaper to buy since they're now paperback?
Nope, Jackie, they're not. That's what I mentioned ... they DID include the solutions manual in the new volumes, BUT they raised the price overall. Luckily I've acquired every volume of Saxon I'll need for the little ones in hardback (except 7/6) ... now I'm working on getting second copies ... for the twins. I don't expect them to share a textbook when there are over 30 questions to be done at a time. Can you imagine them passing a soft-cover text back and forth between them every day? That would last hmmm ... six months ??? :roll: Kathe
Yes...yes...yes. I needed the book now and just ordered from a hs discounter as I couldn't find a used older version. I'm going to cover mine with clear contact paper like a library book. Covering a trade sized paperback save on wear and tear, but a hardcover just last longer. The addition of a new booklet has the tests and fact practice sheets that used to come in a small booklet as reproducibles. What the teacher used to have to do was make copies of these sheets as they were assigned in the textbook. In the new edition of Saxon, the needed copies are provided in the new booklet. For example, if the "100 addition facts" sheet is assigned 25 times throughout the program, then you will find 25 copies in the new booklet. You used to get one master, and had to make 25 copies yourself. This is a completely different component of the program from the textbook. These are extra activity sheets including timed fact practice and tests. The textbook itself is the same but with an additional color. When doing a lesson in the textbook, you will be instructed to do a particular activity sheet and then the new lesson is taught, and then the practice set is assigned (usually about 25 problems). The assigned practice set is still done on separate paper, as the actual textbook is still a textbook and not a workbook. Now everyone will need to purchase the new book of consumable activity sheets for each student. So, in the end they will make more money, however I still think this is the best math homeschool choice for us, and I wont miss making copies. On the other hand, I could save the $19.50 if I did. :wink: Tammy
