| I have never been a fan of Saxon Math. I used it | | | | help or explanation from me. Face it, most |
| during my first few years homeschooling because | | | | homeschool parents are not math majors and |
| it was the most well-known and most | | | | don't remember much about Algebra (that was |
| recommended program. If I had it to do over, I | | | | only 20 years ago!). It matters on how well the |
| never would have used Saxon at all. My kids and I | | | | explanations are done for us as well. I couldn't |
| found it tedious to slog through - it had such a | | | | count the number of times I have looked at math |
| public school feel to it. Lots of added on extras, | | | | lessons and had to understand the explanations in |
| just so the state standards got covered. At least | | | | order to help my child. |
| that is how I perceive the program. | | | | Fortunately, with Teaching Textbook, there was |
| In the early grades (K-6) I prefer to use | | | | very little of this, at least much less than I have |
| something like ABeka or Horizons and then switch | | | | had with any other math program. I also felt that |
| to the "Key To" series" for reinforcement in | | | | it left my son very well prepared for the Algebra |
| fractions and decimals, and then switch to | | | | course he is taking this year in tenth grade and he |
| Teaching Textbook after that. | | | | is having no problems keeping up. |
| My reasons for this are that the very early | | | | It is true the Teaching Textbook program is |
| grades (K-3) are straightforward and easy to | | | | expensive. However,you could very well get a |
| teach, and I never saw the point in overwhelming | | | | bargain on a used program on E-bay. Also, I have |
| a young child with so many problems and | | | | always saved my pennies to buy expensive |
| exercises to practice on the basics (except for | | | | programs when it really counts, because you will |
| drill work with multiplication tables). Also, as the | | | | really appreciate the extra help with those |
| math difficulty increased with things like long | | | | tougher high school math courses. |
| division, fractions and decimals, my children didn't | | | | In short, forget buying the $80.00 math Saxon |
| find their explanations and examples to be | | | | program for your first grader with all of the bells |
| adequate. | | | | and whistles, when you really don't need it. |
| When my now 15-year-old son was 13, I got him | | | | Instead, save yourself valuable time, frustration |
| the Teaching Textbook Pre-Algebra program. | | | | and money by buying a top-quality program, like |
| There is a corresponding white board lecture on | | | | Teaching Textbook, down the road, when you will |
| CD-ROM for each lesson in the textbook. My son | | | | really need and appreciate it. |
| was able to understand most things without extra | | | | |