Posted on 10/30/2006 12:36:40 PM PST by SoftballMominVA
When she started college, she was making extra money for school tutoring other students in Calc...as a freshman. Her big rant was that the school's texts were incomprehensible; and she used the Saxon curriculum, and the skills it gave her, to make sense of the standard texts, and guide the upper classmen she tutored. She was called the Calculus Queen; and a large number of seniors graduated on time as a result of her instruction.
I stopped after the Adv Math book...other interests took me away from the persuit...I finally figured out how to do math at age 45; but daughter#1...a double-degree grad... magna engineer, cumma deck officer....is a STRONG advocate of Saxon's books..including Calc and Physics: she says they are the best.
A little empirical, anecdotal thumbs-up. for Saxon.
See, that's what I think. THere are two Saxon camps: some hate them, some adore them. Sounds like a great kid, well done.
There are a few I've tangled with even on education topics who are just, shall we say, a bit techy. I think they just need more coffee.
No, you can't use Saxon as a reference book. You need to start and progress thru the books, otherwise you will miss some things because it doesn't do just one topic per chapter. In fact, it doesn't use chapters at all as an organizing principle.
My dd had a math tutor in 4th grade who used Saxon 54 to drill math facts.
I didn't like the circular/ hit everything a bit in each chapter. I prefer linear, where you just look up 'multiplying fractions' or 'percents to decimals' and there it is.
But people seem to like it. Some do.
I didn't like the circular/ hit everything a bit in each chapter. I prefer linear, where you just look up 'multiplying fractions' or 'percents to decimals' and there it is.
But people seem to like it. Some do.
The repetitiveness really drills it in - another reason why some don't like it. For those who do not find math easy, the repetition makes it accessible, easier to remember facts, and helps them retain it longer.
Believe me, I know kids who get the lessons just fine, but forget it the very next week. When you need to work the problems day after day, week after week, it sticks.
For very able math students, I believe you could go thru Saxon Algebra I thru Calculus in less than 2 years and gain an outstanding base.
"There are a few I've tangled with even on education topics who are just, shall we say, a bit techy. I think they just need more coffee."
Yeah, I try to make sure I've downed a cup before posting. :-)
Where I tutor, we all hate Saxon.
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For tutoring, Saxon Math books would not be appropriate. This would be especially true if the tutor was expected to help instruct one specific area. ( for example: converting fractions to decimals)
Saxon Math will prevent the need for tutoring, if all the chapters and examples are carefully studied, and all problems in every chapter are done. It took my children about 4 years to finish grade four though Algebra I/II. After that, they were admitted to community college and finished all levels of college calculus to Calculus III by the age of 15. Every day, except Saturday and Sundays, major holidays, and family vacations, we studied one chapter and did all the problems.
We're considering Saxon for our oldest son now. He will turn 11 soon. I've been using a variety of inexpensive books and materials, but I guess it's time to start him on one math curriculum that he can follow into the high school level. And so many homeschoolers recommend Saxon.
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