Anybody else use or have used Saxon math??

I don’t think Saxon math is a great idea.  I had a look at one (a younger grade) and wow, the amount of work.  One boy in our group violin class (in about grade 3) always has Saxon math to finish up during his siblings group class.  (they also homeschool.)  

I’d either go back to Singapore – or I have heard great things about VideoText.  (I think that was the name.)  For more review, I’d use KhanAcademy.org

Teaching Textbooks, Math U See, those are the two I would look at. We used Saxon for 3 years with my oldest and it wasn’t right for her. Absolutely killed her love of math. We’ve been using Math U See now for a few years and it’s better – she actually understands math.

Oh, and I’ve heard great things about the Life of Fred series too!

Math U See has been great for all of our kids.  We use Life of Fred as a fun supplement.

We have used Saxon for many years for two of my dc.  My oldest still likes it (he’s 12) and really does not want to change; I’ve asked, offered, almost begged….mostly because it’s dry for ME.  He still likes it and doesn’t have much issues with the concepts.  If he does, I use Math Mammoth to focus on 1 concept.  We have TT here at the house, too, but he just doesn’t want to change 🙁 Now, my middle boy was having some issues cementing math concepts, so after 3 years of Saxon we have changed to a low level Math U See.  He seems to be progressing at a much better pace AND he seems to be retaining the concepts much better.  Even with the Saxon he’d do great on the lesson/worksheets but could never “do math” outside of the lessons, don’t quite know why.  And, he wanted to do the whole lesson!!  That could take over an hour if you did the calendar, meeting strip, etc.  I did start breaking the lessons up into two parts, but that was still too much.

My boys all have different strengths (which all of our kids do!) and I can already tell that my little guy (5) could use any math and probably “get it”.  With that said, we’re using MUS for him (although I have RS, as well) since the teacher prep is zero 🙂  I have Saxon K, but haven’t cracked it open for my 5yo….just can’t go there with the “I say this, you say this” conversation.  That may sound lazy, but I lose my kids if I have to look at the book to know what to say, lol.

HTH, probably more than you needed to know 🙂

We use it here and love it, but I will say I especially like Level 5/4 and beyond.  I’m not as impressed with their K-3 line (different author), although Saxon’s new Intermediate 3 text looks promising.

So far, we’ve used 5/4 and currently 6/5.  We especially like the thorough explanation of each new concept, the Problem Set (built-in review), and the small reference numbers that accompany each problem in the Problem Set, should you need to brush up on a previously-introduced concept.  We’ve used ABeka, Singapore, and, now, Saxon, and for us, Saxon wins hands-down.  

Michelle