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teachingmyown
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| Posted: Aug 11 2008 at 5:22pm | IP Logged
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This is actually kind of a general question, but for today, I am speaking specifically about choosing a math program.
My dd12 wants to do Saxon, either 87 or 1/2. (Which one of those would be another question  .) From years of experience, I know that I won't be as available as she may need me to be for explaining and checking her work. I would really like her to do Teaching Textbooks.
So, who decides? Both programs require an investment as far as price. I don't want an unhappy student, but I don't want a student who falls behind because I am not on top of things.
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In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
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SunnyD.
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| Posted: Aug 11 2008 at 6:20pm | IP Logged
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We use Saxon Math for our children. We have one in Algebra II, one in Algebra 1/2 and one in Math 6/5. If my memory is correct, with the 1/2 and the II, Saxon offers a CD, either Dive or Saxon Teacher, that explains how to do the problems. It was a great help last year with Algebra I and I'm positive it will be a lifesaver this upcoming year with Algebra II. Saxon Teacher actually explains each practice and problem question, every one in the book! Thank Goodness!
If you go to saxonhomeschool.com, click on the placement test tab. We found the tests very useful when trying to decide which math level to put our children in to. I hope that helps! Good luck!
Sunny
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Erin
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Molly
The question is why? Why does she wish to do Saxon, have you already been using this program? Perhaps she is resistant to change? I know my dd is and boy did she/ and does resist change. Actually I finally got the children to do the Mercy Academy learning style test and discovered that is dd's learning style, resistant to change. boy did the floodlights come on. 
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Erin
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Elena
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If I were you I'd go ahead and get the Saxon, but from e-bay or Cath swap. There's no need to pay full price.
I gave up and just hired a tutor! You might want to consider that route. The one I was able to find tutors a lot of homeschoolers and had no trouble coming to our home.
Like you, I knew I wasn't going to be able to keep up with the math thing. Saxon and this math tutor were the best things going!
One caveat - Saxon does not have a separate geometry book. I have heard that sometimes Saxon students don't do as well in that area on standardized tests because of it. Because my tutor is a math person he just brought the geometry book that he was the most familiar with and we have been using that. It has worked well for us so far going into the 10th grade with Algebra 1 done and geometry about 1/8 done!
Good luck!
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Wife to Peter, mom of many!
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TracyQ
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We used Saxon Math with the DIVE CD Roms with great success with our boys, who are pretty good at math.
Our daughter is a different story, and Saxon doesn't work for her. If your daughter thinks Saxon works best for her, I'd suggest the Saxon with the DIVE CD Roms. the cheapest place I've found the sets with all included is Rainbow Resource - Saxon Math
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Tracy Q.
wife of Marty for 20 years, mom of 3 wonderful children (1 homeschool graduate, 1 12th grader, and a 9th grader),
 homeschooling in 15th year in Buffalo, NY
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ALmom
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We have most of our children using Singapore but one child really wanted to stick with Saxon. Hey, if it was a text the child liked and was comfortable with, I'd accomodate unless the reasons for wanting to do it were related to not wanting to have to learn. There are plenty of ways to get extra support and as far as Saxon not having Geometry, we simply did a Geometry course with Seton between Alg. I and II. Then when you do the Saxon after that skip most of the Geometry related questions unless there is a real reason to readdress something. (You can sign up for single courses with Seton and Kolbe, I believe and that might be a cheaper route than a tutor to get the help with explaining something not understood.
Janet
I will admit, I am most comfortable teaching math, so that makes it easier for me to use any text. I know here, I'm happy to do phone help with Algebra II and below as I really love it. I'm sure there has to be someone in the area who might be willing to be a resource person - or, if you can find a reasonbly priced one, tutors are great!
Oh, and between 8/7 and 1/2, if you are using the newer text, I'd go with 8/7 as it has pre-Algebra in it. Then, I'd skip the Algebra 1/2 and go on to whichever Algebra program you want to use.
Janet
Janet
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4Real Forums : Living and Loving Numbers
Topic: Who decides?
