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Barb.b
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| Posted: May 15 2013 at 9:57am | IP Logged
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So give your opinions. DS (ending 4th) is on lesson 71 in Saxon 4/5 (out of 120). Now I usually like to leave lessons to do in the summer but this year I left a bit too many. Usually I like to leave enough so we can finish the book over the summer by doing 1/2 lesson per day. Any more then 1/2 in the summer and it seem counter productive for us because it just seems like too much per day then. Anyway, what do you think: 1. I could do 1/2 lesson per day (then come end of August get back to 1 lesson per day and finish the book whenever that happens in the fall ),2. keep doing about 4 full lessons per week (and clash with ds and I!),3. forget the book altogether and get a summer review book.
I know which choice I am leaning toward, but would love to see opinions!
Barb
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kristinannie
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| Posted: May 15 2013 at 4:24pm | IP Logged
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I am not sure how much review is built into Saxon. If the first part of the 5/6 book is review of 4/5 I would not do the review and just push through. Either way, I would do option 1.
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dinasiano
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| Posted: May 15 2013 at 4:29pm | IP Logged
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Forget about the book and get a review book- option 3, definitely  I have learned that you will wind up back on track even if you don't review over the summer
Dina
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Barb.b
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| Posted: May 15 2013 at 7:00pm | IP Logged
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Hmmm - things to ponder! Thank you both! I will let you know what I do! I must say I have considered both equally! Maybe it will depend on what review books I find at Barnes and Noble. One thing I think it - where I like Saxon he could use a break from it as it is taxing! But. . . . I think I will wait to decide on what the review books look like. I want something that reviews several math topics each day. Some have all long division one day, then a bunch of multiplication the next. . . . not sure that works.
Any one else want to vote?
Barb
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Becky Parker
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| Posted: May 16 2013 at 6:22am | IP Logged
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I'm in a similar situation Barb! I actually talked to Art Reed from the Saxon company. Amazingly, I sent an email asking a similar question for my ds doing Saxon 76 and he called me back within the hour. He talked to me for about 45 minutes! Basically, he told me to put the book away for the rest of the school year and work on the basic math facts, then pick up the book where we left off the next year, making sure to complete it before going on to the next book. That was for my 6th grader, but I am using the same wisdom for my younger child. Mr. Reed explained to me the importance of finishing the books before we go on (something I never really did). He said it is more important to finish the books then to keep up with some sort of plan (54 in 4th grade, 65 in 5th, 76 in 6th ...). He also said that if the child can complete each book and really learn each concept it is quite do-able to skip the entire 87 or Algebra 1/2 book, keeping the child on target to finish the necessary Math before highschool algebra.
Not sure I said that in a way that is easy to understand but the bottom line, and something that I am doing, is putting away Saxon, buying some skills workbooks and taking some time this summer to work on fact memorization. (He gave me a link to an online facts game, but I can't remember what it was. I'll have to go and find it.) We'll pull out Saxon 54 again at the start of next year and finish it.
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Barb.b
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| Posted: May 16 2013 at 7:22am | IP Logged
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Thanks Becky!
That is a good point. I always loved Saxon but it is a bit intense to do during the school year and summer! I have been homeschooling a long time - but still need to be reminded that I don't need to start the next book in September! In fact, we can do what he suggested, take up Saxon 4/5 at the end of August and be starting the next math book sometime November or December. Not so bad. There are certain problems that frustrate him, maybe doing it Art Reed's way my ds will not find them as frustrating by the time he ends the book.
Barb
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StephanieA
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| Posted: May 16 2013 at 7:30am | IP Logged
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The first 20-25 chapters in Saxon are review of the prior material. If my children know the material, we test out of it. If not or I even question their ability slightly), those pages make great review.
That said, give your child a "Saxon" break. Review concepts....do 1 long addition, 1 long subtraction, 2 division, 2 multiplication problems Monday-Thursday. I have found simply making these up (5-6 different sheets and rotating them) is better than finding the perfect workbook because the workbook will introduce concepts not studied or will be painfully boring. Plus get Kumon's word problem workbooks. They are great for concept building. Start easier and build confidence. (We start one grade level below their ability). Half the challenge is reading and doing the problems completely on their own.
Or any other word problem books available (Thinking Press or Singapore Word problems-definetly begin 1-2 grades below).
BLessings,
Stephanie
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Barb.b
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| Posted: May 16 2013 at 8:00am | IP Logged
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So it can go like this:
5/4 - finish mid 5th grade
5/6 - finish mid 6th
7/6 - finish mid 7th
8/7 or alg 1/2 finish mid 8th
Alg 1 - finish mid 9th
Alg 2 - finish mid 10th
Advanced Math - 2nd 1/2 10th - thru all 11th (3 semesters)
Senior year - finish advanced math if needed, go Calculus
So, really - by reviewing this summer and picking up the same book in fall - he isn't "behind" anyway!
Thanks Becky. I do love taking the summer to work on facts like add/sub speed; mult and division tables finish memorizing, work on 1 or 2 word problems per day. . .
Barb
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Barb.b
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| Posted: May 16 2013 at 8:11am | IP Logged
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I think my problem is I end up with the false notion that if we don't go into the next book at the start of the school year we are behind. Then I (falsely) think he will not be on track to take psat/sat/act in high school. I like my kids to take SAT 1st time end of 10th grade so they have time to take it more then once. THat said - kids need to finish up through the first 1/2 of advanced math to be ready for SAT/act. My current thoughts put ds right on target then for my liking the first SAT to be end of 10th. So, I guess I am good to review for the summer and take up the book again come august! It aslo made me rethink what I am doing with my dd finishing 9th. she is on lesson 70 of Alg 2. For her I think we will do 2 1/2 to 3 lesson per week in the summer. Come end of August get back to 4 lessons per week and sometime fall begin Advanced math. THat way it isn't too intense for summer (doing 4 per week) but she still keeps things fresh (doing about 1/2 lesson per day - not skipping anything though.
Thanks all! That what I love about this forum - it helps me think through stuff!
Barb
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Becky Parker
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| Posted: May 16 2013 at 8:47am | IP Logged
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Barb.b wrote:
| I think my problem is I end up with the false notion that if we don't go into the next book at the start of the school year we are behind. |
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Yes, this is my problem as well. But Mr. Reed really drove home the point that the child needs to solidify the concepts or moving on, pushing on, is going to do no good.
It sounds like you have a good plan!
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SallyT
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| Posted: May 16 2013 at 12:32pm | IP Logged
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I really like Art Reed. We've used his DVDs as supplements for a couple of Saxon years for my older son, and they've been very good. I like them better than the D.I.V.E. CDs, not least because you see the real teacher, Mr. Reed, up there teaching at his podium.
He seems to have a very balanced approach to learning math "the Saxon way," which is so good, because the intensity can be so intimidating! It's nice to hear this sane, realistic, reassuring advice.
Sally
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4Real Forums : Living and Loving Numbers
Topic: what to do
