I was using the wrong math for my daughter, so I switched to Saxon Math.
Saxon Math came HIGHLY recommended to me by a homeschool mom of 5. She gave me her feedback about the curriculum, and so I thought we’d try it, and it was the best decision for my daughter!
SAXON MATH GRADE 1
REVIEW SUMMARY: 5 out of 5 stars
- Grades Used: Grade 1
- Pros: Concepts are understandable and lots of review, uses manipulatives and is black & white.
- Cons: Repetitve (yup, can be a pro and a con), US currency
CHILD’S LEARNING STYLE
What’s important to know (because in homeschooling we get to choose materials based on our child’s learning style), is that my daughter:
- is a perfectionist
- is hard on herself when she doesn’t get a concept immediately.
- prefers a predictable schedule
- can sniff when you don’t know what you’re talking about
- likes to colour – so black and white is calming to her
Based on my daughter’s learning style, personality type and my preference in teaching, below is my detailed of Saxon Math 1.
WHAT’S IN SAXON MATH GRADE 1?
The Saxon Math Grade 1 Kit comes with a Teacher’s Manual, Meeting Book, 2 Workbooks and additional fact/teaching sheets. The Saxon Math Grade K-3 Manipulative Kit is also suggested, and it is something we chose to get. So glad we did – it has helped my daughter understand!
PREPARATION
In reading the Teacher’s Manual, which is scripted (phew!), there is an overview of what to expect called “Math 1 Home Study Overview”.
Most items required for the lessons, I had on hand, or would swap with other items I did have. The prep needed certainly wasn’t overwhelming. In fact, I wouldn’t even look at the list of the materials needed until the night before or the morning of the lesson. It would be easy though to prep for the week and make those purchases.
DETAILED REVIEW
PROS:
- The Teacher’s Manual is scripted. (I really love this!) This book can seem daunting mainly because of how thick it is, but I find it so helpful in explaining concepts to my child. The scripts goes step-by-step, so that in the end, there’s understanding of the concepts.
- There are 130 lessons. Each day a lesson can be done. Each day, it is recommended to complete the “A” side of the worksheet and then the “B” side later in the day. We don’t follow this instruction. We complete side “A”, and do some review on side “B”. Too much and it becomes busy work, which is not something we’re interested in doing.
- Lots of review. My daughter does well with repetition and practice. However, we choose what to review based on what we haven’t covered in a while, or what needs more practice. I prefer that curriculums have lots of review so that if an area needs work, it’s available rather than going to look for pages elsewhere.
- Black and white workbook pages. Keeping pages simple for my daughter is a good thing. It eliminates the busyness of the page helping her to stay focused. And she can colour it if she wants to.
- Good understanding. I have found that my daughter retains math really well based on how this program is laid out. The approach is slow and methodical so that concepts are built on top of the other.
CONS:
- Lots of review. For those who feel like they need to do everything in a curriculum (which I DO NOT recommend), the review may be too much.
- US currency. Anything that was reference in US currency, I just replaced with Canadian currency.
Have you tried Saxon Math with your children?
I’d like to know what were your successes and challenges with the curriculum. Feel free to leave a comment below.
Anchored in Jesus,
Melanie