• Home
  • About
    • Our Family
    • Our Purpose
    • Our Beliefs
    • Our Christmas Letters
    • Other FAQ’s
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Shop
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Flanders Family Homelife

Living, Loving, & Learning Together

  • Home
  • Love
    • Respect your Husband
    • Love your Wife
    • Keep the Peace
    • Get Along with In-laws
    • Find Time for Intimacy
    • More on Marriage
  • Learn
    • Why Home School?
    • Occupying Toddlers
    • Kindergarten Plan
    • Choosing Curriculum
    • Report Cards
    • High School Transcripts
    • CLEP/ Dual Credit
    • High School Diplomas
  • Parent
    • Tips on Potty Training
    • Wipe Out Whining
    • Stop Sibling Squabbles
    • Chore Assignments
    • Computer TIme
    • Adult Children at Home
  • Eat
    • Breakfasts
    • Breads
    • Salads
    • Soups
    • Sides
    • Main DIshes
    • Desserts
  • Celebrate
    • New Year’s
    • Valentine’s Day
    • Easter
    • Summer Vacation
    • Independence Day
    • Back to School
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
  • Save
    • Kids Eat Free
    • Budgeting Tips
    • Secrets to Garage Saling Success
    • Earn Cash Back w/Ebates
  • Read
    • Recent Reads
    • Books We’ve Authored
    • Reading Rewards
    • Free Books!!
  • Travel
    • Vacation Planning
    • We Flew FREE to Europe
    • Sample Itineraries
  • Organize
    • General Tips
    • Goal Setting
    • Mom’s Notebook
    • Kitchen
    • Bedrooms
    • Toys
    • Garage
  • Print
    • Calendars
    • Chore Charts
    • Coloring Pages
    • Math Drills
    • Prayer Guides
    • View All >
You are here: Home / Home Schooling / Mailbag: More on Saxon Math

in Home Schooling· Mailbag

Mailbag: More on Saxon Math

Mailbag Mondays - Our answers to readers' questions

I received messages from two different readers last week about how our family uses Saxon Math, so I thought I’d tackle all their questions in the same column. You’ll find my replies (in italics) directly after each inquiry:

Hi Jennifer!

I have a question about math .. I am currently using Horizons K and just bought Horizons 1 for next year. All is going well, but I am considering doing the Saxon switch the way you suggested, since Horizons doesn’t actually give many teaching suggestions in the manual.

Q: Is Saxon 5/4 supposed to be for 4th grade?
A: I always heard it was designed for advanced fourth graders or regular fifth graders.

Q: Did you go up to 3rd grade with Horizons and then switch?
A: Not normally. I usually switched after Horizons 2, but to make the transition easier, I would (and still do) write out the problem set for my child throughout Saxon 54 (by copying down all the problems and leaving boxes and blanks for the answers). I also read the word problems aloud with them. When we first started homeschooling, neither Horizons nor the lower level Saxon were available, so I started with Saxon 54 much earlier than I might have otherwise, simply because I hadn’t found anything I liked as well. It worked for us, so I’ve continued that with my other children, usually switching to Saxon when they’re about 7 years old (second grade). I don’t recommend making the switch that early if your child is struggling with the math concepts presented in Horizons, but if she seems bored and ready for more of a challenge, let her have it.

Q: And is Saxon 5/4 the only book I will need to teach the same way that you did using the older manuals, that one being first?
A: The student text is all I’ve ever used to teach. I just read through the lesson aloud with my student and work all the examples either on a piece of paper if he’s sitting beside me or on a white board if I’m teaching more than one child at once. You will probably also want to buy the solution manual (which will make grading homework much faster) and the test booklet, but both those books are supplemental and will not be used for actual teaching, only for evaluation).

Thank you for your time and input!
Eve


Saxon 54 Saxon 65 Sax 76 Saxon Algebra 1/2
Saxon Algebra 1 Saxon Algebra 2 Saxon Advanced Math Saxon Calculus

Hi Jennifer –

I’m seeking math advice. I am assuming some of your children love math…I have one of those. My 7th grade daughter has (pretty successfully) done Saxon Algebra I this year. I am debating over her doing Algebra II next year or something else…but I don’t know what.

Q: Is 8th grade too early to start Algebra II?
A: That really depends on the child. If she did well in Algebra 1 and enjoys math enough to continue with upper level courses in high school, such as trigonometry, analytic geometry, calculus, differential equations, maybe statistics, then by all means let her continue.

If you are planning to stop after Algebra 2 or even Advanced Math, so that she will go several years in high school doing no math at all, then I would recommend stretching it out a bit more, maybe interjecting a year of Geometry before moving onto Algebra 2, so that those key math concepts are all relatively fresh when it’s time to take her SAT.

Either way, I would recommend she take the related CLEP test immediately upon completion of each level of math beyond and including Algebra 2.

Q: Are you one who recommends doing Algebra or Pre-Algebra twice no matter what?
A: No, that isn’t me. I’d have no qualms about repeating either course if my child hadn’t mastered the material, but I don’t see any reason to do so if he’s maintained high grades throughout the first run-through.

Q: What about your math lovers…could you share the “math path” they took? Year by year, what worked well for them?
A: The strongest of my math lovers “tested out” of Math 87 (which is entirely a review year) sometime during 7th grade. I printed off all the tests for that course, and my students would take one a day. As long as they made A’s on the exams, we’d move on to the next test. If their grade dropped to a “B” or lower, we’d stop and review the related material, then move on.

From there, it was Algebra 1/2 in 8th grade, Algebra 1 in 9th, Algebra 2 in 10th (immediately followed by the College Algebra CLEP test), Advanced Math in 11th (followed by the Pre-Calculus CLEP), and Calculus in 12th (followed by the Calculus CLEP).

A couple of my children spent much longer in Algebra at home (at their own request), trying to solidify those concepts in their minds, then took trig, analyt, and calculus at our local junior college, either as dual credit courses before graduation or as part of their degree plans after. That approach works better for a lot of moms, who may feel out of their depth in the upper level math classes, so don’t overlook that option.

Thank you SO much! I really appreciate your time!
Julie

How soon can we start Saxon?

This is a photo my daughter took of my grandson a couple of years ago… and, yes, three is way too young for this level of Saxon. He should learn to read and write (and use the potty) first!

Leave a Comment

« In the Word on Wednesday: 2 Corinthians 5:17
Happy Cinco de Mayo! »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

meet the parents

Doug & Jennifer Flanders - www.flandersfamily.info

We love Jesus, love each other, love our 12 children, and love the life God's given us. We started this blog as a way to share resources with others who want strong marriages, happy families, & healthy homes.

Read more

looking for something?

freebies in your inbox

Subscribe for immediate access to our library of 350+ free printable resources.

connect with us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

most popular posts this week

  • Number Writing Practice Sheet
  • 2021 Calendars for Advanced Planning
  • Free Chart for Keeping Track of Medications
  • Free Printing Practice Sheets
  • Armor of God Coloring Page
  • Free Printable Weekly Schedule
  • One-Year Bible Reading Plan
  • Free Editable High School Transcript Template
  • Free Patriotic Printables (Historical Documents)
  • Best 2020 Reading Rewards Programs for Kids

unleash your child’s creativity

free starter set

free starter set from Grove

Readers' Favorites

Name that Line - Christmas Movie Game

Name that Line Christmas Quiz

Shares: 22996

How Well Do You Know Your Christmas Carols

How Well Do You Know Your Christmas Carols?

Shares: 26323

Age-Appropriate Children's Chore Chart - IG

Age-Appropriate Chores for Children

Shares: 92520

Make Every Month More Meaningful

Make Every Month More Memorable

Shares: 50664

start your day right

make over your mornings

If your mornings don't run as smoothly as you'd like, this course can help. Good for night owls & early birds alike!

join the conversation

  • Jennifer Flanders on Conversation Starters for Thanksgiving
  • Jennifer Flanders on Free Printables
  • Jennifer Flanders on Conversation Starters for Thanksgiving
  • Jennifer Flanders on Remembering Reformation Day
  • Jennifer Flanders on Remembering Reformation Day
  • Jennifer Flanders on Mailbag: Scripture Copywork in Manuscript
  • Jennifer Flanders on Free Printable Home Health Care Chart
  • Jennifer Flanders on How to Write a Thank You Note

earn free books and bibles

Tyndale Rewards Club

This is a great program, and it's FREE! Bonus: when you sign up through this link, you get 25 points (& I get 10 -- so, thanks!).

Christian Family Blogs
  • Home
  • Faith
  • Family
  • Food
  • Fun
  • Freebies

visit jennifer’s blog

Jennifer Flanders' Blog: Loving Life At Home Loving Life at Home

visit doug’s blog

Doug Flanders' Blog: All Truth Is God's Truth All Truth is God's Truth

privacy policy | disclosure statement

shop our books

25 Ways to Communicate Respect to Your Husband 25 Ways to Show Love to Your Wife
Sit Down & Eat Get Up & Go

thanks for dropping by

Thank you for visiting our website Let's Get Social
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

looking for something?

recommended resources

as seen on:

America Tonight ABC Australia BBC Tyler Morning Telegraph

Animal Farm. If you look closely enough, you can s Animal Farm. If you look closely enough, you can see Old Major in the barn addressing Boxer, Clover, Benjamin, Muriel, Jessie, Bluebell, Snowball, Squealer, Napoleon, and all the others. Abby arranged this scene  herself — proof that she was paying close attention when I read George Orwell’s classic aloud to my kids last week.  It has been more than 75 years since Orwell first penned this political fable, yet it remains as relevant today as ever. Wish our elected officials who seem so inexplicably enamored with Socialism would take time to read and ponder its message.  #fourlegsgood #twolegsbetter #flandersfamilyreads
Can you guess what the theme was for yesterday’s Can you guess what the theme was for yesterday’s  costume contest at our homeschool co-op?  #dressupday #cottagegarden
Baby, it’s COLD outside! (It’ll be cold inside Baby, it’s COLD outside! (It’ll be cold inside, too, if the power doesn’t come back on soon. We’re thanking God for our gas powered range and fireplace!)  #brrrr
I’m a list-maker by nature, and I’ve tried to I’m a list-maker by nature, and I’ve tried to teach my kids the value of making lists, as well.  For instance, sometimes when they’ve continued to squabble or butt heads even after I’ve called them down, I’ll send them to opposite corners of the house with a list-making assignment:  ✅ “Describe 3 better ways you could’ve responded in that situation than the one you chose.”  ✅ “Write down 5 things you love and appreciate about your sister. “  ✅ “List 10 ways you could show kindness to your brother. “  With that last one, I’d follow up by telling them to choose a different idea off their list every day for the next 10 days and do it.  Gradually, over time, those kind, loving deeds became their default behavior. And as a bonus, the kids not only learned to be kind to one another, but showed similar courtesies to friends, other family members, and strangers, alike.  Want to be more loving to the people God has placed in your life? Brainstorm ways to show kindness to them. Because love is kind.  #happyvalentinesday #bekind
They’re still building and making design improve They’re still building and making design improvements.
The only love that will never fail, fade, or falte The only love that will never fail, fade, or falter? The love of God.“ Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His faithful love endures forever.“ (Psalm 107:1)  #amazinglove #howcanitbe #thatthoumygodshouldstdieforme
Building with Lincoln Logs on Lincoln’s birthday Building with Lincoln Logs on Lincoln’s birthday. Some traditions never grow old.  #familyfun #classictoys
What does patient love look like? It takes time to What does patient love look like? It takes time to listen. It doesn’t tap its toes, drum its  fingers, check its watch, or roll its eyes.  It doesn’t act irritated or annoyed when the object of its love needs time or attention. Patient love is selfless and long suffering — just as God is with us.  As Christians, this is the kind of love God calls us to demonstrate to our spouse, our children, our neighbors, and even our enemies — a constant, unruffled love that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. A love that would be quite impossible apart from the endless grace and indwelling power of God.  #goals #radicallove
Hot soup on a cold day = all kinds of satisfying. Hot soup on a cold day = all kinds of satisfying. We’re enjoying sweet potato chili. Freezer to table in 30 minutes, thanks to Instapot.  #freezercooking #thriftythursday
Jesus bids us, “ Continue in my love.” (John 1 Jesus bids us, “ Continue in my love.” (John 15:9) And what exactly does Christ’s kind of love look like?  He sums it up for us in Luke 6:27-28: “Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who despitefully use you.”  The good news is, we don’t have to look far for an opportunity to put this command into practice. Nor must we do any of this in our own strength.  God’s empowering grace enables us to forgive offenders, to extend kindness in response to rudeness, to show mercy to the unmerciful, and to point  unbelievers to a Savor who sees them, knows them, and loves them enough to die for them.  #jesuslovesme #thisiknow #forthebibletellsmeso 
#welovebecausehefirstlovedus

Copyright © 2021 · Market theme by Restored 316