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The following is a post from contributing writer, Roan, of Joyful Always.
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Saxon Algebra 2, 3rd Edition, is the first Saxon product that I have used in my homeschool. I recently completed my 12th year of homeschooling, and my 10th grade daughter worked half of this book. When she finishes the book next school year, she will have earned one credit in Algebra 2 and one credit in geometry.
Let me explain.
The homeschool editions of Saxon Algebra 1 and 2, 3rd Editions, include both Algebra and geometry. My third child will enter 9th grade this fall. He will begin his high school math coursework with Saxon Algebra 1, and I will allow him 3 semesters to complete the course. Then, halfway through his 10th grade year, he will begin with Saxon Algebra 2, and I will allow him 3 semesters to complete this course as well. At the end of his 11th grade year he will have earned three math credits: Algebra 1, Algebra 2, and geometry. Even though these two Saxon math books are called Algebra 1 and Algebra 2, they also include geometry.
This is how I have divided up the coursework:
- Day 1: Read the lecture from lesson 1, work all examples and practice problems, and work problems 1-10.
- Day 2: Work problems 11-30
- Day 3: Read the lecture from lesson 2, work all examples and practice problems, and work problems 1-10.
- Day 4: Work problems 11-30
- Repeat this cycle until lessons 1-4 are complete. You will now be on Day 8.
- Day 9: Work a study guide to prepare you for the test.
- Day 10: Take the test.
- Repeat this 10 day cycle with lessons 5-8.
The Study Guides:
Saxon Algebra 2 constantly reviews all concepts previously taught. Even on test 10 or 12, there may be problems from lesson 1 or 2. To help prepare my child for the test, I take a copy of the test and look back through the book to find similar problems. I locate 2 problems of each type on the test (there are 20 test problems, so I find 40 practice problems). I don’t copy the problem, instead I write down the problem number and the page on which it is found.
I instruct my child to work one problem of each type from his study guide. Then he checks his answers. If he gets it correct, great! If he misses it, I have him correct it and work the second problem of the same type on his study guide.
I bought the following products for our use last year:
- the textbook (it is a hardback book that the student does not write in)
- the Answer Key and Tests (this includes the 32 tests, the answers to the tests written in step-by-step format, and the answers only (no explanation) to every problem in the lessons from the textbook.
I recently discovered that Saxon offers a Solutions Manual, and it includes the answers to all of the problems in the textbook, written in step-by-step format. I will definitely be purchasing this Solutions Manual for our upcoming school year! There were several times that I could not figure out how the correct answer was found.
When using the Saxon products (and I plan to use them for three years of high school for my remaining children), I like to read through the lecture and work all samples and practice problems with my child–even if he does not need any assistance in understanding the lesson. Why? Because if I go a week or more without working the lessons, I have no idea how to help my child with a problem if I have not learned or refreshed myself all along with him!
I do allow my child to check his own work, using the Answer Key (or Solutions Manual when I buy it), for any problems that he completes independently. Some days I work all of the problems with him, and some days I just do a few. But I always read the lectures and practice any new concepts.
I am looking forward to using Algebra 1, 3rd Edition with my son and Algebra 2, 3rd Edition with my daughter next year.
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I have been using Saxon with my son since we started homeschooling 6 years ago. (Has it been that long already?) We sit with dueling white boards on our laps and go over the lesson and do a couple of practice problems together. I usually pick out 15 or so problems for him to work on his own. Because of Saxon’s constant review of already covered concepts, I don’t feel he needs to do every problem. As I correct, I note which areas he had trouble with and make sure to assign some of those problems the next day (we also go over any errors he made).
He will be using Algebra 2, 3E this year. Even though Saxon includes Geometry in its 3E, I decided to do a separate year of geometry last year (we used Jacobs). The geometry in Algebra 2 will be a review then, which is okay with me. I did read somewhere that to complete Euclidean Geometry (earn one credit) using Saxon 3E, you also need to do Advanced Math. Do you know if that is true?
My older son was homeschooled for several years before returning to public school in 9th grade. While not a “math guy”, he has received A’s in Geometry and Algebra 2 and I think that is due to the strong math base he received with Saxon.
As an aside, I can not seem to get to a Saxon homeschool page on their website anymore. I did eventually find a homeschool catalog, but no webpages for Advanced Math, for example. Just wondered if anyone knew anything about that.
Thanks for sharing how you use Saxon.
Sarah
That is super helpful,Thank you! And just in the nick of time, I was poring over various websites last night trying to figure out if I should start my 9th grader in Algebra 1/2 or Algebra 1 and what in the world is a solutions manual and do I need one. I’m glad I didnt buy any books yet and your plan sounds like something I can do. Thanks again!
I recently planned my children’s schoolwork for the upcoming school year. I realized that I did not have enough school days (150 this year) to allow 2 days per Saxon lesson. Therefore, I am going to do one lesson per day. We will read the lecture and work all examples, and then he will work either the even or odd problems only. On the odd numbered lessons we will work the odd problems, and on the even numbered lessons we will work the even numbers.
I will have to disagree on your Geometry credit evaluation using Saxon. I also use Saxon Math. I just wanted to point out that you must also complete the first half of Saxon Advanced Math to receive the entire Geometry credit. By completing Algebra 2 your student will only have a .5 in Geometry. Completing the first half of Saxon Advanced Mathematics will give you the remaining .5 Geometry credit. Here is the source. http://www.homeschoolwithsaxon.com/review-credit.php
Earned credits depend on the state requirements.
This is very helpful, thank you for sharing.
The number of required credits earned are determined by the state but the State does not determine the design of the coursework. Art Reed is a retired high school math teacher who knew John Saxon personally. The Geometry introduced in Algebra 2 is to Geometry what Algebra 1/2 (aka pre-algebra) is to Algebra 1. He says that the first half of the Advanced Mathematics course is equal to Geometry and the 2nd half of advanced mathematics is Pre-Calculus. The advanced mathematics book is to be completed over two years. The way the author of this blog is planning the Saxon coursework is not the way it was designed to work. My daughter completed Algebra 1 last year and she will finish Algebra 2 next year. She will complete Advanced Algebra during her Junior and Senior year’s.
I will be homeschooling my 10th and 11tb graders this year. My 11th has had Algebra 1 and Geometry (Bob Jones). My 10th has had Algebra 1 (Bob Jones) I purchased Saxon Algebra2 to do with them BOTH because their math teacher said it is completely doable and my 10th grader would have no problems. However, now seeing the Saxon, I am completely worried because there is so much Geometry in it. They both have struggled in Math, but both are up for a challenge. However, I dont want to break my 10th graders spirit by giving her more than she can handle. I had considered using Math U See, but went with Saxon. Now I am considering getting on line and getting the Math U See here overnight. Any suggestions would be helpful.
Where can I obtain information from Saxon that states that a credit of geometry is earned by completing Saxon Algebra 1 and Saxon Algebra 2? My children have completed both courses, but I need some sort of proof that these curriculums include enough geometry to count for a full credit. Any help is greatly appreciated!