Saxon math 87.?

Question

http://www.mathematicallycorrect.com/books7i.htm

Anyone that has done the SECOND edition of saxon math 87, can you tell me whether or not this article is true?

Answer 1

While we have not used Saxon Math 87, we have used books in the series both before and after. The description of the Saxon text sounds accurate. I know families who have successfully skipped Math 87, going from Math 76 into Algebra 1/2, or completing Math 87 and skipping Algebra 1/2. If you want to see where you should start in the Saxon Math series, here's the online placement test:

http://saxonhomeschool.harcourtachieve.c...

Answer 2

Well, it depends on what part of the article you are referring to.  I didn't see anything that stood out as false.  One thing is certainly true, the second edition does NOT contain the pre-algebra found in the third edition.  The second edition was considered a remedial math book when it was published, intended to take kids who were behind and in one year review all arithmetic concepts in order to get them caught up and ready for pre-algebra.  If you are trying to decide between the second and the third edition of the text, I would recommend the third edition, it does everything the second did, plus gives you a pretty good grounding in pre-algebra as well.

Answer 3

I haven't used the 8/7 book, either second or third edition, so this is simply what I have read and heard from others as well as the Saxon website.

As far as the description of the course (no chapters, lessons not "packaged" with similar lessons), this is true not only of 8/7, but ALL of Saxon's math books.  The method is formally called "spiral" learning - introduce a topic, practice it a little over several days, then add a little depth and practice that over several days, then introduce another topic, while including review of the previous topics, too.

Spiral learning works for some, but not for others.  For many students, a "mastery" text is needed.  Mastery is where the student stays with a topic until it is "mastered", then moves on to a new topic.  This is the method most public school textbooks use, hence chapters - introduce a topic, assign 30 problem of the same type, then go to the next lesson and do 30 problems of that type, never (or rarely) reviewing the previous lessons.

Saxon *used* to recommend the following progression (for their older editions):

Math 6/5

Math 7/6

(Math 8/7)

Alg. 1/2

Alg. 1

Math 8/7 was an optional text for anyone needing extra practice with mathematics concepts (adding. division, fractions, decimals, etc.) before moving to Alg.

Currently (using the current edition of the texts), Saxon recommends the following progression:

Math 6/5

Math 7/6

Math 8/7

(Alg. 1/2)

Alg. 1

They have added more algebra concepts to the CURRENT edition of the 8/7 book, making it more of a pre-algebra book.

If you are using the older edition, I would say, follow the older recommendation and skip 8/7 and go on to Alg. 1/2.  If you have the newer editions, do 8/7, then skip Alg. 1/2.

Answer 4

I agree with Hoamsch1, we used the Saxon math 8/7 with only one of our children so far, she did not feel comfortable moving on to algebra, and decided to try 8/7.

She was glad she did, it gave her the needed practice, and review since math is not one of her stronger academic area's, so she needed the extra practice.

I have no idea if the others will need it, I will keep it around just in case.

Most can simply move from 7/6 to algebra without any difficulty.

I do not know what 8/7 looks like in later editions, but I would highly recommend Saxon math, and decide on a students individual needs what books to include, or skip.