Customer Reviews

Algebra 2: An Incremental Development (Saxon Algebra)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

CONTEXT AND EVALUATION

Saxon's 'Algebra 2' is the second in an integrated three books or three courses series comprised of 'Algebra 1', 'Algebra 2' and 'Advanced Mathematics' designed to prepare students for calculus. The 'Algebra 2' set covers topics that advanced math students are expected to master in 9th grade. While called a 'homeschool kit' it can be used quite effectively by parents 'after school' to supplement or enhance a child's math proficiency which is how we have been using Saxon (me and my 2 boys) ever since 4th grade.

Like previous courses in the Saxon's series, Algebra 2 is an effective tool for teaching children math without being intimidating or boring. After more than 7 years of teaching my own kids math after school I can testify that it works. Both my kids are now in advanced math classes and the top of their class.

Given the results, this Saxon set earns its five stars for being effective, thorough and both parent and child-friendly - to the extent that MATH courseware can be that way :)


THE SAXON METHOD

Each lesson begins by explaining and illustrating or or more new topics. That is followed by a small number of practice exercises that are directly related to the new topics. Finally, there is a '30-questions' problem set that could be on EVERYTHING covered by Saxon up to that point. Each individual question has references to the lesson(s) which the students may want to review if they are having trouble with the answer/solution.

What makes Saxon's method effective is that, once a particular topic is introduced, 'questions' related to that topic or where understanding that topic would be required to answer the question may pop up in any future problem set. For example, once trigonometry concepts are introduced at about the one-third mark in the book, trigonometry-related questions will appear in every problem set thereafter. This ensures that students become increasingly comfortable with the new concepts and they can see how the various 'parts' of math relate to each other and, when solving 'word' problems, how math relates to the real world.

After every 4 lessons, starting after Lesson 6 there is a 20-question test that covers topics up to 4 lessons prior to the test - in other words, the test administered after Lesson 10 will cover topics up to and including Lesson 6.

The problem sets and the multi-topic lessons are what makes the Saxon method so effective as new concepts are introduced incrementally and each problem set keeps revisiting prior topics and many of the problems require the student to combine skills and knowledge acquired in more than one lesson.


THE KIT's CONTENTS

A complete, usable kit should include the following:

- The "Algebra 2 Third Edition" student's textbook [this one] that includes the 129 lessons, 2 introductory or review lessons, Glossary, Index and answers to the odd-numbered questions.

- The "Homeschool Testing Book" that include the 32 tests, reproducible test answer sheets and the answers together with the 'step-by-step' on how to get there.

- The "Answer Key" booklet that has the answers to all the practice and problem sets but ONLY the answers, not the ways to get there.

It's important to understand that this item is NOT the kit. If you buy this book only you will NOT be able to teach math effectively because there are no tests and the 'answers' section at the back of the book only covers half on the questions. For the complete kit, consider Algebra 2: Homeschool Kit (Saxon Algebra).

If you are not comfortable with the topic, you MAY want to order the optional 'Solutions manual' and, perhaps the Teacher's manual but these are NOT part of this kit. I have no personal experience with these items because I never ordered them.


PRACTICAL ADVICE

'The Home Study Kit' should be sufficient for teaching math. Please be aware that you will not be able to teach effectively unless you have all 3 items above. If in doubt about the actual contents, contact the seller before placing your order and make sure that this is what you get, ESPECIALLY if you are ordering a used item.

If you have more than one student - I have 2 - it would make sense to order a separate copy of the student's book. There is no need for separate copies of the testing book because the tests are meant to be photocopied and because the Answer Key is only needed by the teacher.

I found the "DIVE Into Math CD for Saxon Algebra 2, 2nd and 3d Edition" to be a very useful addition to the kit. In fact this is what I used am using this year. We used the Algebra 1 version of the DIVE last year and we've been very happy with it. If ordering the DIVE CD, be aware that you will NOT be able to teach with the CD alone because you will be missing the practice problems and the tests so consider buying the CD by itself if you already have the 'study kit' or look for some bundle that has both the study kit and the CD. One CD for your 'class' should be sufficient so, if you have more than one student, buy one 'kit' and one CD for the class and additional student books as needed. I did not see that edition at Amazon. Dive Into Math CD for Saxon Algebra 2, 2nd Edition seems to be an older release and I do not know if it's compatible with the 3d edition content. It should not be that hard to find the correct version of DIVE but you may have to go outside Amazon for that.


A PERSONAL NOTE

I should say that, to us, the effectiveness of Saxon's method is no longer a matter or doubt or debate. My senior kid was awarded the 'Highest Average in Math' at his campus upon completing his 8th grade and I have little doubt that our math home study is/was a contributing factor to his being awarded the "President's Education Award" and his bing on the Honor Roll on all 4 quarters of his 8th grade. His younger brother is also a 'straight A math student (typical math grade average is 97-99 each term) and a Honor roll/Principal's List most of the time. I mention this because both of them used to be quite 'in the middle' as in 'mediocre' when we started with Saxon (that's what prompted me to 'take action'). Us practicing math after school clearly developed their study skills and, since math is so 'hard', it helped them master most of the other topics taught in school with ease.

And, finally, and this might have fit under 'practical advice' as well, I'd like to note that doing this is NOT easy. Covering 129 lessons ad giving 32 tests calls for a VERY SIGNIFICANT investment of time and effort from both parent and children. I estimate we spent anything from 90 minutes to 2 hours per lesson and we usually 'do math' 5 to 6 days per week with a typical math study year beginning at the end of August and ending sometime early or mid-May.

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>> Brush your teeth, it's the law! <<

I have been teaching for almost 20 years.. forget standards and all the NCLB BS...these books do math the way it should be done.

I am an AP math teacher at a very prestigious high school in Massachusetts (and I hold a Ph.D in Mathematics and a masters in Education from Cornell), and after one year with this book, my entire department moved to a different program. I say without remorse or hesitation that this is the absolute, 100% worst math textbook I have ever seen in my 20 year-long career as a mathematics and chemistry teacher at two different high schools and one Ivy League college, using many different books. Don't get me wrong, I love helping my students when they have trouble with certain concepts, but it seemed like while they were using this book, they understood nothing whatsoever. I ended up abandoning the book halfway through the year and taught each lesson from my own personal knowledge, and then grades started to skyrocket. The majority of the examples given in the book were completely worthless and offered no insight into the actual math. The problems were presented in a way that does not make sense. I have the book right in front of me right now. I am looking at an example for quadratic equations, where multiple lines of math should be listed out, that says "First we write the equation. Then we solve to get the answer.", and just gives the answer. In this particular example, no methodology or work was shown whatsoever; only the answer was provided. How are students expected to work the problem out if it is not demonstrated by the textbook? Teachers are expected to show students how to do most problems, which we do, but this textbook expects too much from teachers. The work given in every example problem is watered down to save space, and the most important math is often left out. When work is shown, it is demonstrated using ridiculous methods that seem like they are only there to confuse students. Most of these methods can be ignored completely and taught using the teacher's own knowledge. This is why I was stuck after school until 5 p.m. almost every day with my students, using my own methods to help them and throwing the book to the side. Ultimately, when I taught my classes the methods that I use for each concept (a practice approved by my department head), I decided that we would just abandon the textbook altogether because everything was so watered down and useless for my students. Also, in the first half of the year, I gave about 10 or 15 problems a night for homework from each problem set. I did this for about two weeks until I realized that some problems in the problem sets used concepts that hadn't even been introduced yet, and I had to resort to making worksheets every morning for homework. As soon as I dropped this book, 88% of my 124 students achieved above a B average in my class. This book is horribly designed, worthless, and seems like it was put together in a hurry. Most of the math is not explained in a way that makes sense to the average sophomore who will be using this book. The consensus in my current school's Math department, which has used all available Saxon textbooks at one time or another, is that all Saxon Math textbooks rank below rock bottom compared to others. I am proud to say that no student from my school will ever purchase a Saxon math book again during their career here. If I end up at another school, I will resign if the curriculum involves any Saxon materials- that is how much I despise these books. At my current school, we now utilize Prentice Hall textbooks and they are so much better.

(p.s. for the author: the use of the word "Thus" in every second sentence becomes extremely annoying to both teacher and student)