Customer Reviews

Algebra 1/2: An Incremental Development (Saxon Algebra)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

WARNING

Please be VERY careful of what you are getting. If the price you see appears too good to be true it could be because you are not getting the complete Saxon kit.

You should know that the current edition is THIRD and that the complete kit should include the following:

1 - The Algebra 1/2 textbook that includes the 123 lessons, the extra topics, index, glossary and an answer key to the odd-numbered problems.
2 - Test forms that include the 31 tests plus reproducible test answer sheets.
3 - Answers and tests solutions booklet that is just that. It only includes the answers not the ways to get there - for that an optional 'Solutions manual' can be obtained separately.

You CANNOT teach Algebra 1/2 unless you have all three items above so it helps to contact the vendor and ask for some confirmation that they will be shipping you all three components.


BRIEF EVALUATION

I found Algebra 1/2 to cover with only small additions and enhancements the topics that Saxon's Math 8/7 covered already. While it should be very good for students who feel the need to consolidate the material studied during the previous year, my own children felt that there was little new here and they asked me to skip the Algebra Half and go to the full Algebra One, which is what we are about to do.

We had a very good experience with this set but, thanks to my kids being such godd students, we've decided to skip it.

Even though we had to abandon this course after the first half-dozen lessons convinced us that we didn't need it, I will grant the package 5 stars for Saxon's proven effectiveness but be aware that this should be skipped by the more advanced students.



THE SAXON METHOD

We've been using Saxon's books to teach our kids math starting with Math 3/2 and we've been very happy.

Algebra 1/2 (it means ALGEBRA HALF not "Algebra One and Two" is comprised of 123 lessons, 31 tests and a number of Topics labeled from A to J. Unlike the previous Math courses, there are no 'Investigations' and the lessons no longer begin with drills and warmup activities. Also, unlike prior math cycles up to Math 8/7, tests are administered after every four lesson rather than after every five.

Each lesson begins by explaining and illustrating a number of new topics - one, two or sometimes three. That is followed by a small number of practice exercises that are related to the new topics. Finally, there is a 30-item problem set (what the prior volumes were calling 'mixed practice') that asks students to answer/solve 30 questions 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.

After every 4 lessons there is a 20-question test.

The problem set 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 aquired in more than one lesson.

I have used Saxon with my own students, and I tutor Pre-algebra using this text as well. I have a few thoughts to share, mostly in response to a few of the reviews on this site. Yes, Algebra 1/2 is a small step between 8/7 and Algebra I - however I have found it to be a very, very necessary step for most students. Algebra I does require a certain level of mental development - abstract thinking - that many 12, 13 and even 14 year olds may just not be ready to handle. Of course many are ready, and that is fine, but if you have any doubts take the extra year to work on automaticity of the process. Secondly, never judge a Saxon text from the first dozen, two dozen, or even three dozen lessons. Saxon's strong point is the spiral method, whereby every year they solidfy and expand upon previously taught concepts. Therefore, some of the lessons make appear just to be review, but built into the problem sets are small incremental advances in technique and concept. Finally, please please...have your student work every problem in every set if at all possible. The problems do increase in difficulty as they go along, introducing new angles on old topics. In addition, the idea is for the students to become totally proficient, able to solve the problems almost without having to think about what to do. This type of comfort is only gained through practice, no matter how bright the student. My son's brillant calculus professor at a well-known University just told the students this semester that the key to understanding Calculus is to do a thousand problems a week. He wasn't kidding. Math is a language of sorts - the language of science - and must be practiced and worked with daily to increase fluency.

I homeschool several teenage students and I tutor math as well. I love this book. I think Saxon makes math understandable above any other books I have seen or used. Thorough explanations of each concept and lots of practice.

I bought used, like new. It was so much cheaper, but I was worried it would be a mistake. Would it be the right edition? Would it be the workbook? Add to that I had never used Saxon Math. My daughter is using this book for her home school math this year, and I was terrified it would be a mistake...hence why I bought used... Well, next time, I want to buy new...because the text is so wonderful by itself, I can just imagine what the whole kit would be like. The text takes you through step by step to show you everything, plus it teachers proper math jargon. This makes kids use both the left and right side of their brain. To be honest I have never seen a more effective math text. I currently make Power Points for each class and cover the bold faced material, plus whatever examples they cover in the book. Then I do the practice problems at the end of each chapter with my daughter. After that I assign her the questions at the end of the chapter, which there are usually 30 or so. By the end of the chapter she has it drilled in her head. You can't go wrong with this book really.

great shipment from supplier.

This book is fairly remedial for my 12 year old son... just slightly more academic than Saxon 8/7 textbook.

(NOT an advanced Algebra text...)

Saxon Math is really easy to use, including Saxon Algebra 1/2. You really don't need to buy the Teachers Edition, it's all explained well in the Student Edition and there really isn't anything new in the Teachers addition to provide extra help. What you need to buy is the Student book, along with Solutions Manual and Test forms and Homeschool packet. You need all four things. Also, make sure if, buying used that they are all the same year and same edition.

Usable book, inexpensive, fair priced shipping, arrived quickly. Thank you. The Saxon Math system is great.

The service was great, but when the book arrived, it had much more writting in the book than stated. But what was worse, all the back answer pages were cut out. There was no mention of pages missing. I certainly would not have bought this book if I had known that pages were missing.

This book make algebra easy. I would recommend it to anyone.