Customer Reviews

Math 76

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

 

 

Both of my homeschooled children were taught using Saxon Math since they entered forth grade. We used the series through the pre-algebra textbook. It is a programmed series, building fact upon fact giving the child a good grounding in the basics. My children were able to work on the course independently. When they chose to return to public school, they both tested into the 8th grade honors Algebra I program. I've noticed they are far less calculator dependent than their peers. I plan to purchase Saxon's Algebra I course for my child to use to supplement our school system's poorly written textbook.

Saxon Math is a great curriculum! The earlier you can begin in this math series, the better. I have a fourth grade child who is in sixth grade math. This has definitely benefited all three of my children. Be aware, though, that Saxon has different editions available due to revisions. Be sure you know what edition you have or want.

We started using the Saxon Math 76 book when we began homeschooling our son this year. The flexibility of the book allowed us to skip lessons until we reached my son's level; which was about a third of the way through. From that point on my son, independantly, went through two lessons per day. When people ask him why he likes being homeschooled, he says "Well, for one thing, I'm finally learning new things." Saxon 76 allowed us to go at his pace, sometimes slowly, sometimes skipping entire lessons. In September we will be starting with Saxon Algebra 1/2.

I highly recommend the Saxon series for any student. It is a great review and would be a great help to parents working with their kids on their homework. John Saxon makes the major concepts easier to grasp by breaking them down into their component parts and teaching each a step at a time. (Even I am finally understanding some of these concepts!)

With all that said and as noted in previous reviews, make sure you know which edition you are getting and, if you are also obtaining the answer/test booklet, make sure it is for the same edition.

The negative reviewers have a common thread. Words like dark, macabre, evil.

These people obviously did not come to consider buying a math book, or even to relate their experience with them, because they have none with Saxon, but instead came to do a hatchet job on books, methods and people who dare to rise up out of the herd.

My children missed the part about endless rote, and dead love of math. They learned with Saxon. They do mental math better than myself, in fact better than anyone I know.

The public school and progressive math books and teachers killed my 'love of math', if there ever was a 'love' of math. Most kids hate math. Even now. Even in public school. Even with pictures and fun teachers.

These books break down the math learning process into easy step by step pieces. Saxon gives a kid time to master basics before the whole class moves on leaving the ones who did not get it behind.

And if they're homeschooled like mine they can go at their own pace. Having succesfully taught four kids math may not qualify me as a 'professional' educator, thank god, but at least my kids did not have to suffer through under one of those.

I have looked at many, many math series, and taught using several, and I have never seen anything worse than Saxon Math. Its sole focus on mixed review, whether or not basic concepts have been mastered, is incredibly frustrating for children--and teachers. The mixed review aspect also means that it can't be modified for the gifted or for other special needs students as well as other series can. I strongly urge people to take a look at SRA or Houghton Mifflin or, really, any other series. Unless your needs are very very specialized, this series is not for you.

This book, and the other Saxon books, are macabre specters from the educational Dark Ages. Please note that none of the reviewers recommending them are math educators. In the Saxon world, math is a set of mysterious numeric incantations that, followed by rote, produce a correct answer. (As if anyone cared.) There is not the slightest effort to explain WHY anything works, nor is there any discovery involved. In Saxon's world, math is something mysterious invented by people smarter than you, something that must be "mastered" by merciless drill. (So shut up and get to work.) The last 50 years of educational research on "best practices" math instruction simply do not exist in Saxon's world. Avoid these books at all cost -- unless, of course, you want American children to fall even farther behind their European and Asian counterparts.

My school uses these brutal insturments of torture with great glee. It is utter terror to stare, long hour after hour, at those unforgiving pages, sinking slowly and painfully into a vacuam of the utter doom and pain that is Math 6-7. Indeed, the reapetive lessons, the boring structure, and the idoitc ''real world math'' all unite to prouduce a terror of the most hideous form. A 12 year old......at realms of inquiry