Our Saxon Story (part one)

Now that we're back home, it's back to life.  The first day back at the books was rough.  Rough, I tell you.  In honor of that first excruciating day, I've written another homeschooling post.  This one is about math.  Saxon math.

We use Saxon math, and have from (almost) the beginning.  I was not impressed with levels K-3; it seemed like a lot of expensive and unnecessary busy work to me (how long does it really take to learn to count coins or use a calendar or tell time, and why on earth would you need to buy a book for any of it?) so I had The Goobers learn their math facts and basic arithmetic and then start with Saxon 5/4.  JellyMan took almost two years to learn his math facts, mostly because I didn't find Math-It until the end of his second grade year.  Before Math-It I tried to make learning math facts fun, which meant my boy ended up being very good at having fun but not very good at math facts.   When he started 5/4 in the third grade, I sat and read the lessons to him and worked the practice problems with him, but I soon realized that I wasn't needed.  I had no additional insights to offer; I couldn't say anything other than what was already in the book.  JellyMan could read just fine; he could read the lesson himself and then get on with things.  He is now in Algebra 1 and doing well.  Anemone has benefited from JellyMan's experience.  She spent her first grade year learning her math facts and practicing her reading, and when she started 5/4 in second grade she didn't have to endure my reading the lessons to her.  She's working through 7/6 now, and hasn't hit a snag yet.

The only real problem we have with Saxon is that it is about as exciting as a wet blanket.  But you know what?  I don't care.  Math doesn't have to be fun.  Math doesn't even have to be interesting.  All math has to be is thorough, and Saxon is nothing if not thorough.  Neither of my children partcularly like math, but they are both good at it.  I suppose I could take pity on them and switch to something trendier or more colorful or more engaging, but I don't think I will.  You see, switching math programs would be an inconvenience for me, and The Lazy Man's Homeschool (that's what I call our homeschool when I'm not trying to impress anyone) is all about not inconveniencing the parents more than absolutely necessary.  I would have to evaluate several different programs, and work through many, many math problems to decide whether or not a particular book was acceptable.  Then I would have to present the winners to The Goobers to see if the little darlings approved.  And then, of course, each Goober would choose a different program and I would be stuck buying two new math books every year instead of just one.  All this so my kids can be entertained during their math lessons!  Ugh.  The thought of all that inconvenience is making me sick to my stomach.

So, The Goobers are stuck with Saxon for the duration.  I have worked through Algebra 1 and about half of Algebra 2, and I don't forsee any trouble.  The lessons are clear, and the problems are workable.  Sure, the lessons are even more excruciatingly boring than 5/4 - 8/7, but again, I don't really care.  They can amuse themselves however they see fit once their math lessons are done for the day, and they can take all that fascinating theoretical math in college.

I will write a followup post either next year or the year after to let everyone know how JellyMan is doing in the upper level math books.