Math 3: An Incremental Development Set: Student Workbooks, part one and two plus flashcards

by Larson

Saxon math programs produce confident students who are not only able to correctly compute, but also to apply concepts to new situations. These materials gently develop concepts, and the practice of those concepts is extended over a considerable period of time. This is called "incremental development and continual review." Material is introduced in easily understandable pieces (increments), allowing students to grasp one facet of a concept before the next one is introduced. Both facets are then practiced together until another one is introduced. This feature is combined with continual review in every lesson throughout the year. Topics are never dropped but are increased in complexity and practiced every day, providing the time required for concepts to become totally familiar. The student workbook includes student fact cards. Grade 1.

Genres: Mathematics

Loose Leaf

First published July 1, 1991

Reviews

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like Saxon Math. This is my 3rd time through this particular grade and each of my children have enjoyed it. I like the repetition in the lessons, because as a homeschooler, I can choose to have my students continue to repeat specific material until it has been mastered, or skip over material that has already been mastered.

[Skylar Burris · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son did Saxon Math in Kindergarten, and my daughter did it in first and second grade. I bought the 3rd grade to supplement the math she was getting in school when they switched curriculum (and to use for summer review).

Saxon math is highly repetitive, which is a cause for criticism for many, but I find the repetitive nature ensures mastery of basic facts. It can, however, cause the kids to gloss over instructions and even many of the words in word problems and fall in to a routine way of doing things.

Some don't like the spiral nature of the curriculum. Rather than having the kids master one skill and move on, Saxon math spirals through multiple skills and revisits them, each time going a little deeper or becoming a little more difficult. I think my kids, however, benefitted from the spiral approach. It kept them more interested by varying the subject matter and enabled them to get a taste of concepts they weren't yet fully ready to master.

Overall, I think this is a solid curriculum. Both of my children enjoyed math while they were using it and never had a single complaint about the curriculum. Were I homeschooling, this is most likely the math curriculum I would choose to use, although I would probably skip every other page of the workbook because it really can be a bit too repetitive.