There are loads of great math options available to homeschoolers but that does not mean they are all great options for your student. Deciding which math curriculum your student uses is entirely up to you, of course. However, we do have a few suggestions that might help you with that decision (with specifics to Saxon Math.)
- Ask yourself why you want to switch? If your student's current math curriculum is not a good fit, then, yes, you should consider switching. But, if it's working well, then you might want to consider that a victory and leave it alone. (Switching curriculum is one of the biggest reasons of math gaps.)
- Stop to identify what's not working about your current math curriculum.Now ask yourself if Saxon Math will create the same issue or solve that problem.
- For instance, if BJU is not working because your student complains that it is boring to look at, Saxon will likely not improve things.
- On the other hand, if your student is doing Math-U-See and is not doing well with it's mastery approach, Saxon might be a better option.
- Consider where your student is in their math journey and assess whether it's wise to switch them at this time. With Saxon changes its formatting between 3rd and 4th grades and again between Pre-Algebra and Algebra 1. These create natural breaks that might allow for a smoother change. Additionally, Saxon has a unique high school path which means it's more complicated to jump in/out of it in the later years.
- If you decide to make a switch, always start with the placement test. No two math curriculums line up perfectly and it's important to start your student in the correct book. You can find the placement test for Saxon here. And, keep in mind, it's more than okay to go back a grade level. If the goal of switching curriculums is to create a better math experience for your student, then you increase the chances of that happening if the new math curriculum meets them where they are.