Math includes a variety of problems that all are connected in some way, each little piece helps you solve bigger problems. Some pieces are easier to learn than others.
The only one who can truly decide which are easy pieces and which are hard, is the person learning at the specific time you ask.
Saxon has a cyclical plan of introducing a new concept (or two) reviewing it in 'class' and then having a variety of problems part review and part the new concept.
If you have trouble with a concept, good news you get to review it every day! If you find one easy, good news you don't have to do 25 straight problems of the same type!
Some editions of some levels have optional sets of problems all in one type. (like for example fraction adding and subtracting review) while others simply have additional sets that review all work done in the book.
I wish Dudes Algebra book had review pages for concepts, he still has trouble with a few niggling simplify details, and a little review would be nice. Not enough to make me switch though, I just copied problems in his notebook that are a smidgen different from the ones in the lesson. Worked well enough.
Either way my kid and I don't have to be bored doing the same thing over and over and over again. which is good in my opinion. I like variety. (As do my children)
Though if you need more work the concepts will keep coming back up each day. 5 minutes a day is far better than an hour on one topic for us.
Though I understand other folk differ. (which is why someone created Math you See, the whole year is on addition I shudder at the mere thought!)
Singapore does have a rotational cycle, they introduce concepts then come back, but you only do a review in actual 'review' lessons, and when a concept is built upon (like adding fractions and then using them in word problems) It works fairly well, and I still use it for younger children (Saxon primary is too much work, plus I keep losing the papers....and so expensive!)
If I could get a blend of Saxon and Singapore that would be pure heaven! Preferably in very cheap printed format....
We thrive on Math U See!! i have tried others and he begged me to go back to the U See program!
ReplyDelete