Cathy Duffy Reviews home > Math > Saxon Math Intermediate 3

HOMESCHOOL REVIEWS

Core Curricula

• Art, Music, Drama
• Bible / Religion
• Catholic Curricula
• Composition & Grammar
• Early Learning / Preschool
• Economics
• Foreign Language
• Grade Level Packages
• Handwriting
• History & Geography
• Government
• Math
• Math Supplements
• Phonics / Reading / Literature
• Science
• Spelling / Vocabulary
• Unit Studies & All-In-One Programs

Extras

• Approaches to Education
• College and Career Prep
• Creative Learning
• Critical Thinking & Logic
• Electives
• Overview of Publishers
• Parent Helps / How-To Books
• Testing & Special Needs
• Umbrella Programs that Provide Curriculum
• Worldview

Saxon Math Intermediate 3

Publisher: Saxon Publishers Author: Stephen Hake Review last updated: May 2011

Instant KeyPublishers InfoPricing

Saxon Math already has a series of book for kindergarten through third grade, so why another third grade text? At least part of the answer lies in the differences between the Saxon Math program for K-3 and the rest of the Saxon books from Math 54 up through Calculus. The K-3 program is completely different from the other Saxon books: they were written by a different author; they incorporate manipulatives; and they have a very teacher-intensive form of lesson presentation.

Math 54 and all the texts beyond that were written by John Saxon, Stephen Hake or both of them together. Saxon Math Intermediate 3 was written by Stephen Hake and, consequently, is more similar to the upper level books than the K-3 series. Those just starting into Saxon Math at third grade level should probably go with this new text since it ensures a more comfortable transition into Math 54. Those who have been using the Saxon K-3 series up through second grade can go either way, perhaps deciding based on a preference for manipulatives used in the K-3 courses or a preference for the less teacher-intensive Intermediate 3 course.

Saxon Math Intermediate 3 differs a little from the upper level books in course layout and requires a little more teacher involvement than Math 54. Parents might need to work through presentation of new concepts with students in each lesson, but some students might be able to work independently through most or all of many lessons.

There are four components to the homeschool kit: the student text, a solutions manual, Power Up Workbook, and Homeschool Testing Book.

Each lesson begins with the “Power Up” activities. These are a bit more involved than the “Warm Up” activities that begin each lesson in Math 54. Power Up activities include four categories of problems each time: math fact review, “jump start” (which might include oral counting by increments, drawing hands on a clock, thermometer reading, writing a fact family for three numbers , etc.), mental math, and problem solving. The separate Power Up Workbook is used for the written activities for the Power Up section of each lesson with one page to accompany each lesson. The top half of each page is for math fact review problems. Then sections for each of the other three type activities might each contain some content (e.g., clock face in jump start) or simply provide blank space for students to write their responses. I suspect that some students will need assistance in completing some of these activities, especially at the beginning of the school year.

After the Power Up activities, a new concept is introduced along with sample problems and lesson practice problems that focus only on the new concept. “Written Practice” problems follow with 15 to 20 problems per lesson that review previously taught concepts. Students will need to work in a notebook or other paper to complete lesson practice and written practice problems. They will not be writing in the hardcover textbook. The Written Practice problems are wide ranging in approach, really challenging students’ thinking skills as we see in Singapore Math. Occasionally, students encounter an open-ended question that asks for both an answer and an explanation. Some lessons add an extra problem for “Early Finishers.” These are usually word problems that make real-world connections that are either more time-consuming or more challenging than the other lesson problems. These aren’t the only real-world word problems, since lessons generally have quite a few of them.

The textbook refers to several Lesson Activity worksheets that are not found in the homeschool package. These are available on the Math Intermediate 3 page of the Saxon Homeschool website (click here).  Worksheets are password protected; the password is in the Homeschool Testing Book.  

In keeping with national math standards, this course covers addition and subtraction review, multiplication through one-digit multipliers times three-digit multiplicands, division through one digit divisors into two-digit dividends, measurement, rounding, estimation, number concepts, geometric shapes, area, perimeter, time, money, calendar reading, graphing, and probability.

After every ten lessons there is an “investigation” lesson. Each of these will likely take an entire class period. For example, one investigation teaches about bar graphs then directs students to collect survey data by asking questions then create their own bar graph. Investigations will require parental/teacher oversight or direction.

Instead of a teacher manual, Saxon Math Intermediate 3 Solutions Manual has answers and complete solutions (when applicable) for all textbook problems. There is no need for a teacher’s manual beyond this since the text is self-explanatory. There is no answer key for the Power Up Workbook, although parents/teachers should be able to check the answers fairly easily without a key. (It appears that there is a CD with a Power Up key available in the school edition of this course that has been omitted from the homeschool kit.)

The Saxon Intermediate 3 Homeschool Testing Book has tests that follow every five lessons beginning after lesson 10. The Testing Book has three different options for reproducible answer sheets you can use. Since tests are cumulative, the Test Analysis Form in this book is useful for identifying the lesson where the concept tested by each problem was taught. And, finally, there is an answer key for all the tests.

I think this new text is likely to be very popular with homeschoolers. However, students who need to stay focused on one concept at a time might not do as well as those who love variety since this text uses Saxon’s incremental approach. With the incremental approach, Saxon texts teach a concept, then gradually build and expand on it a few lessons later, then again a few lessons later. Written practice problems mix both concepts reviewed and the style of problem rather than presenting arrays of similar problems. For some students this works to strengthen their thinking ability and keeps things interesting while it’s just confusing for others.

Home | Updates for 100 Top Picks | Great Book Reviews | Articles | About Cathy Duffy | Contact Us
Ordering | Submit Products for Review