In this review, I share the pros and cons of the Saxon homeschool math curriculum for grades 1, 2, and 3. I explain each component of the curriculum, some of its nuances, and how long it takes to complete a lesson. I also offer a free Saxon Math homeschool download to help you save time!
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This Saxon Math Homeschool review covers:
- Math 1 (First grade)
- Math 2 (Second grade)
- Math 3 (Third grade)
Each year of the curricula offers thorough coverage of math concepts. This is accomplished using scripted lessons, manipulatives, and regular review. I’ve used Saxon Math for many years, from the kindergarten level up through Algebra II. The elementary series (and the middle school series) has been a valuable part of our homeschool journey.
You can skip ahead to any section:
- Pros and Cons of Saxon Elementary Math
- Curriculum Overview: Grades 1, 2, and 3
- Nuances of This Saxon Math
- How Much Time Does Saxon Math Take?
- Free Saxon Math 3 Download (Time Saver!)
- Top Tips for Using This Curriculum
- Buying Used Saxon Math Homeschool Curriculum
- Saxon Math Homeschool Curriculum Is a Smart Start
- FAQs Section
Pros and Cons of Saxon Elementary Math
Pros
✅ Scripted lessons provide clear, age-appropriate instruction.
✅ Continual review supports mastery of math concepts.
✅ Manipulatives help children understand abstract ideas.
✅ Manipulatives make learning feel fun.
✅ Used curriculum can sometimes be purchased inexpensively.
Cons
☑️ Teacher-intensive lessons are a significant time commitment.
☑️ Continual review can make this curriculum feel heavy.
☑️ You may need to work around a few nuances of this curriculum.
☑️ This curriculum can be more costly when purchased new.
Curriculum Overview: Grades 1, 2, and 3
Spiral and Incremental Approach
One of the distinctions of Saxon Math is its spiral and incremental approach. There is continual review as layers are added to previously taught concepts.
This can make math feel more manageable for children. They can build confidence as they steadily improve their math proficiency.
I especially appreciate the review. I can tell when my child is struggling with, or has forgotten, a particular concept. She will consistently miss the problems that cover that concept in her assignments.
My husband often works with our daughter on math corrections. More than once, I’ve told him, “She’s struggling with that concept, and it needs to be reviewed. She keeps getting those problems wrong.”
Saxon’s continual review helps students strengthen their understanding of each concept. So they’re ready for the next layer to be added to what’s already been taught. On the flip side, for students who breeze through math, this constant review can feel heavy.
Each year of curriculum includes these components:
Teacher’s Edition
The “Teacher’s Edition” is simply the teaching manual. It includes a written script and step-by-step instructions for every lesson. You’ll appreciate this feature if teaching math makes you nervous.
I’ve taught the Saxon Math 3 curriculum with four children, and I used the script every time. It helped me present the material in a clear, age-appropriate way. I didn’t have to figure out how to communicate abstract math concepts.
That said, the scripted lessons make this curriculum teacher-intensive. You’ll spend a lot of time working one-on-one with your student. But the heavy time commitment can reap benefits as you help your child build a solid math foundation.
The number of lessons makes it doable to complete this curriculum in a 36-week school year.
The assessments are integrated into the lessons. The publisher suggests completing four lessons per week. When teaching young students, consistency is important. We rarely skipped math. Most weeks, we covered five lessons. Occasionally, a lesson was long, so we split it up over two days. There is flexibility with this curriculum.
Some parents feel Saxon elementary math moves more slowly than other math curricula. But with consistent effort, you may find your student getting ahead in the lessons. That can be very helpful as you move into the more demanding years of Saxon Math. Starting a book (such as Saxon 5/4) sooner than expected gives you flexibility. You can slow down when covering more difficult concepts.
Home Study Meeting Book
The Home Study Meeting Book is used at the start of each lesson. This is different from the worksheet assignments given at the end of each lesson. The math “meeting” is a somewhat repetitive daily dialogue between you and your child.
Your student will practice skills such as:
- Counting change
- Telling time
- Finding patterns
- Memorizing number facts
- Completing a calendar
- Working with graphs
- Solving word problems
While the Meeting Book is a simple, black-and-white booklet, it is used extensively. It’s an important part of the lesson time.
The Teacher’s Edition includes one page of “meeting strips” to be used during the meeting. Thirty-three copies of that page make enough for the whole school year.
It has worked really well for our kids to complete their meeting strips independently. We started doing this once we were familiar with the routine. Students can complete many of the meeting time steps on their own. This helps shorten the meeting time we have together, so we can get through math more quickly!
As a side note, your student won’t use all the sections on the meeting strip right away. You can cross out and have them ignore the sections that haven’t yet been introduced in the lessons.
Student Workbooks
The student workbooks come as a set of two (along with the fact cards). You’ll need to tear out each day’s worksheet. Your student will not be able to work through the workbook with the pages remaining intact.
Side A of the worksheet is completed right after the lesson. The publisher recommends completing Side B later in the day (to improve retention). We split our math time into three sessions throughout the school day (as shown below).
Some parents only have their child complete Side A of the worksheet. Or they only use Side B to review concepts their student missed on Side A. We’ve always completed both sides. My kids typically worked through Side B more quickly.
Because Saxon integrates significant review, the worksheets do include many review problems. There are no pictures to distract your child (or to keep them engaged – however you want to look at it).
Errors will help you know what concepts your student is struggling to understand. I have my kids rework their missed problems, after I’ve provided more instruction. There’s so much learning taking place in those moments. We work hard at developing good math study habits while our kids are young. This includes showing their work and organizing it neatly.
The workbooks include recording forms for homework, assessments, and fact sheets. You do not need to use these unless you are under homeschool supervision that requires you to do so.
Fact Sheets
Each day, the student is assigned one or two fact sheets to complete. These are included in the workbooks. They may cover review facts or recently introduced facts.
Once the student is in Saxon Math 2, you are supposed to time these (e.g., 45 seconds or 1 minute to complete the sheet). However, some kids crumble under the pressure. As long as your child is working diligently, I’d suggest skipping the timer. One minute goes by really quickly, and a sheet full of number facts can overwhelm a child.
For students who struggle with this activity, you may need to remind them of the strategies taught in the lessons. For example, when all the facts are “doubles plus one,“ your child should remember to double the smaller number and add one.
Math Mayhem
If fact sheets are taking too long because your child is dawdling or simply being uncooperative, then I’d suggest using a timer. Assuming the issue is not academic, this is an opportunity for your child to learn about expectations for schoolwork.
Give them an appropriate amount of time to complete the fact sheet. When the time is up, move on to what’s next on the schedule. Any unfinished math should be completed before your child has free time (i.e., recess or break time). An unmotivated child can work surprisingly fast when it’s break time, but he must first complete his math.
Have them work toward completing the fact sheet to the best of their ability. This is an opportunity to teach your child good habits, such as self-discipline. (Too many moms quit homeschooling because they get frustrated with an uncooperative child.)
Consistent practice with fact sheets will help your child memorize the basic number facts. Automatic recall significantly improves how quickly a student can work through upper-level math problems. The fact sheet practice is well worth the effort.
Fact Cards
Fact cards (i.e., flash cards) come with the pack of student workbooks. When a lesson introduces a new group of number facts (e.g., multiplying by two), there’s a new set of flashcards too. Specific sets of flash cards are reviewed before working on the fact sheets.
In our experience, flash card practice can be miserable if you don’t manage this time well. If your child is struggling with a math fact, give him a few seconds to guess the answer. Then he needs to flip the card and check his answer. If he gets it wrong, he should simply move the card to the back of the pile for another try. Develop this routine, and enforce it if you want to have lunch before 2 p.m. Keep things moving.
Flash cards can turn into an ordeal. Kids get stuck when they don’t know the answer, and they don’t know how to move on. You might need to help them understand that the expectation isn’t to know every fact when they’re first introduced. They will learn the answers through practice.
Memorizing Number Facts
Memorization of number facts is critical for completing assignments in a timely fashion. The publisher states that automatic recall is expected by the end of Math 3. There’s no shortcut to this, although the various strategies taught in the lessons do help. We have spent many evenings working on memorizing number facts. But putting in the time pays off.
Manipulatives
Another key component of this curriculum is the Saxon Math Manipulatives. They are frequently used during lesson time.
“Difference” is much easier to understand when a tower of eight linking cubes stands next to a tower of six. It’s clear that two cubes don’t have partners, so there’s a difference of two. This can be a difficult concept for a first grader to understand without a concrete example.
The manipulatives are especially helpful for kinesthetic learners. My kids always enjoyed the items such as linking cubes, pattern blocks, teaching clocks, and color tiles. They’re a worthy investment!
You will need to purchase the Manipulative Kit separately from the curriculum. The Saxon Mathematics K-3 Home Study Manipulative Kit includes everything you need for kindergarten through third grade. Find a cute basket or storage bin – you’ll want to keep everything together in one place!
Nuances of Saxon Math 1, 2, and 3
This curriculum is an oldie but a goodie. With a 1994 copyright date, there are some outdated references. For example, you’ll be asked to:
- Use a newspaper clipping for counting
- Study a paper map of the U.S.
- Cut pictures from a magazine
- Work with 650 pennies
We’ve nailed an outdoor analog thermometer to our back deck for math meeting time. You’ll be cutting construction paper strips, and occasionally saving an egg carton or milk jug.
You might also sigh a little when practicing measuring by making a brownie recipe – from scratch. (Maybe the *sigh* only happens when it’s your fourth time through the curriculum? To be fair, I was a little more excited about the lesson where we planted seeds for measuring growth.)
A play store took over our living room for one math lesson, but my girls loved it. You’ll be rounding up 20-30 empty food containers so your student can practice counting money. We created extra store “receipts” and purchased this kid’s cash register. There were many weeks of enthusiastic learning through play (and some fun memories).
The lessons primarily use the manipulatives from the Saxon Kit. But do look ahead at the materials list, and adapt as needed. I can usually prepare for the next day’s lesson in about five minutes. It’s just the occasional newspaper clipping, brownie recipe, or play store that slows me down.
While there are some quirks to the Saxon Math homeschool series, no curriculum is perfect. With some minor adjustments, this can be an excellent program for young children.
How Much Time Does Saxon Math Take?
At our house, the amount of time we spend on Saxon Math varies significantly from day to day. It depends not only on the lesson, but also on our level of motivation. I have to remind my child and myself to keep things moving. That’s particularly true with this curriculum, because a lesson can cover so much material.
The lessons tend to get longer as you work through this elementary series. I’ve shown below how we typically break up one lesson and approximately how much time it takes.
Session 1
- Math meeting strip *completed independently* (10-15 minutes)
Session 2
- Meeting time with mom (15 minutes)
- Lesson time with mom (10-25 minutes)
- Flash card review (1-10 minutes)
- Number fact sheet (1-5 minutes)
- Worksheet Side A (10-20 minutes)
Session 3
- Worksheet Side B completed later in the day (10-15 minutes)
Approximate time for all 3 sessions, in our experience:
⏲️ 60 minutes on average
⏲️ Up to 1 hour + 45 minutes with longer lessons (or when we lollygag)
This curriculum would not work for us if we didn’t break it into smaller chunks throughout the day. You might decide not to do all the math meeting exercises. Some families use Side B of the worksheet only for extra practice, as needed.
With some adjustments, you may find the lessons take less than an hour. As you work through this curriculum, you’ll fall into a routine and find what works best for your child.
Free Saxon Math 3 Download (Time Saver!)
Saxon Publishers, Inc. does not provide an answer key for the fact sheets in this elementary series. I’ve created a Saxon Math 3 download with the fact sheet answers. This can save you significant time when checking the fact sheets with 100 problems (yes, 100!).
This seven-page printable is free when you subscribe to my newsletter. The download also includes a page of Math 3 meeting strips. I created this because it was easier for me to print, rather than copy these. I hope you find these resources as valuable as I have!
Top Tips for Using This Curriculum
- Keep it moving. You can’t dawdle with this curriculum. It covers a lot of material. You’ll need to keep focused to finish the lessons and work through the book.
- Trust the process. There’s a rhyme and a reason for the structure of the curriculum. Get familiar with it before making adjustments.
- Teach consistently. Do some math on most days, so your child has the opportunity to build confidence and master the material. When children are young, it might feel like schoolwork doesn’t need to be done consistently. But going many days between math lessons can lead to frustration for your student.
Buying Used Saxon Math Homeschool Curriculum
There are many parts to this curriculum – so costs can add up. But Saxon Math has been around for a long time, so you might be able to find a used Teacher’s Edition or Manipulative Kit. Just be sure you have everything you need.
It can be hard to find a used Meeting Book that isn’t written in, or a workbook set that is complete (2 workbooks per grade). Reference this list of curriculum components (from above) – for each year of Saxon Elementary Math.
There are so many pieces to the Manipulative Kit. It’s frustrating to be halfway through a lesson, only to realize you’re missing what you need. Make a list and check it twice. (You’ll thank me later.)
Saxon Math Homeschool Curriculum Is a Smart Start
There is definitely a learning curve with this Saxon Math curriculum. It may be a little overwhelming at first. But eventually, you’ll feel like you can teach it in your sleep. It follows a very orderly and logical sequence. As with any curriculum, you need to trust the process.
My kids generally enjoyed these younger years of Saxon Math. Many of the lesson activities make learning fun. There is a significant shift in how the lessons are taught after the elementary years. I saw a change in my student’s enjoyment of math when we moved on to Saxon Math 5/4. It feels more like work. Enjoy these years of more play-based learning while you can!
Saxon’s elementary math series can be a heavy time commitment. But there is great value in this thorough, well-scripted, manipulative-based curriculum. When done well, it can help your student build a solid math foundation. It’s a smart start in these early years!
FAQs
In our experience, a lesson takes about 1 hour a day. However, longer lessons can stretch up to 1 hour and 45 minutes. This is especially true if you don’t intentionally keep the lesson moving. There’s often a lot of material to cover. I suggest some strategies to break up the lesson and make it more manageable in this section about how long Saxon Math lessons take.
You can generally start your student in the math book that matches their grade level. However, if your child might be significantly behind or advanced, Saxon offers placement exams, which can be accessed through Christianbook.com.
One of my kids came out of public school significantly behind in math. We worked hard over a couple of summers to get her caught up. Put in the time to ensure your child has a solid math foundation. I know it requires a lot of effort and commitment!
Saxon Math Intermediate 3 is an alternative to the Saxon Math 3 curriculum I’ve reviewed in this post. Intermediate 3 does not provide the scripted lessons found in Saxon Math 1, 2 and 3. The student is taught directly from the text and can work more independently.
Intermediate 3 is organized more like the Saxon 5/4 books and those that follow. It is much more “open-and-go.” Explore Intermediate 3 and view a comparison video of these two curricula at Christianbook.com.
Yes, you do need the Teacher’s Edition for Saxon Math 1, 2, and 3. The value of this program is in the scripted lessons and step-by-step instructions. These are found in the Teacher’s Edition.
Yes, the manipulatives are used frequently in Saxon Math 1, 2, and 3. They are an integral part of the lesson time and needed for teaching this curriculum.
Explore my Saxon Math Kindergarten Review or my other Elementary Curriculum Reviews.
