saxon upper level questions with dive cd's

[lori in tx]

My dd really wants to switch from MUS to Saxon, she really struggles in math and she watched the demo on the diveintomath.com site and actually could figure out the problem. I know several times she gets confused with MUS and the way he explains things, like dividing fractions confused us both. So my questions are she will be going into Algebra 1/2 using the DIVE cd, how long does it take to get through the average day? What is the difference between edition 2 and 3? Any tips for a smooth transition? What level or when should she start using a calculator?
thanks
lori

[Laura K (NC)]

It seems like most pre-algebra programs are just a wrap-up of math skills that the child is supposed to master before moving on to algebra, geometry, and beyond. My middle son is doing Saxon 87 now with the Dive CD and he spends less than an hour most days. I think the Dive CDs are very well done and watching them doesn't take a whole lot of time. My older son did Alg. 1/2 without the CDs and that didn't work very well. The material seems very similar to me and I didn't allow a calculator in either the 8/7 or the 1/2 year.

Both of my older boys are doing science programs that involve math and I do let them use calculators in science. My oldest doesn't use a calculator in algebra... the calculator really isn't much of a help in those kinds of problems.

That's how it was when I was in high school... no calculator in math, but calculator was pretty necessary in physics and chemistry and sometimes biology where measurements, significant figures, and scientific notation would involve numbers with more than 3 or 4 places.