In between grading algebra tests, I have been reading avidly the
Dispatch stories about how only .62 percent of Gilroy High School
graduates who move on to Gavilan manage to place into college level
math.
In between grading algebra tests, I have been reading avidly the Dispatch stories about how only .62 percent of Gilroy High School graduates who move on to Gavilan manage to place into college level math.
I find this amazing, considering that all three of my homeschooled children, 100 percent, placed into Math 1A when they started taking classes at Gav at the ripe old ages of 15 and 16. No brag, just fact.
Even when you consider all my homeschooled math students, 70 percent of those who stayed the course with me placed into calculus. The other 30 percent placed into math 8 or 9, pre-calculus … which still means that 100 percent of my students who moved on to Gav, West Valley, or Valley Christian, at ages between 15 and 18, placed into college-level math. Those are my bona fides.
In contrast, of Gilroy High School graduates, age 19, who went to Gavilan, only .62 percent placed into college level math. Point six two, less than 1 percent. That is about 3 out of 500. Morgan Hill fared slightly better with 1.11 percent; San Benito High School, slightly worse, with 0 percent.
Much as I would love to take full credit for my students’ stellar performance, I must give credit where credit is due: the late Mr. John Saxon. We use Saxon math. My best prepared algebra I students have used Saxon for years before they come to me.
Saxon is ideal for the homeschooling mom and student, where mom may be distracted by a crying baby or an injured cat, or need a brief refresher course on the quadratic formula before turning around and teaching it to her child. For the same reason, it is ideal for the elementary school teacher who is strong on language arts but a little wobbly on common denominators.
Saxon’s chief advantage is not, however, ease of instruction. The chief advantage is that Saxon is based on the principle of constant review. Every day’s homework reinforces all the material the student has learned. Thus the fifth-grade student does not forget how to multiply fractions while mastering the long-division algorithm. The algebra I student does not forget how to graph lines while learning how to factor trinomials.
This year, for the first time since third grade, I am teaching out of texts other than Saxon. I am teaching pre-algebra out of Jacobs and algebra I out of Paul Foerster at Live Oak Academy, a large homeschool co-op which is in the process of turning itself into a private school.
During my job interview, I was disappointed to learn that LOA does not use Saxon. I told the interviewers that I would try to keep an open mind, and that if I continued to think that Saxon was the best thing since sliced bread, I would petition the board for its adoption.
I have fallen in love with Jacobs for the high-achieving pre-algebra student. I loathe Paul Foerster with all my heart, and struggle mightily to adapt his instruction for my students’ benefit.
I still think that GUSD needs to adopt Saxon math.
Curious: for years, I have heard from the district office that Saxon is not approved on the state adoption list. Today I found that list on line; behold: Saxon is approved for grades kindergarten through remedial 8th grade. Alas, Saxon pre-algebra and algebra I are not approved. (The state erred in not approving them, I think.)
I also searched for the high school adoption list, but in vain. In desperation I called the county office of education. A knowledgeable woman named Diane informed me that there is no state mandated adoption list for high school. Instead, each district is free to make its own decisions regarding textbook adoption.
Therefore, my constructive criticism for GUSD is that we should adopt Saxon Math K through 76 for grades kindergarten through 7th. No recommendation for 8th grade. Starting in 9th grade, adopt Saxon pre-algebra for students requiring remediation and Algebra I and II and Advanced Mathematics for the others. Use Saxon Calculus for non-AP calculus and whatever Bellarmine uses for AP calculus.
GUSD should listen to this, my constructive criticism. And will, when pigs fly.
