Saxon Math 8/7 with Pre-Algebra (Purchased at Christian Books because of the price)
After several months of working with Saxon Math 8/7 my Georgia Boys are very happy with it. Reviews I read when seeking out a math curriculum when we began homeschooling all centered around the repetitive nature of Saxon Math. This seemed like a good idea to me. I really didn't know what we were getting into. I ordered everything, the textbook (which really isn't like a textbook), the solutions manual for me, and the practice sheets and tests manual as well as the Saxon Teacher. We use all but the Saxon Teacher.
Likes: We like the repetition. Each new concept offers practices on those new concepts then offers mixed practice on all concepts up to that point. Thus, the repitition - or reinforcement!! In other reviews I've read some homeschool students do all the practice problems but only every other one of the mixed practice. I have assigned all 30 problems each math day. My Georgia Boys have no problem with completing 30 problems and after checking their work I know what they know and what they don't.
Dislikes: 1) Saxon Teacher! Oh my, this is the worst. It goes word for word from the text book - what's the point! We've never used it. I will not subject my boys to that. 2) Not enough varied new concept instrutions (Note: at this point this isn't an issue because I can handle the concepts but I'm concerned when we move into heavier algebra. While I've taken Algebra and Calculus for that matter teaching it is a different story).
If you want to know your child is learning the concepts and they don't mind the repetitive nature of the problem sets this is an outstanding Math curriculum. I have noted that my boys have already had some of the concepts (although not all of them prior to beginning homeschooling) so overall the Math 8/7 with Pre-Algebra seems to be in line with a 7th grader.