I never thought it would be so difficult to choose a math Kindergarten curriculum! I am well aware that I am probably being way too dramatic over this decision. However, I want to choose something that I know will be a good fit for my teaching style and Little Bug’s learning style. I want to choose something that will challenge Little Bug but not push her too much.

And I just can’t make a decision between Saxon Math K and Horizons K.

I’ve heard excellent things about both curriculums and I’ve heard negative things about both curriculums. I know that is because there is no perfect curriculum out there that meets the need of every child and teacher on the planet. That is why there are 50 million different curricula choices out there to chose from!

I like Saxon Math K because:

- It is very hands-on. There are hands-on activities using the math manipulatives for every lesson.

- The lessons seem short which is good for a little one with a short attention span. (Note: I don’t intend to do the “Meeting Book” part of lessons since we do Calendar Time with our calendar. Leaving this out makes the Saxon lessons significantly shorter.)

- I already have all the materials (teacher’s book, workbook 1, manipulatives).

- The worksheets do not require a lot of written work. Little Bug can’t write yet so this is probably the single most deciding factor for me to go with Saxon Math K for this year.

I don’t like Saxon Math K because:

- The majority of the reviews out there say that this curriculum is more suited for the preschool level (4 year old). I totally agree after looking at the content taught. There are 112 lessons. I went through and marked lessons that Little Bug has already mastered and that left only 56 lessons to teach! I was very conservative in checking off lessons that Little Bug has mastered because I don’t want to skip a foundational math concept that Little Bug hasn’t mastered 100%, so there are probably less than 56 lessons in the entire curriculum that I really need to teach Little Bug. 

- Because Saxon Math K is “behind” it makes me wonder about Levels 1, 2 and 3. Are they “behind” too? I’ve read reviews that say Saxon K-3 is a very sound curriculum with no gaps.

- Apparently Saxon K-3 wasn’t written by the same author of the Saxon 4/5 curriculum and on up. To me that is strange.

- A friend of mine who has a daughter who is in 4th grade called me up to ask me what math concepts were taught in 4th grade (remember I was a 4th grade teacher pre-kids). Her daughter did Horizons K-3 and then she switched her this past year to Saxon 4/5. I was SHOCKED at the concepts taught in that 4/5 level book. Way advanced compared to what my 4th grade students were learning! I’ve read reviews that said students were able to go from Saxon K-3 to Saxon 4/5 with no problems so I guess that is reassuring in Saxon’s program but it still leaves me a little leery of Saxon K-3.

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I like Horizons K because:

- It does seem to be way more advanced compared to Saxon K. Although I read some (not a lot) reviews that were complaining that Horizons K was too easy. See what I mean about no perfect curriculum out there?!

- It seems to be hands-on too if you chose to use the manipulatives. Little Bug is a kinesthetic learner. I know just giving her a workbook to work out of every day will bore her to tears so I am going to have to incorporate some manipulatives to her math lessons, especially in K-2nd grade. Plus, as a former teacher, it is ingrained in me to teach math with manipulatives so kids can see and understand the concepts they are learning before just doing the math on paper.

- The majority of my homeschool friends use Horizons! Now, that does not automatically mean that I should go with it too because I have to do what is best for my homeschool and my student. But, considering the majority of my homeschool friends use it, that has to say something good about the program, right?

I don’t like Horizons because:

- The workbooks require a lot of writing. All Little Bug would need to write is the numbers 0-9 and simple lines! But, at this point, she can’t write her numbers and I know that would frustrate her.

- There are an abundance of problems per lesson to complete. I can already hear Little Bug’s moans and groans. As a teacher, I wouldn’t assign the entire math page for students to complete. If they can do 10 addition problems, they can do 30. Why should I have to grade 20 extra problems? If I go with Horizons I can always shorten the workbook work for Little Bug and not require her to work every single problem.

- I would have to buy the Horizon workbooks and I’ve already purchased Saxon Math K. I know I could sell Saxon or I could hold on to it and do it with Sweet Pea when she is 4.

As I figured, typing all this out has helped me see something. If Little Bug was writing I would most likely go with Horizons K and not require her to work every single problem of every single lesson.

If I do choose to go with Horizons this year I could make some adjustments for Little Bug concerning the writing component in the curriculum.

I could:

- Write the answers for her as she verbally tells me. This isn’t ideal though, in my opinion, because I want her actively engaged in her learning and by me writing the answers for her I think it takes away from her learning a bit.

- Let her “write” her numbers by stamping them onto the page! That very well may work with her and even make her more willing to “do math” because she gets to stamp the answers!

- Use Horizons as my “scope and sequence” of what to teach her in Kindergarten, but then use other math workbooks (like this one on Amazon) to supplement instead of having her complete the Horizons workbooks.

I think it’s obvious I want to use Horizons K. I feel confident in that curriculum because, compared to Saxon, it presents more of a challenge to the student. I have not looked at Saxon 1 so I can only say that about comparing Saxon K to Horizons K. Beyond that, it is just assumptions that Saxon is “behind” and Horizons is “advanced”. If the writing component is the only thing holding me back from going with Horizons (which I think it is the only thing holding me back!) then I can get around that by either writing for Little Bug, letting her stamp her answers until she is able to write or hold off on Horizons until 1st Grade when Little Bug will hopefully be writing!

Anyone who took the time to read all this and has anything at all to say about Horizons or Saxon, please leave a comment telling me any and everything about your opinions and experiences with Horizons K and/or Saxon Math K.

- Elaine