Saxon Math™

Saxon Math Curriculum Grades K–12

Why?
Features
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  • Why?

    No matter how well students initially learn a concept, if they are not able to retain their learning, connect it to other concepts, and apply it in problem-solving situations, they have not reached mastery. Saxon Math™ is designed to support the long-term mastery and applications that will make a difference during testing and in students’ future education and careers.

    According to the pedagogy

    • Incremental Concepts are taught in small, approachable progressions
    • Distributed Increments are spread throughout the year, building in complexity, so that by the end of the year students have reached deep understanding and fluency
    • Cumulative Practice and assessments include concepts from the most recent lessons as well as from earlier in the year, ensuring students retain all concepts and can make connections between them

    Saxon Math™ is a trademark of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

    Explore More

    • Scope and Sequence

      The Scope and Sequence provides an overview of the concepts to be covered in given period of time, as well as how those concepts are addressed over the series as whole. Download a PDF to see the progression and order of topic introduction.

      Grades K–8 (967 KB)

      Saxon Math™ is a trademark of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

    • Authors
      Nancy Larson

      Nancy Larson - Program Author, K-4

      I began my career in education as a high school and middle school mathematics teacher. As an algebra and geometry teacher, I was aware of the gaps in students' mathematical background. When I became the district math coordinator, it was clear that the gaps were not the results of the teachers' failure to present concepts, but rather by the lack of materials that ensure students' long-term retention of these concepts. After researching many math programs, I found that the textbooks written by John Saxon and Stephen Hake addressed this problem for middle school and high school students.

      I then began looking for an elementary program that had the same philosophy as the materials developed by John and Stephen. Unable to find materials that had a similar approach, I decided to write a program with the same philosophy that addressed the needs of primary students and their teachers.

      The goal of the Saxon Math™ K–4 program was to teach important mathematical content using an integrated, incremental approach and to provide the practice necessary for children to master the concepts presented. By working closely with classroom teachers and incorporating extensive field testing, we were able to develop a program that provides children with a solid understanding of the language of mathematics and the mastery of the skills needed to be successful in future mathematics courses.

      Stephen Hake

      Stephen Hake - Program Author, Intermediate 3-5 and Courses 1-3

      When I read the published field-test results of John Saxon's Algebra 1 manuscript and learned that John Saxon taught students with the same methods I did, I placed an order and began using John's book with my eighth grade students with great success. Recognizing the country's need for an effective math program from grade school through high school, we joined our efforts and soon Saxon Math was helping millions of students across America succeed in math. Students can learn math and are advanced through the subject matter in a way that gently guides them step by step and provides the time and practice necessary to learn and remember the foundational concepts of mathematics.

      Saxon Math is written the way I taught–one bit of instruction each day with plenty of practice on previous instruction. The excellent performance of my students on problem-solving contests and on standardized tests convinced me that this method of instruction works. It produces excellent problem-solving skills and long-term learning of key math concepts.

      Pat Wrigley

      Pat Wrigley - Author of Adaptations for Saxon Math

      I began to adapt Saxon's intermediate grades series in 1991 for use with my own Special Ed students. When other resource specialists began to request copies of my work, I realized it might be of value to Saxon users. The Saxon approach is reliable. I've seen repeated proof that this program works for all students. Even as I reach my 40th year as a full-time resource specialist, seeing the happiness of my students' faces as they achieve beyond their dreams is still the greatest joy of my life.

      Frank Wang

      Dr. Frank Wang - Author of Saxon Calculus

      "My passion is for teaching and for helping students learn more mathematics than they ever thought possible. I am a fervent advocate for the Saxon pedagogy and highly recommend its mathematics textbooks as the best textbooks for providing students with a solid and firm foundation for further study in mathematics."

      Dr. Wang holds an undergraduate degree from Princeton University and a Ph. D. in pure mathematics from MIT. He began working for Saxon Publishers at age 16 as a high school student. He was president of the company from 1994 to 2001. Frank has taught at the University of Oklahoma and currently teaches at the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics.

      Saxon Math™ is a trademark of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

    • Correlations

      Correlation guides indicate where—and in many cases how—the Common Core Standards are addressed in the program. Download a PDF to see specifics at a particular level.

      Grade K (1,154 KB)

      Grade 1 (1,397 KB)

      Grade 2 (1,565 KB)

      Grade 3 (1,490 KB)

      Grade 3 (for Saxon Intermediate 3) (1,667 KB)

      Grade 4 (for Saxon Intermediate 4) (1,366 KB)

      Grade 5 (for Saxon Intermediate 5) (1,445 KB)

      Grade 6 (1,679 KB)

      Grade 7 (1,025 KB)

      Grade 8 (1,037 KB)

      Saxon Math™ is a trademark of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

    • Research

      "Saxon Works"

      Independent research, longitudinal studies, and field testing provide clear evidence that Saxon Math™ shows immediate, dramatic, and sustained improvement for all students.

      Saxon Works

      Theoretical and Empirical Support for Saxon Math

      A well-articulated curriculum challenges students to learn increasingly more sophisticated mathematical ideas as they continue their studies. John Saxon, founder of Saxon Publishers, had a similar philosophy in mind when he developed his theory-based distributed approach to mathematics instruction, practice, and assessment in the early 1980s. Saxon's approach has evolved to include a K–12 textbook series with a comprehensive approach to mathematics.

      Saxon Math Research (1.42 MB)

      Study Gives Edge to two Math Programs

      Education Week

      Two programs for teaching mathematics in the early grades—Math Expressions and Saxon Math emerge as winners in early findings released last week from a large-scale federal experiment that pits four popular, and philosophically distinct, math curricula against one another.

      Read Full Report (888 k)

      A Longitudinal Analysis of State Mathematics Scores for Florida Schools Using Saxon Math

      Saxon Math Florida

      This report describes a three-year longitudinal study of the instructional effectiveness of Saxon Math, a mathematics program designed for use in Kindergarten through Grade 12.

      Read Full Report (452 k)

      A Longitudinal Analysis of State Mathematics Scores for Oklahoma Schools Using Saxon Math

      Saxon Math Oklahoma

      This report describes a three-year longitudinal study of the instructional effectiveness of Saxon Math, a mathematics program designed for use in Kindergarten through Grade 12.

      Read Full Report (452 k)

      Saxon Math and California English Learner's Math Performance

      Saxon Math California ELL

      Grounding of mathematics learning in academic language has tremendous implications for the growing population of ELLs in classrooms across the U.S. Many learners who struggle with reading also have difficulty with mathematics, mainly because of the language demands that are embedded within each of these skills.

      Read Full Report (209 k)

      A Longitudinal Analysis of State Mathematics Scores for Indiana Schools Using Saxon Math

      Saxon Math Indiana

      This report describes a three-year longitudinal study of the instructional effectiveness of Saxon Math, a mathematics program designed for use in Kindergarten through Grade 12.

      Read Full Report (398 k)

      The Relationship Between Using Saxon Elementary and Middle-School Math and Student Performance on California Statewide Assessments

      Saxon Math California

      PRES Associates, an external, independent educational research firm with over 15 years of experience in applied educational research and evaluation, conducted analyses using existing California state assessment data to examine the relationship between math performance and Saxon Math programs at elementary and middle school grade levels. This report presents the results of statistical analyses conducted in order to examine how well the Saxon Math program helps California elementary and middle-school students attain critical math skills.

      Read Full Report (566 k)

      The Relationship Between Using Saxon Elementary School Math and Student Performance on Texas Statewide Assessments

      Saxon Math Texas

      PRES Associates, an external, independent educational research firm with over 15 years of experience in applied educational research and evaluation, conducted analyses using archival data on the effectiveness of the Saxon Elementary Math program in the state of Texas. This report presents the results of statistical analyses conducted on existing Texas state assessment data in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the Saxon Math program in helping Texas elementary school students attain vital math skills.

      Read Full Report (931 k)

      Saxon Math™ is a trademark of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

    • Testimonials

      "Saxon Works!"

      Saxon® products and programs have a proven record of success in every type of school setting–urban, suburban, rural, public, private, charter, and parochial—for over 30 years.

      See What Teachers Are Saying

      Students realize that they are not just learning a concept for one chapter—they need to maintain all skills.

      Jacque Novotny, Math Teacher and Department Chairperson
      St. Mary's School
      Sleepy Eye, MN

      The lessons are easy to follow and everything I need is included in the program! The components all work together so well that it makes my job so much easier.

      Jody Bentz, Lead Teacher
      Taylor Primary
      Snowflake, AZ

      Read More Testimonials

      Read more testimonials from around the country in the Saxon Math™ Report Card.

      Read Full Report (6.11 KB)

      Saxon® and Saxon Math™ are trademarks or registered trademarks of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

  • Features
    Complete K–12 Solution

    Complete K–12 Solution

    Saxon Math™ is the only K–12 program that provides the same incremental, research based pedagogy across all grade levels.

    Unique Padagogy

    Unique Pedagogy

    The success of Saxon Math programs can be attributed to the program’s unique, effective, and research-based pedagogy, which helps students develop a deeper understanding of concepts and how to apply them.

    Support for All Learners

    Support For All Learners

    Saxon Math is a proven instructional design that gives all students the structure they need to succeed. Saxon Math’s incremental approach, continual review and ongoing cumulative assessment ensure long- term mastery. Saxon Math also offers a complete parallel program that provides additional support for special education students in Grades 3–12.

    Saxon Math™ is a trademark of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

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  • Virtual Sampling

    More than 30 years of independent effectiveness research, test results and field testing provide clear evidence that Saxon Math™ results in immediate, dramatic, and sustained high levels of student performance. The seamless program employs a proven pedagogy of incremental instruction: new concepts and problem-solving strategies are introduced in easy-to-understand pieces beginning at a concrete level in the early grades, building upon concepts students have already learned. Saxon Math can meet all of your curricula needs through its outstanding K–12 programs.

    Sample Saxon Math Now

    Saxon Math™ is a trademark of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

  • HMH Professional Services

    Our Mission Is to Advance Yours

    HMH Professional Services forges student-centered partnerships with schools and districts in the belief that all learners deserve a quality education and the opportunity for lifelong success.

    HMH Professional Services includes teachers, leaders, and technologists. Our Professional Learning Consultants become part of your team, working right beside you to build and implement professional learning plans that respect the unique needs and culture of your school or district community. Through program, practice, and technical services, we work collaboratively to unlock the full potential of every student, teacher, and leader.

    Visit us at hmhco.com/professionalservices to learn more.


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