Saxon Math

If your child is HG in mathematics, my strong suggestion is NOT to get this curriculum. Saxon describes itself as "an incremental program," and if there were ever a truth-in-advertising award, that statement would win. The pace at which Saxon proceeds might be maddeningly slow to a mathematically gifted child, and the repetition which works very well with children for whom math is not a strong suit would drive a mathematically-inclined child batty. That said, though, Saxon is thorough in its approach and may be ideal for a child who benefits from slow, incremental progress and plenty of repetition. Moreover, parents can adapt the curriculum to their child's needs and repeat on an "as-needed" basis. Overall, Saxon is admirable for its lack of irritating and usually expensive bells and whistles. The teacher's edition and student book are really all one needs for the initial program (Saxon 1a), and other tools can be supplied at home or through Learning is Fun or other educational supply stores. Many Saxon books are available on eBay, particularly the teacher's editions, although the workbooks (which are consumable) might have to be ordered through Saxon itself.

Singapore Math

Many families whose children have strength in math absolutely love Singapore, and for good reason. The program, especially in the early years, is fabulous for those kids who are able to understand a concept and apply it to a new situation. Bright, colorful pages and an inexpensive manual/workbook combination make this program a winning selection for children who would otherwise go nuts with too much repetition. For kids who need the reinforcement, Singapore might move too quickly and be too difficult.