Learning need not be difficult, but neither does it happen quickly. Time is the elixir that turns things new into things familiar. Therefore, the most effective way for students to learn is through gentle development of concepts and the practice of those concepts extended over a considerable period of time.  At Saxon, we call these methods incremental development and continual review and we have applied to mathematics and the fundamental skills of reading.

At the beginning of each lesson is a boxed set of activities that includes “Facts Practice,” “Mental Math,” and “Problem Solving” exercises. These brief drills improve recall, increase problem-solving speed, and automate frequently needed skills. Opening class with these exercises in a competitive setting where students press to improve their time and accuracy produces focused concentration and often enthusiasm.

The Problem-Solving Exercises are intended for open discussion. Non-routine problems may offer a sense of enjoyment for those who can unravel an involved problem but a sense of intimidation for those who cannot find a place to begin. Thus it is more important for the teacher to keep the problem-solving task positive than to lead the search for a solution. Pencil and paper, calculators, manipulatives, and other mathematical tools should be available to students during the problem-solving exercises.