PracticeAndOverlearningPart1

Carolyn and I have both been using Saxon Math Homeschool Edition with our kids.

Here is Saxon's explanation of the curriculum:

Saxon Math . . . systematically distributes instruction and practice and assessment throughout the academic year as opposed to concentrating, or massing, the instruction, practice and assessment of related concepts into a short period of time -- usually within a unit or chapter.

I can vouch for this.

SAXON 6/5 has 120 lessons in all, plus 12 'Investigations' & 3 Appendix lessons, and when you get to Lesson 120 you're still practicing the stuff you learned back in Lesson 1.

There are 100 or more problems and computations in each of the 120 lessons: Fast Facts, Mental Math, Problem Solving, Lesson Practice, and, finally, Mixed Practice.

This is what we call drill and kill.

Cognitive psychologists call it automaticity:

Practice Makes Perfect But Only If You Overlearn Ask the Cognitive Scientist: How We Learn by Daniel T. Willingham

review

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