Curriculum & Method
Teaching Textbooks vs Saxon Math: Which Math Curriculum Wins?
Teaching Textbooks vs Saxon Math compared: online self-grading vs rigorous spiral textbooks, independence, cost, and Arizona ESA notes.
9 min read · Updated
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FeaturedFamily Focused Tutors
Family Focused Tutors is a Christian online tutoring company dedicated to providing personalized one-on-one instruction that helps students thrive academically while supporting families every step of the way. We specialize in serving homeschool families, virtual learners, and traditional school students by offering flexible, individualized educational support that fits each child's unique learning needs. Our mission is to partner with parents to cultivate confident learners who are equipped to reach their God-given potential. Unlike traditional tutoring centers, every session is conducted live online, allowing students to receive high-quality instruction from the comfort of home. Families can work with experienced Christian tutors regardless of where they live, making expert educational support both convenient and accessible. We understand that every homeschool journey is different, which is why we offer three levels of support to meet the needs of every family. Students can receive Homework Help ($35/hour) for assistance with assignments and difficult concepts, Homeschool Instruction ($40/hour) for families looking for a teacher to provide direct instruction using their curriculum, or Remediation & Intervention ($45/hour) for students who need specialized support to close learning gaps and build foundational skills. Every lesson is personalized to the student's learning style, pace, and academic goals. Our team of caring, highly qualified educators provides instruction in mathematics, reading, language arts, writing, science, history, Spanish, and many other subjects. Whether families need occasional academic support, consistent homeschool instruction, or intensive intervention, our tutors develop customized learning plans that help students gain confidence and achieve measurable progress. Family Focused Tutors proudly serves families across the United States and is an approved Education Savings Account (ESA) provider in multiple states, allowing many families to use their ESA funds to pay for eligible tutoring services. We continue to expand our scholarship and ESA partnerships so that more families have access to affordable, high-quality Christian education. As a faith-based organization, we strive to honor Christ in everything we do. While academic excellence is our primary focus, we also seek to encourage integrity, perseverance, kindness, and a lifelong love of learning. We believe education is most successful when parents and educators work together, which is why we prioritize strong communication, personalized instruction, and lasting relationships with every family we serve. At Family Focused Tutors, we are more than a tutoring company—we are a trusted educational partner committed to helping students succeed academically while supporting homeschool families with flexible, Christ-centered online learning.
Teaching Textbooks and Saxon Math are two of the longest-running names in homeschool math, and Arizona families ask about this pairing constantly. One is computer-based and self-grading. The other is a traditional textbook with relentless review. They produce different kinds of math students.
Here is the honest breakdown. For the full math landscape, see our Christian homeschool math curriculum guide.
The one-sentence difference
Teaching Textbooks is a self-paced, computer-based math program that teaches, grades, and records everything for you. Saxon Math is a traditional, incremental textbook program famous for daily mixed review and rigor.
Head-to-head comparison
| Factor | Teaching Textbooks | Saxon Math |
|---|---|---|
| Format | App or online, self-grading | Textbook, worksheets, tests |
| Teaching | Video lessons for every problem | Parent teaches from the book (or uses DIVE videos) |
| Method | Spiral with video explanations | Incremental development with heavy spiral review |
| Parent workload | Almost zero | High, unless paired with DIVE instruction |
| Grading | Automatic | Parent grades |
| Grade range | Grade 3 through Pre-Calculus | K through Calculus |
| Pacing | Self-paced | Lockstep daily lessons |
| Cost | Moderate subscription per child | Moderate; books reusable, used market strong |
| Best fit | Independent learners, busy parents | Disciplined students, rigor-focused families |
The daily experience
With Teaching Textbooks, your child logs in, watches a short lecture, works problems with instant feedback, and can watch any problem solved step-by-step. The gradebook keeps itself. For a parent teaching several kids or working part-time, this is a gift.
With Saxon, the parent (or a DIVE video teacher) presents a new concept, then the student works a problem set where most problems review earlier material. Warm-up, lesson, mixed practice, every day. It is thorough and it is demanding. Families either love Saxon's structure or find the repetition tedious.
Rigor and outcomes
Saxon has the stronger reputation for rigor and long-term retention. The daily mixed review means students rarely forget a skill. Many classical schools and rigorous Christian schools in Arizona use Saxon for exactly this reason.
Teaching Textbooks is solid but generally considered about a grade level gentler than Saxon at the same number. Placement tests matter: many families place their child one level up in Teaching Textbooks.
Cost
Teaching Textbooks charges a per-child subscription (with a family discount for large families). Saxon books are a bigger one-time purchase but are non-consumable and have a deep used market.
Arizona ESA notes
Both are commonly reimbursed as math curriculum through Arizona ESA. Teaching Textbooks subscriptions and Saxon textbooks both typically qualify. Confirm in ClassWallet and keep itemized receipts. See our Arizona ESA guide.
Arizona programs that use these curricula
Programs using Teaching Textbooks
Programs using Saxon Math
- Redeemer Christian School - Homeschool Program
- Family Focused Tutors
- In Christ Tutoring (K-College | Online)
Need help with either program? Browse the Arizona homeschool tutors hub or our math tutors guide.
Who should choose Teaching Textbooks
Choose Teaching Textbooks if you want math off your plate, your child is an independent or screen-comfortable learner, you are teaching multiple children, or math is the subject that causes conflict at your kitchen table.
Who should choose Saxon Math
Choose Saxon if you want maximum rigor and retention, your child handles routine well, you are preparing for STEM-heavy high school and college work, or your co-op or school already uses it and you want alignment.
Related guides
More programs in this guide
Curriculums covered in this guide
Tap any publisher for its full profile, teaching philosophy, and Arizona ESA notes.
Teaching Textbooks
Teaching Textbooks
Self-grading, video-based math curriculum for grades 3-12. Independent format popular with busy homeschool families.
Saxon Math
Saxon (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
Incremental, spiral math curriculum from K through Calculus. Long-standing favorite in classical and traditional homeschools.
Part of the Curriculum & method hub
Christian Homeschool Curriculum Guides
Subject-by-subject and method-by-method guides to the curricula Arizona Christian homeschool families actually use — with ESA notes for each.
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This guide is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Confirm current rules with the Arizona Department of Education before acting.
