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Understanding dive math for homeschooling

Learn about DIVE Math, its benefits for Saxon Math users, and Shormann Math options for homeschool families.
Lisa Thorsen
Written byLisa Thorsen
4 min read
Key takeaways
  • DIVE Math offers video lessons specifically designed to support Saxon Math textbooks, making it easier for homeschool families to teach math effectively
  • For a more comprehensive curriculum with modern test prep and interactive features, consider Shormann Math, which covers subjects from Pre-Algebra to AP Calculus and includes daily support and grading.

DIVE Math provides video lessons for Saxon Math textbooks, helping homeschool families teach math effectively. Shormann Math is an alternative curriculum that includes modern test prep and interactive features.

Research from the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) shows that homeschooled students typically score 15 to 25 percentile points higher than public school students on standardized academic achievement tests. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), approximately 3.3 million students were homeschooled in the United States as of 2023, representing roughly 6% of the school-age population.

What is dive math?

DIVE Math is here to help with Saxon Math instruction. Saxon textbooks were made for classroom use, which means homeschool parents often miss out on important teaching. Dr. David Shormann created DIVE into Math video lessons to fill this gap. He teaches every Saxon lesson on a digital whiteboard. Plus, Shormann has a complete math curriculum, Shormann Math, that builds on Saxon's style while updating for modern tests. Both programs include a Christian perspective.

Dive for Saxon Math

If you have Saxon Math textbooks or plan to use them, DIVE is your go-to for video lessons. Dr. Shormann guides you through each Saxon lesson step-by-step on a digital whiteboard. You can pause, rewind, or review videos whenever you need. This makes it easier for families who love Saxon but find teaching tricky. DIVE is available for streaming or download, covering Math 5/4 (usually for 4th grade) all the way to Saxon Calculus.

Shormann Math courses

Shormann Math is Dr. Shormann's own online curriculum. He created it because Saxon's publisher hasn't updated the curriculum for modern PSAT/SAT content since John Saxon's passing in 1996. These self-paced courses include daily video lectures, interactive homework with automatic grading, video solutions for every problem, and daily email support. Courses span from Pre-Algebra to AP Calculus AB and BC. Students can earn up to 14 college credits through Algebra 2 and Calculus.

Which option to choose

Choose DIVE for Saxon if you already have the textbooks and want video help with Saxon's spiral method. Pick Shormann Math if you're looking for a full, modern curriculum with grading and support built in, especially for test prep. Shormann Math covers everything on PSAT, SAT, ACT, CLEP, and AP exams by the end of Algebra 2. Both options are great for students who learn better through video rather than just reading.

The bottom line

DIVE Math makes Saxon Math easier for homeschool families who want the curriculum without the teaching stress. If you're looking for a more modern, test-prep-focused option, Shormann Math offers a full solution with interactive features and support. Both programs show Dr. Shormann's belief that clear and effective teaching helps students excel in math earlier. If your student struggles with math or you feel unprepared to teach tough concepts, video instruction could be just what you need.

Frequently Asked Questions

Lisa Thorsen
Written by
Lisa Thorsen

Co-founder, BetterSchool

Lisa is the co-founder of BetterSchool and a homeschool mom of three. BetterSchool administers the largest independent homeschool community in the country — over 350,000 families across all 50 states.

When COVID hit, Lisa and her husband pulled their children out of school and hit the road. Homeschooling wasn't the plan — it was a necessity. But somewhere along the way, the family fell in love with it: the time together, the ability to tailor lessons to each child's interests, learning at their own pace, the freedom to travel, eating healthy on their own schedule, and the countless other benefits that come with homeschooling.

As they traveled, Lisa kept discovering incredible hands-on learning experiences that most homeschool families had no way of finding. She built BetterSchool to make it easy for every family to find and book the experiences that make learning come alive.

Through her community, Lisa has helped hundreds of thousands of parents navigate homeschooling, while also helping local businesses find and serve the homeschool community. She is the former managing partner of a law firm focused on business law and mergers and acquisitions — BetterSchool is her second technology startup. She holds a J.D. from California Western School of Law and a B.A. from Penn State.

Related articles

Understanding Saxon Math for homeschoolersShormann Math: A modern homeschool curriculumUnderstanding the CLEP exam

Table of Contents

  • What is dive math?
  • Dive for Saxon Math
  • Shormann Math courses
  • Which option to choose
  • The bottom line
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