Cotter Abacus vs. Colored Rods
August 13, 2026
One of the joys of homeschooling is being able to slow down and ask an important question: Does my child really understand this, or have
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Tag: AL Abacus
Memorizing Math Facts or Knowing Them? There IS a Big Difference
August 6, 2026
“Has your child memorized the multiplication facts yet?” It’s a question many homeschool parents hear—and often worry about. For generations, we’ve been told that
Teacher Intensive vs Teacher Involved
July 23, 2026
Teacher intensive. This is a term I hear applied towards RightStart Math. When asked to list pros and cons, this term, teacher intensive, tends
How to Teach Addition the RightStart Way
June 18, 2026
For generations, learning math facts has often meant the same thing: flash cards, timed tests, and endless repetition. If that description makes you cringe
Quilting and the Cotter Abacus
October 30, 2025
I am a quilt designer. I’ve made over 250 quilts in my lifetime, 98% of my own design. I’m currently working on my sixth
Dr. Cotter’s Abacuses
October 16, 2025
How many different abacuses do you think Dr. Cotter has? Here’s a clue…. Dr. Cotter is holding one of her first abacuses: a Japanese
Dr. Cotter on RightStart and Montessori
March 5, 2024
Most people have heard of Montessori, but often they are not sure what it’s all about. The word Montessori refers both to a person and a
Dr. Cotter on Flashcards
February 20, 2024
Flash cards are not a good way to drill the facts. Many adults, because they could not respond fast enough to flash cards or
Dr. Cotter on Manipulatives
December 11, 2023
When teaching math to a child, there are three important questions to consider: Are manipulatives necessary for teaching math? What is the purpose of
2023 Summer Game #10: Mental Addition
August 22, 2023
One of the many aspects that drew me to RightStart™ Math was the idea of my children learning how to do mental math. Growing