I was recently asked to share some highlights about RightStart Math and explain why it’s so effective in helping kids learn and truly understand math. I am Rachel Anderson, and, as anyone who knows me can tell you, I’m passionate about RightStart Math!
Having homeschooled for more than 20 years now, I know that choosing the right curriculum can make a huge difference in a child’s learning journey. RightStart Math is a perfect choice because it makes math understandable, fun, engaging, and accessible for all. I have four children, one strong learner, one average learner, and two children with learning differences. RightStart Math worked for all of them!
Here are five reasons I love RightStart Math:
1. Activity-Based Learning
RightStart Math gets kids moving and involved through hands-on activities, instead of having to complete endless worksheets or listen to boring lectures. Math became an adventure for them. In my home, math wasn’t a time to sit at the desk and complete another worksheet, filling in random blanks. Instead, my kids engaged in math ideas and enjoyed the learning process.
2. Visual and Kinesthetic Tools and Strategies
RightStart Math uses 24 incredible and effective manipulatives, including the Cotter Abacus. These tools helped my kids physically see and touch math. The combination of manipulatives and strategies taught in RightStart Math, such as subitizing, gave my children different ways to learn and retain math facts and processes without relying only on rote memorization. This combination brought the sometimes difficult-to-understand abstract world of math into a realm they could see, touch, explore, grasp, and retain.
3. Card Games
Seriously! Who doesn’t love a good game? RightStart’s math card games make practicing math skills engaging, and the games are so much fun to play! Oftentimes, I had to set a timer so my kids would STOP playing games. Can you imagine having to say to your child, “I need to you to stop practicing your math facts so we can get to the next subject.” Because my kids were practicing math facts by playing card games, I have had to do just that!
4. Engaging Discussions
I love how RightStart Math encouraged my kids to think about math. Each lesson had me ask guiding questions that required my kids to think about the math, the process, and the answer. This was so much more than filling in a blank on worksheet. Not only did this approach boost my kids’ critical thinking skills, but it also helped them make mathematical connections.
5. Long-term Success
I don’t know about you, but over the years, I have purchased curriculum thinking it was exactly what my child needed – only to find out that it was not. Dr. Cotter’s methods are backed by years of research and practical engineering experience, proving to create lasting math understanding and confidence in kids.
In Summary
Why do I LOVE RightStart Math? So many reasons! But because of RightStart, my kids understood math. They were able to easily move into higher levels of math. And they were prepared for their careers because of the solid mathematical foundation RightStart Math built.
