Includes lessons, worksheets, math balance, geared clock, cards for math games, tally sticks, 2 geoboards, wooden cubes, place value cards, base ten picture cards, colored tiles, abacus tiles, Standard AL Abacus, “Yellow is the Sun” CD.

Customer Reviews

 
Coleen P. from McKinney, TX wrote the following on 02/03/2008:
This math program is, in a word, incredible! We began using it midyear when I noticed that my daughter was beginning to struggle and develop bad habits with a traditional text. Math had become the "time for tears". Not anymore! We are sailing through this program, and my child who previously could not add or subtract without counting on her fingers has begun to "see the abacus in her head", and thus the facts come easily. The reason for this is their varied and FUN approach using the abacus, songs and rhymes as well as card games instead of flash cards (which were always a source of pain for both of us). I find this program very easy to use, and the teacher preparation time is minimal. The instructional time, however, takes complete parent involvement and there are much fewer worksheets than in traditional programs. Lesson duration for us has been between 15 to 30 minutes. This program would be excellent for different learning styles, as so many different methods are employed (songs, games, manipulatives, and worksheets). This kit comes with everything you need for this level, and is definitely worth the price paid in my opinion. All of the manipulatives and card games are purposefully used and essential to the program. Customer service is also excellent! After I ordered this package I realized a few weeks later that one of the card sets was missing. I contacted Rainbow Resource, and within 3 days I had the missing cards direct from the publisher. Thank you RightStart for changing math in our house forever!

 
Kami O. from Big Lake, MN wrote the following on 03/31/2008:
I would have to concur with Coleen P. on all of the benefits of this great program with this one caution (if one could call it a caution). Be prepared to spend more than one year on Level B. When I started this program with my son we were cruising through the lessons and we both loved it. Then we started taking longer and longer to get through each lesson. Finally I called RSM and the woman that I spoke with advised me to break the lessons down. There are bold headings within each lesson that make this quite simple. She shared that on average you should only spend 15-20 minutes per lesson a day with a maximum of 20-30 minutes on a lesson each day. (This was an adjustment that she had made with her son as well.) I followed her council (except when we’re playing one of the games and don’t want to quit) and we’ve been flying again! I talked to another RSM mom and she confirmed that Level B took her and her (3) daughters two years to complete. That being said, I would highly recommend this program! If you spend two years on Level B, that cuts the expense by 50% for those two years! Plus each additional child that goes through the program you will only have to purchase a workbook, which is $10 for Level B and $18 for each level after that (at the time of this review). When I averaged my expenses per year, I came to $88 (if Level B takes 2 years) to $105 (if Level B takes one year) for the first child, although it may be more if you purchase an extra abacus as we did. Also, if Level B does take you two years to complete I don’t think that your children will be behind in any way. Your child(ren) will simply begin Geometry in 6th grade rather than 5th, which I think is quite reasonable. Also, before we had finished up Level B in 2nd grade our son still tested above his grade level and I am amazed at how well he has learned to add double digit numbers (39 + 58) without seeing it on paper or using the abacus. Warm-up questions are review from previously covered material so your child(ren) won’t have an opportunity to lose the information they’re learning because they keep using it. As far as preparation ease, I take a quick glance at the start of the week to plan our schedule, and Math has become our son’s favorite class. He loves to start the day with Math and is always asking to play one of the games, sometimes even for concepts that he has already mastered, just because it’s a fun game. For his Kindergarten year I used workbooks that I purchased at the local discount store. But we noticed that he definitely has a bent toward mechanical, building and science in general and we really wanted a great math course. We found it! I was looking at another program that seemed quite a bit less in cost (initially), but I don’t think that either of us would have enjoyed it like we LOVE RightStart. When averaging the cost, it wouldn’t have been much of a savings either. Also, when I asked a retailer that sold both programs he unwaveringly recommended this one. RSM is great for those who already love math and for those who are a little nervous about math! We are getting ready to order Level C for him, and for the two children coming up I’ll be ordering Level A. I love, love, LOVE our Math program!