Name: Spreading the Feast Gathering
Start: 2025-07-11T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-07-12T23:59:59-05:00
Location: LaGrange, KY

Tagged: abacus, manipulatives, math, RightStart

This topic has 26 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 10 years, 1 month ago by BlessedMommy.

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April 30, 2015 at 12:19 pm
ReneeS
Participant
I am trying to find a math curriculum for our next chunk of school. We have been using Mathematical Reasoning this year and also object math (what I call it) using what ever is around and adding or subtracting the objects. My dd6 LOVES math, she enjoys the hands on as well as the writing of equations (I insist she writes all problems out in an equation as well as do it the way that is in the book, so if it a word problem and they just want an answer written on a line, she must do it both ways. I don’t know if this is “mean” of me but she knows to just do it now and is becoming Very strong in the understanding of how to write problems out).
I am not sure if this is enough for next year, as she is growing in her capabilities and would love some input. I know MUS and RS are suggested here on SCM. I do not like MUS, I spoke with the rep at convention last year and went to the demo and have watched many reviews. Something about it just does not sit right with me and my way of teaching math, which is simple and straight forward and MUS isn’t that way to me.
There are so many math programs out there and I have been reading over so many reviews. I have been drawn to Ruth beechicks math ways, Ray’s arithmetic and a couple others that are similar. But I would appreciate any input or suggestions
April 30, 2015 at 1:18 pm
mama_nickles
Participant
When my DS was in 1st, we did our own thing and some Ray’s Arithmetic orally. Last summer after he finished 1st, I bought the Math Mammoth 1-3 grade bundle. It has been great for us! I was able to print out only the pages he needed (he was already solid on time and money so we skipped those parts) and go as fast as necessary. He is now finishing up the 3rd grade level (as he finishes 2nd grade) and I have already purchased the 4-6 grade bundle. I love that it is independent and includes all the explanation and problems on one page.
April 30, 2015 at 1:56 pm
Carolyn
Participant
We have used Rightstart for the last 2 1/2 years and love it! The manipulative and games are wonderful.
May 3, 2015 at 10:11 pm
ReneeS
Participant
Thank you both for your input and sharing your experience. I have an old Ray’s Arithmetic, I like it but also feel a little lost with since there is no teacher guidance, more of here’s the book and do what you will to teach it. I suppose that is kind of what us homeschoolers do so much anyways and I am just getting in my own way of teaching
I like the idea of the games and manipulative since my dd is a wiggler and a doer.
Maybe a bit of each, each week, or would that be too much?
May 4, 2015 at 10:37 am
suzukimom
Participant
You mentioned looking at MUS – but have you actually looked at RightStart? It is great! It has a variety of manipulatives to teach the concepts, the abacus is amazing in how useful it is, and I find (I’m in edition 1) that the program seems to know exactly when to switch to a related topic or to a totally different topic. We are in level D right now, and I’m still amazed. The way it teaches division, and fractions, is so clear…. just like everything else!
May 4, 2015 at 5:22 pm
Mysterious Lady in Pink
Participant
I would like to hear about this as well. My youngest of 5 kids is 6yo and I was leaning toward MUS. He has been doing Life of Fred (Butterflies) for fun and his 2 closest sibs (3rd & 5th grade) have used Math Mammoth. They are pretty solid in math, so I have nothing to say against MM. Maybe I should just use that for him. But then I thought it might be nice to use something more manipulative based.
I did try RS with one of mine (K/1st level), and I know people love it — I loved the idea of the abacus and in fact 6yo uses that RS abacus when he needs to visualize something. But RS was just so annoyingly scripted and long. It felt like it took forever for me to see what the point was. I don’t do well with scripted things. lol So I got rid of all of it. But I do have an extra abacus that I kept, and we have the RS Math Games. I wanted to love RS, but at the season with babies underfoot it felt so laborious and just time-intensive…and that was K/1st grade math!
Even though I no longer have babies around, life only gets busier, but in a different way. I don’t want to slight him, but I would love to find something that is a good fit for both of us. 🙂

May 4, 2015 at 10:25 pm
ReneeS
Participant
I have not been able to see RS in person. I have looked at their website. I looked at their samples your can view from their site but I don’t think it gives the full view of what the program really is since I have read there are many manipulatives as well as games which help the child with the math they are learning.
I did not know RS was so scripted. For those who have used RS do you have to stick to the script or things are off ? Can you veer off and not too muddled up if not using the script?
May 5, 2015 at 9:26 am
5heartsathome
Participant
In ref to “The Script”:
I would pay attention to the wording that is used in the script. The wording gives you the clues as to the concept that the lesson is working on. I love scripting because when you do veer off, you know exactly where to return to. You can take the edge off of sounding scripted by reading the lesson before hand. You practice the concept as much as you want to until it is mastered. That is what we do. We just park it right where we are until mastery, reviewing as needed later on. Look at the big picture of the lesson as opposed to getting stuck on wording. I hope that makes sense. We use Rightstart and love it. I don’t think you will be disappointed. 🙂 Best of luck to you! Mollie
May 5, 2015 at 10:32 am
suzukimom
Participant
I know with edition 1, some people find that level A seems a bit scattered. (I don’t have that problem) The people that have said that (but continued anyway) find that Level B+ works better for them. I imagine that 2nd edition doesn’t have that ‘problem’.
May 5, 2015 at 1:02 pm
5heartsathome
Participant
We use the second edition. You can view samples of the first and second edition on the Rightstart website. Dr. Cotter even provides a You Tube videos about the differences between the two. She has plenty of information under the resources tab on her website. 🙂

May 5, 2015 at 3:34 pm
ReneeS
Participant
Thank you Mollie and Suzukimom! Mollie I understand what you are saying about the “script” and veering off but having the ability to come back when needed. I am going to attend convention this June and the used curriculum sale the day before and look for this, if not I will likely be ordering RS. It sounds flexible and might fit us
May 5, 2015 at 5:09 pm
Mysterious Lady in Pink
Participant
I will have to go look at the RS samples. If I may ask a couple of questions as a tangent to Renee’s topic:
1. How long do you spend on RS lessons in those first couple of years?
2. Is it possible to do RS without ALL the manipulatives? I would love if it primarily used the abacus. I personally get overwhelmed and distracted by the busy-ness of them (at least, this was how I felt with the 1st edition I used).
3. Can anyone compare RS to MUS? Either of those to MM (Math Mammoth)?
May 5, 2015 at 11:46 pm
suzukimom
Participant
I don’t time the lessons, but… Edition 1,
level A, about 15 to 20 min
level B about 20 to 30 min
Level c and D about 30 to 40 min
level English – tell you next year, lol.

2, in edition 1 I think you could reduce a bit. You would want the games, abacus, base 10 cards, place value cards, and tiles. Level A or B you would need tally sticks to start. Most of the time you would just use the abacus and maybe tiles. Level C and up you would need the drawing tools too. You would need to modify some lessons a bit of course…
May 5, 2015 at 11:50 pm
suzukimom
Participant
Edition 2 uses the manipulative even more, from my understanding, so it would be hard to reduce them.
Btw, I have almost all of them sorted in a portable file box, so I can just pull out what I need when I need it.
May 6, 2015 at 7:45 am
5heartsathome
Participant
Lady in Pink, to answer some of your questions from our experience with RS
1. How long do you spend on RS lessons in those first couple of years?
It depends. Some lessons take longer than others just like any other subject. I stop at 20 minutes unless we are involved in a Math Card Game that we are having fun with. I have seen suggestions for two math sessions per day if you are intent on finishing lessons on a timeline (one in the morning and one in the afternoon). However, I just accept that my daughter will grasp things as she is able and I move at her pace.
***If that puts us “behind” the rest of the world, so be it. It’s what is best for her. I don’t let it bother me. We are finishing Level A at the end of first grade and I am okay with that. 🙂
2. Is it possible to do RS without ALL the manipulatives? I would love if it primarily used the abacus.
I would have to say no. The manipulatives are the foundation to that program in both editions. The abacus goes away once the children start seeing the concept mentally instead of concretely. There are many more manipulatives that come after the abacus.
It’s hard sometimes to match our teaching preferences to the child’s needs, but in the end, it’s about the child, you know? As educators, I think it is imperative to bend in the child’s learning direction even if we are not comfortable right away, since it is for their sake. I wouldn’t like it if someone was trying to teach me something in a way I didn’t naturally grasp.
Suzimom’s suggestion for an organizational system could help you overcome your dislikes of all the manipulatives. I organize ours, too, and it helps. I put the manipulatives we are not using in a large bin in the closet out of sight. I put the manipulatives we are using are in a small bin in the school room. There is a section at the top of the page that tells you exactly what you need for each lesson. Easy!
3. Can anyone compare RS to MUS? Either of those to MM (Math Mammoth)?
I don’t have experience with MM. Hope someone can help.
Mollie For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. Romans 8:14