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: Common Core, Early Years, family math, manipulatives, math, Math U See, MUS, RightStart, second edition

This topic has 17 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 9 months ago by 5heartsathome.

Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 18 total)

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August 31, 2013 at 1:25 pm
5heartsathome
Participant
Does anyone know the exact manipulatives needed for Level A of the second edition?

FYI:
With the second edition, Right Start now sells all the manipulatives in one complete set for all the levels at a one time cost of $180. They don’t tell you which ones may not be used during Level A. As you well know, most homeschool families are on a tight budget and this just isn’t affordable for some. The second edition uses more manipulatives, earlier. But I suspect that it doesn’t use everything sold in the math set the very first year. The advantage to this new way is that subsequent years only cost about $70 for new lessons and worksheets because all manipulatives were purchased the first year you changed to the second edition (if you are new to Right Start). If you are a current/past user of RS then this new system doen’t effect you. You just fill in the needed manipulatives.

I am about to purchase the second edition of Level A and would most certainly appreciate it if someone shared their knowledge about needed manipulatives so I can spread the cost over a few years instead of initially. TIA
August 31, 2013 at 1:50 pm
rosannageisler
Participant
While I do not know which specific manipulatives you’ll be needing for RS A2, I DO know that the folks in customer service are just lovely! I’ve emailed and called them several times in the last couple of months & they’ve always been kind, helpful, supportive, informative & prompt in replying. If they have been unsure of the answer, they have sought it out. I’d recommend contacting them.
August 31, 2013 at 3:25 pm
5heartsathome
Participant
Thank you Rosanna. I did research the RightStart yahoo group and it seems that most manipulatives are used in the first year in the second edition so the whole kit is needed. The current edition math card games books and cards are included in the seceond edition kits so that is awesome. Anyone can message me if you need more info. I have tead quite a lot lately about this. 🙂
August 31, 2013 at 4:38 pm
butterflylake
Participant
Thanks for this question. I will be purchasing RS2A in December, to start in January. I was thinking there was a new edition of the card games book that we needed for RS2. Can’t remember where I heard this – one of the RS online videos I believe. Do you know more about this? I’ll try to find where I heard about a new card games for edition 2. Perhaps I am mistaken, and being new to RS I need to purchase everything anyway.

August 31, 2013 at 4:53 pm
butterflylake
Participant
Okay, I just looked up the Card Games Book info. In the webinar ‘First Edition or Second Edition. Which is Right For You?’ listening at the 11:00 minute mark of the video, you need the 5th edition Math Games Book if you are going to use RS2. If you are a previous RS user, with edition 4 of the games book, that will NOT work with RS2.
I have chosen to wait til December to make my purchase because I heard that RS offers sales in December. Can anyone confirm that?
August 31, 2013 at 6:12 pm
5heartsathome
Participant
Butterflylake, I found that webinar very informative, too. 🙂
September 1, 2013 at 1:08 am
Carolyn
Participant
I just ordered RS2 level B and in the same boat when it comes to manipulatives. I need about $130 worth of manipulatives. When I get my B book I will just see how quick I need to order the rest.
I don’t remember there being a December sale last year, but I might have missed it.
September 1, 2013 at 2:32 am
sixtimemom
Member
One thing about the manipuative kit is that if you are buying it new, it is actually cheaper to buy the whole kit at once than if you were to piece it together individually.
To save some money you could check ebay or the yahoo group as there are usually selling the manipulatives.
September 1, 2013 at 2:38 am
5heartsathome
Participant
I ordered RS2 Level A and the Math Set today. When I receive it, I will certainly update this thread as to what exactly is needed for Level A. It is true that it is cheaper in the long run to buy their manupulative set all at once.
September 3, 2013 at 1:48 pm
5heartsathome
Participant
UPDDATE:
I emailed the company about manipulatives needed for the second edition, Level A. Here is her response. They have excellent customer service, BTW.
From Rachael at RightStart on 9/2/2013:
Almost all of the manipulatives in the Math Set are used in Level A Second Edition. I went through RS2 Level A Lesson book and did not see the following items listed in the Materials Needed section:

T-Square
Triangles
Compass
Goniometer
Folding Meter Stick
Geometry Panels

Most of those items not needed are fairly inexpensive and because there is such a deep discount for the Math Set (more than $80), so, it may be more cost-effective to purchase the Math Set – although, I haven’t specifically priced it out. Here is the list of items included in the Math Set so you can see what is needed (less the list above): http://store.rightstartmath.com/rs2mathset.aspx.

I hope this helps everyone. I will confirm everything she wrote once I get my new books in this week.
Mollie
September 7, 2013 at 5:56 pm
5heartsathome
Participant
I have received all of my new RS2 Level A materials. I sold my MUS materials because I felt the use of only one manipulative was too limiting and I don’t like having to piece together things myself. I like open and go teacher’s manuals. As I browse over this new curriculum, I am very happy with this change we made. If you are on the fence about which one to pick (out of MUS and RS), I strongly suggest RS. It is very comprehensive and thorogh. The extensive selection of manipulatives seems to leave no math concept undiscovered. The Math Card Games looks like the solution to erasing math boredom. The cost of this curriculum will be well worth the outcome in my opintion. Math is such an important subject that I would rather skimp monetarily on a less important subject. If you are concerned about RS being aligned with Common Core Standards, please note that RS was aligned even before Common Core exsisted. It’s first edition has always has EXCEEDED common core anyway. As far as the teacher’s manual, RS2 has more, but shorter lessons that are more teacher friendly. They do not appear as teacher intensive as the first edition. I will try to keep updating as we go through the curriculum. Hope this helps someone.
September 7, 2013 at 11:30 pm
HiddenJewel
Participant
I am really happy with our choice to go back to RS as well. We are using Level B2 and E.
September 8, 2013 at 12:05 am
Carolyn
Participant
We started RSB2 last week and are loving the new format!
September 8, 2013 at 2:24 am
butterflylake
Participant
Thanks for the update!! Good to know that you got your order within a week. I agree with you about the cost. $180 for all the manipulatives is heavy on the front end, but I truly believe it will be well worth the investment. And using RS2 from A-G (seven years) makes it just $26 a year for the tools.
It encourages me to hear positive feedback/reviews! We’ll be ordering in a few months, and I can’t imagine being more excited about a math curriculum! I truly thought our math was going to be boring worksheets, pen and paper lessons – ugh.
September 8, 2013 at 3:03 am
HiddenJewel
Participant
The first time we used RS, I became very frustrated because we hit a wall. I wish I had known then (about 3 years ago) that they had excellent customer service and they would have helped me teach through those hard times. And that they don’t expect mastery on all topics right away. They just introduce them to challenge the student’s thinking. I am pretty sure we might have stayed with RS from the beginning if I had known that. This is our 11th year homeschooling and I know now that I will pay a bit extra to go with a company who provides excellent support. That is invaluable to me as a homeschooler.