We have been using these games. In fact, we switched from MUS to RS because my ds7 who struggles a bit with math seemed to understand the AL Abacus better than the MUS blocks, but we still use the MUS blocks to show place value, along with the RS place value cards.
I can tell that my ds is finally learning the math facts, but I know that is a difficult task for most children, as there have been numerous posts on this forum on this topic. What works for one child may not work for another. It takes lots of meaningful repetition. The author is against the use of flashcards because there is nothing meaningful to it. She says that the only ones who like flashcards are the students who already know the facts (thus getting them right). She also says that games to math are like books to reading, or something to that effect.
So far, we mostly use the addition cards (green), but have also used the multiplication cards (blue) as well (as explained below) and we have the math games book that came with the set. There are many more games in the book to play. I know there are also games on subtraction, multiplication, division and time. But so far, we have been working on addition until that is mastered. The cards are nice and laminated. You could make your own, but I don’t think they would be as nice or last as long. You could use a regular deck of cards, but I think the shapes of hearts, diamonds, clubs, etc. would be distracting.
Really, I think you are paying for the book which explains how to play many math games based on topic. So you can throw in the right game with the lesson from MUS. There are also even/odd games in there that fits nicely with +2, if that is the MUS lesson you are on. We don’t play those games as much now that ds knows them.
The games that have been most helpful to him so far are:
1.”Go to the Dump” which is played similar to Go Fish – asking the other player for the “match” to make a sum of 10. So if I have a 6 in my hand, I would say, “petitemom, do you have a 4?” If you do, you give it to me and I lay down my matching pair and ask you for a 2 (to go with my 8). If you don’t have it, I draw a card and my turn is over. This is on the dvd that comes with the math games book, and I’ve seen it on You Tube before I made the decision to buy the set.
2. doubles matching. This goes along with the MUS doubles lesson. You use two of the same cards of addition cards and one of the multiplication card for the sum and lay them down to play a matching game. If you turn over 2 green cards that are 8 and 8, you would be looking for the 16 on the blue card to make a match.
In conclusion, I do recommend the full set of RS math games, if you have the money. But I also think it would be helpful to play any kind of game which uses numbers and strategy, like games with dice, numbered cards, and dominoes. Shut the Box is another game we like for addition/subtraction.