RightStart for supplementing math?

[Mama2Three]

Hi there!

My DS is in ps, just finishing up kindergarten. We've been working on phonics and handwriting at home, but I'd like to start with math, too, especially during the summer. I really like the sound of RightStart, but the main hesitation I have is that it will likely be very different from the methodology of teaching math at his school. In one way that is good, but I'm wondering if it would be confusing for him going back and forth. I was planning to go through the whole curriculum, but I guess I could just do the games. I plan to use RightStart for my DD who will likely be "officially" homeschooled.

Any thoughts on this?

TIA!

[LisaTheresa]

I think RS makes a wonderful supplement. I've used Rod & Staff math with my son for the last couple of years, but I've spent some time each week supplementing with Rightstart and I think it has been well worth it. He has done well with Rod & Staff, but Rightstart is so strong conceptually and with mental math. It has definitely helped him have a stronger understanding and to become better at manipulating numbers.

For my son, I am using a level below what he is using with Rod & Staff. This has worked well for him because he already knows the logistics of what is being presented, so RS is usually very easy for him and doesn't take a long to do. It hasn't confused him at all. In fact, it has only deepened his understanding.

Lisa

[Alisa in Florida]

I'm so glad to hear this! I've been thinking of using Right Start with my ds who is just finishing 3rd grade in ps, but is way below grade level in math. I have several levels of Right Start (from homeschooling older ds several years ago) and I may just start at the beginning because he still struggles with basic addition and subtraction.

Alisa

[talexand]

RightStart makes a good supplement because of the math games. The only trouble I have had with afterschooling with RightStart is that the lessons are hard to compact and skip around. Skipping lessons or shortening them doesn't work very well, it just isn't built that way. Because of this you might not get as much done as you expect over the summer which is fine as long as you have the time to continue with the lessons during the school year. I started at a later level than you are which was part of it. I fought the material for a while trying to wrestle it into more of a topic review and then gave up and started from the beginning doing each lesson sequentially. I ended up loving it but had to make a time investment larger than I originally thought. Singapore was better for a topic review and skipping around to cover what ds needed and wanted. There is also the money investment which is why you should make sure it is the right program. But since you will be using the same program for another dc as a full time program you will be making the investment anyway and the addition workbooks are not that much. I would have no hesitation at all for a full time program. Its excellent.

As far as a different approach. If you child is good at math it will just strengthen his understanding, even if it causes some initial confusion. If he hasn't mastered what he has had already, then you can debate whether the right thing is trying a new approach or mastering the old approach first.

[Shay]

For us, what the school uses for math weighs heavily in my decision when considering what to use as a resource for afterschooling math.

If your school uses a traditional approach it would be great to supplement with a more conceptual program (RightStart, Singapore). However, if they use a more conceptual program, you may want to concentrate on math facts and traditional algorithims (flashcards, speed drills).

Our ps used traditional math and I used Singapore (love it) to round it out. When our school made a switch to a more conceptual program (Everyday Math), my kids needed to work on speed and math facts (and we'll do "nailing down" of some algorithims this summer). So, our approach is based on what the school is already doing.

One reason I like Singapore for afterschooling is that I can easily skip sections (geometry, money) that I know my kids have down pat (and have done lots with in school) and go to sections I know they need help with . You might be able to do this with RightStart too (I've never seen it) .

HTH,
Shay

[Capt_Uhura]

I think it really depends on your kid. I love RS. I did RS A (3/4s of it) then switched my son to B the summer after K. We did B while he was in 1st grade. He didn't have a lot of homework. We then took some time off from math. In 2nd grade, I tried to do C but he had too much other homework. Now it's great for me knowing the RS methodology b/c I can introduce the RS way when he gets to that concept in school but RS builds so incrementally that it is hard to skip around. The games are great.

[eve]

I have used Right Start Levels B and C with dd and will start her on D this year and ds with level A. I LOVE this curriculum. It really balances understanding and visualizing math with memorization. It is scripted and easy and fun to use. I started with Rays Arithmetic but found that I needed my dd to understand what she was doing not just memorize and with Right Start she is doing both. I also love the emphasis on mental math.

[Misty]

Yes, it would be fine to use RS even if he is learning a more traditional approach in school. RS will teach him strategies that will help him with his public school math work. His teacher will be very impressed by his quick mental calculations! Since public school teachers don't spend a lot of time with the visualization of math and the algorithms and strategies, he shouldn't be too confused. If the teachers do try to teach him a certain way of doing something and he does get confused, just let him know that he can choose whichever way makes the most sense to him OR you can tell him that you would rather he did it the RS way and try to practice that concept with him the RS way a lot until it is cemented.

[Mama2Three]

Thank you everyone for your insights! Interesting that no one thought it would be a bad idea. I've gone ahead and ordered the level B kit for my rising 1st grader. I like the idea of working below grade level so it's easier and fun for him -- so if we need to, we'll do A instead, then both DC would be on the same level. Thanks again!! :001_smile:

[monk17]

I can't add much that hasn't been said but I think RS is a great choice! I'd get the game book and associated cards.

[EndsWell]

I started using RightStart last year before my DD went to public 1st and liked it. You also could always just do the math games and the handbook for everyday if the lessons get to be too much.

-Adriana

[Mama2Three]

Just wanted to pop back in to say thanks to those who added their thoughts!

[PenKase]

Another vote for RS here as well!!! I know it's late for posting on this thread but maybe someone else will glean some useful information.

I've been supplementing my dd's public school math curriculum since the beginning of her second grade (she will be in 4th this coming fall). I began with level B because she still struggled with math facts. We are now at the end of 3rd grade and we just completed lesson 5 of level C. We've been at this a while and things have been slow and steady. Although she may know how to do "math" she does not know why she's doing "math". I think I'm finally making her understand the reasoning why things "add" up the way they do and for my dd9 that's a major breakthrough. For example, we were working through the addition table afterschool today and she was getting so frustrated with me for not just letting her plug in the numbers. I told her she could go ahead and do so if she could explain to me why the number(s) belonged there. She got stumped and couldn't tell me so..........I had her go through all the strategies we worked through so far and had her explain to me the "why". I explained that when one tryly knows how to do something, they are able to explain it to someone else. She go it!

All that to say that just when I'm ready to throw in the towel and give up on RS because yes, it is soooo teacher intensive, we have these major breakthroughs that make me stay. What I've been doing lately is retyping the lessons in outline style so that they seem more condened. Dd and I read though the outline and the lessons really do go alot smoother. I sometimes get stuck having to sit there and read something so that I don't mess up in trying to explain it to her. This way, my way, we go through it together and the lessons seem to go a lot smoother and require less time.

HTH!

[CMama]

I agree... good choice!

:001_smile: Our Blog (http://huntclassicalacademy.blogspot.com/)

[Mama2Three]

An old post of mine has been resurrected. :)

Just wanted to jump in and say that RS was too time intensive for our before-schooling. We spend about 20-30 minutes schooling before ps, and RS was taking so much time that I couldn't get to phonics and writing. So we switched to Singapore math, which uses much of the small thought processes but teaches in smaller chunks (at least imo). We use the abacus for our main manipulative, and occasionally I pull from RS. We'll probably spend more time in RS this summer while DS finishes up his 1b workbook. My DD is working on SM EB 2b, and when she's done we'll do RS A. So I still try to fit in as much RS as I can, but I couldn't make it work for our spine. That said, I am happy with SM and DC are progressing well.