RigthStart Math vs. Other Math Programs and Standardized Testing

 

Below are a few posts from the RightStart Yahoo group to give you a first hand knowledge of how RightStart Math compares to other math programs and how children using RightStart Math do on Standardized Tests.  Thank you to all the members of the RightStart Yahoo group who have given me permission to share their posts!

 

Truly,

Britta McColl R

Mom to 7 Children

Morning Star Learning

 

Discount on all RightStart Math Kits at:  www.morningstarlearning.com

 

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From the RightStart Yahoo group:

 

 

My Son Improved with RightStart Math

 

Sherri,

 

Be sure to check out RightStart.  I've used ABeka, Sadlier-Oxford and Saxon. My son is a VERY visual learner and wasn't retaining math facts. 

 

Just this year with RightStart Math he went from being unable to remember 2+3 without using his fingers to mentally adding (taught to visualize) 89+77. 

 

 I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes.  Reinforcement is taught by playing games.  They are learning and having a great time at the same time.  He begs me to play math games.

 

All the best!

 

Becki in OR

 

RightStart vs. Shiller and Singapore Math

 

Hi Laurie,

 

I wanted to respond to your post, since I've used both RightStart and Shiller. 

 

In my mind there is no comparison, RightStart is far superior in methodology, variety of materials used (especially the abacus) and the logical yet gentle progression of material.

 

 I used Shiller with dd6 for K level.  She liked it at first, but the activities bounced around in content too much for her and retention was low.   I then tried Singapore, which was frustrating for both of us because math is her most challenging subject and for me there was not enough guidance for the teacher, so I felt I was not explaining things clearly (and I'm a former engineer).

 

  Then we started RightStart Level B when she was halfway through first grade.  She's learning so much its fantastic, and the more I use it, I really appreciate how well thought-out the program is.  I must admit she still doesn't love math, but I think she'd feel that way with whatever program we use.  She's also not a big card-game lover, so we haven't played the games much other than the assignment they're introduced, but she's still progressing very well.  We're starting RightStart Level C next week.

 

HTH,

 

Nancy from MA

 

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RightStart vs. Many other Math Programs

 

I have used EVERYTHING!  I love math, but my daughter has floundered over the years.  She has some learning quirks (who doesn't?).  I used Montessori, as best I could when she was preschool age and her mathematical understanding was phenomenal.  At five she told me, from looking at an analog clock, "It's 8:43, that's 17 minutes till nine, that's 5*3+2!).  I didn't really know where to go with her.  I made my own stuff for her for a while, but then since we belonged to a charter school we needed paperwork.

 

We did Saxon, Singapore, Horizons, Math-U-See, until she just really hates math.  I really hated Saxon because there is no BIG Picture involved just tons of rote learning.  I liked Singapore because the big picture was there, but she got to the point she really hated math.  Even now.  She goes into a rage and says she hates math.  This is really sad, because I took the math out of her head and put it on paper and she lost it all.

 

I am so happy to have found RightStart.  I like that there is one main manipulative that they don't have to count.  The activities are low stress.  My daughter is 10.5 and we got a second hand copy of Level C (2nd grade, when she is in 5th) because we needed to go back to a place where there was no stress.  We still find interesting things in the lessons and the games really help.  The worksheets have a small amount of practice so it is not as intimidating as other programs.  And we've come back to the big picture.

 

I have started my son, age 4, on RightStart Level A, and he is happily progressing.  I plan to stay with it even if we come to a place he is not ready.  I will do what others have suggested, which is to play the games and wait.  I had to do that for my daughter when Singapore math was subtracting in level 2 (I didn't realize children in Singapore start school at 7--big maturational difference).

 

I love RightStart because math really makes sense.  I used to be a classroom teacher and I felt so sorry for the kids with the way the math books jumped from topic to topic in a really disconnected way.  It was so hard for the children to understand the BIG PICTURE, but with RightStart (and Montessori) it is there from the beginning and just built on.  The concept of our base ten system is essential to all mathematics and so many people (a surprising number of my college-educated friends) don't get it.

 

As far as changing curriculums, sometimes a program just doesn't fit. Sometimes nothing fits--I just have to wait and have faith in the process. However, I have seen almost everything (except Shiller, but I was never really drawn to it--I used to be an educational consultant for a homeschool charter so even what I didn't personally use, I have seen) and RightStart is elegant and meaningful.

 

Good luck in your decision making and home schooling.

 

Tracy

 

Right Start vs Math U See

 

 

Hi There,

 

I started my daughter out on Math U See (MUS) for K and she did ok with it. The one thing that I didn't like about MUS was that the numbers are all associated with a color. All of their "rods" are just that "rods" so the kids can't figure out which number it is without the color to go with it or by counting on the rod.

 

We are now doing RightStart (RS) with her and I am also doing RS with my K son. I must say I LOVE RightStart compared to MUS. It makes them think in their heads as well with their eyes, ears, and fingers. RS gives them the tools they need to figure any problem out WITHOUT colored "rods". It is much easier to picture the  abacus in your mind then long colored rods.

 

Also I think testing will be much easier with RS. As I said the tools are being put in their minds!

 

Carrie

 

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RightStart vs. Math U See (MUS)

 

 

We've not actually started RightStart yet so I can't do a direct  comparison but we did use MUS for a while.

 

 The things I liked about MUS:

 

 *The explanations for place value were right on for my son

*It was easy to use

*Not a lot of little pieces to get lost (just the rods)

*The homework pages are unintimidating

* My visual learner liked the videos

 *Taught to mastery

 

 What I didn't like about MUS:

 

* It's not as comprehensive as other programs, needs much

supplementing

*Once my kids got the concept of place value they were bored to

tears

*Not enough variety in manipulatives (very important for some

       kids)

*After a while it was just horrendously boring to teach

*It simply felt like my kids weren't really learning important math

  skills

*Simply not a good fit for interactive learners

*The audio cd did nothing to help my kids learn skip counting, etc.

 

G in OR

 

RightStart Math and Standardized Testing

 

Q.  My daughter is in second grade and will finish level C this school year.  It is required that she be tested in the spring of 3rd grade - next April. I'm wondering, for those of you who have any experience with this, how well does RightStart prepare a child for standardized tests by 3rd grade?  We'll be using RS Level D at that point.

 Any insights? Thanks.

 Wanda

 

A. My daughter did the 3rd grade ITBS (testing) after several months of RightStart Level D.  It was her best year ever -- we test every year, and had transitioned into RightStart during the fall of that year.  She even did well on the timed test, much to my surprise. 

 

G in VA

 

Test Scores Excellent!

 My Daughter Likes Math Much Better!

 

I know that others have recently inquired as to test performance for RightStart users.  My 3rd grade daughter just finished Level D of RightStart, and we just got her ITBS scores in today.  Although she is just one student, I hope this can offer reassurance to those concerned about scores.  Her percentiles in the various math categories ranged from 94 to 99.  

 

This was her first year testing, so I don't know how she would have done with her prior math program, but I do know that her conceptual understanding is much, much better now.  She has even commented on that.  Also, she likes math much better now.

 

Louise