Right Start Math

Math
Written By Manisha Snoyer (co-founder of Modulo)

Our top choice for learning math at home using a mastery-based approach (for PreK-12th grades)

Screen Shot 2021-07-19 at 5.50.55 PM.png

This year we sifted through tens of thousands of reviews from families who’ve tried various math programs to support children learning at home. Our teachers reviewed the most recommended programs for accuracy and pedagogical approach and then tested our favorites with our own students at Modulo and Mastery Hour. 

With its hands-on materials to appeal to different learning styles, mastery-based approach and easy-to-follow parent/caregiver instructions, Right Start Math is our favorite rigorous, but fun,  math program to enrich or replace math learning at school.  Right Start Math was developed by Joan Cotter, a former Montessori teacher with a P.H.D. in mathematics education. She originally developed Right Start Math for her own children, creating games to help them make math more engaging for them. Families appreciate the multi-sensory approach to math. Since Right Start has  both visual and hands-on components, it appeals to a wide variety of learning styles. Families with gifted children appreciate the mastery-based approach, allowing their children to move ahead as fast as possible. Families with children on the spectrum and with ADHD have found that this program is able to engage their children much better than most, due to its hands-on approach.

Some things to know about Right Start:  The main critiques of Right Start are that it is expensive. Families can expect to spend $309 the first year and then an additional $90-100 every subsequent year or level. (The complete set of materials for all levels costs $209 and the textbooks for each individual level costs $90-100). E-books are an additional $10.  However, families looking to save money may easily find used curriculum on ebay or facebook parenting groups. A teacher or caregiver is required to give the lessons, but they do not have to have any prior teaching experience of specific knowledge of math as the lessons are easy to follow. If there is no one to give classes to the child, online classes can be purchased for an additional fee.  

The website can also be a little complex to navigate since there are different kits available for each level - as well as the option to purchase materials individually. Right Starts includes a placement test to help parents determine the right level for their child, but we’ve also provided recommendations below that correlate approximately with grade level.  

Details

  • Grades: PreK-12th

  • Teaching Time: 1 hour a day

  • Teacher Prep Time: None

  • Screen-free: No screens, but video option and apps are available. 

  • Academic Readiness: Aligned with state standards for math 

  • Special needs: Gifted and talented, Autism, ADHD

  • Parent/teacher involvement:  1 hour a day (but online classes are available.

  • Cost: $309 for year 1 and $90-100 for each subsequent year.

What to purchase

Right Start has levels, rather than grades. They suggest each student take a placement test to determine the best level for them. We’ve provided approximate equivalents for each grade, we also recommend you take a placement test here

Materials:

Materials for every level (you only need to purchase this once)

Levels

Level A (Approximately kindergarten/1st grade)

Level B (2nd Grade)

Level C (3rd Grade)

Level D (4th Grade)

Level E (5th grade) 

Level F (6th grade)

Level G (7th grade)

Level H (8th grade)

High School (Algebra through Calculus)

Note that high school has three different programs, Video Text, which is a good choice for self-directed, visual learners who love youtube and learning through videos, Art of Problem Solving which is a great option for independent students who prefer more of an interactive approach. They start with the problems, encouraging students to figure it out on their own and then provide step-by-step solutions with pictures. These can be done independently without a teacher. Finally, Jacob’s includes Geometry and Algebra only, includes a teacher script and requires support from a teacher/caregiver. 

Manisha Snoyer (co-founder of Modulo)

For the last 20 years, I’ve taught over 2000 children in 3 countries (of all socio-economic backgrounds). I pioneered an English language program in a conflict region in the Middle East. I’ve worked as a bilingual public school teacher at some of the highest and lowest performing public schools and in all five boroughs of NYC. I’ve tutored 18 subjects in three languages to some of the wealthiest families in NYC, San Francisco and Paris to make up for shortcomings in private schools they were paying up to $60,000 a year to attend.

Since 2015, I’ve helped hundreds of parents start microschools (way before this was a household buzzword). I founded CottageClass, the first marketplace for microschools and learning pods that was part of the Techstars 2018 class. In 2019, I created a virtual learning program to help families through the pandemic, a free online math tutoring program (masteryhour.org), and schoolclosures.org, a hotline developed in collaboration with Twilio and 80 other partners including Khan Academy, Revolution Foods and the Crisis Text Line, that served 100,000 families impacted by school closures.

I’ve climbed trees with children in forest schools in San Francisco, and tested new digital apps with kids in seven countries.

I’ve also coached dozens of families at different stages in their homeschooling journey. Most recently, I founded Modulo with homeschooling dad, best-selling author and tech entrepreneur Eric Ries, to help families curate their children’s education, social and childcare experiences drawing from a diverse array of in-person and online resources.


During the last three years, I’ve devoted much of my time to reviewing and testing secular homeschooling curriculum and other resource. I’ve spent the last three years talking to thousands of secular homeschooling families, and poring over tens of thousands of secular curriculum reviews and testing physical curriculum and digital apps for with hundreds of students to find the highest quality, most engaging, personalized learning materials for every type of learner.

I’ve spoken about homeschooling and modular learning at multiple venues including SXSW EDU, NY Tech Meetup, and on the LiberatedEd podcast.

In 2022, Modulo was one of 8 organizations who were awarded the Bridge Grant from the Vela Education Fund to expand access to homeschooling and modular learning to under-resourced communities.

My experience in education and homeschooling has led me to believe that there is no perfect education for every child, but families have an extraordinary amount of wisdom they can apply to building the perfect education for their individual child.

My goal with Modulo is to make it possible for any family to easily build a customized education that their child will love, and that will empower the whole family to thrive, taking into account, social, emotional and academic needs.

I love to answer questions from parents and receive feedback on how we can improve Modulo, so feel free to reach out anytime! I personally answer all the questions and comments readers leave on my blogs.

In my free time, I like hiking, traveling the world, tasting ceremonial grade matcha, enjoying dark chocolate.

I graduated Summa Cum Laude from Brandeis University with highest honors, with a double degree in French Literature and American Studies and minors in Environmental Studies and Peace & Conflict Studies.

And I love to learn!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/manisha-snoyer-5042298/
Next

Is Prodigy the Game a good choice for your kids? An unbiased review by educators and parents