RightStart Mathematics
A hands-on, parent-taught math curriculum by Dr. Joan Cotter that uses the Cotter Abacus, visual grouping by fives and tens, and card games instead of heavy drill, in lettered levels A through H for kindergarten through middle school.
What is RightStart Math?
RightStart Mathematics is a hands-on homeschool math curriculum written by Dr. Joan Cotter and published by Activities for Learning, Inc. Its core idea is that children should see quantities, not count them one by one. The main tool is the Cotter Abacus, a two-sided abacus that groups beads in fives and tens so a child can recognize 7 as "5 and 2" at a glance.
Practice happens mostly through card games rather than pages of drill. Reviewer Cathy Duffy compares the games to the readers in a phonics program: they are where skills get solid.
How it works
In Levels A through F, a parent teaches each lesson from the lessons book, one-on-one or with a small group. A lesson typically mixes three things:
- A concept shown with the abacus or other manipulatives from the Math Set.
- A math card game for practice. The included games book describes more than 300 games.
- A short worksheet, printed from the e-workbook PDF, which you may reprint for your own family.
Expect 30 to 45 minutes. Duffy notes there is more prep when you start and less as you get used to the method. In Levels G and H, the lessons speak to the student directly, so older kids can work more on their own. RightStart also runs online classes for G and H.
What it covers
| Level | Rough grade | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| A | Kindergarten | Facts to 10, place value to hundreds, money, clocks |
| B–D | Grades 1–3 | Abacus strategies, place value, operations, geometry |
| E | Grade 4 | Multi-digit multiplication, division, equivalent and mixed fractions |
| F | Grade 5 | Completes the elementary sequence |
| G and H | Grades 6–8 | Geometry-heavy middle school math |
The scope is advanced, and the letters are not tied to grades on purpose. Use the free placement test before you buy.
Who it's best for
RightStart suits visual, hands-on kids and parents who enjoy teaching. It is a strong pick for children who rely on finger counting and need a better mental picture of numbers. Families with several kids also get more value, since one Math Set serves Levels A through F.
Look elsewhere if you need an open-and-go or independent program in the early years, or if you cannot set aside one-on-one time each day.
Pricing at a glance
As of October 2026, RightStart's shop lists book bundles at $109.25 per level. The RS2 Math Set is $219.75, or $139.50 for the Super Saver version, and you buy it once. Levels G and H use a $160 Geometry Set. The first year costs the most; later levels need only the book bundle.
Can a scholarship or ESA pay for it?
Often, yes. Curriculum and manipulatives are common allowable expenses in programs like the Arizona ESA and Florida's FES-UA, though each program decides and some require approved vendors. Read about homeschool scholarships and what ESA funds can buy. Save RightStart to your wishlist and apply once on Edulist to the programs that fit.
How it compares
Math-U-See is also manipulative-based but adds teaching videos, which lightens the parent's load. Singapore Math shares the concrete-to-abstract idea with less game play. Beast Academy suits puzzle-loving kids from about 2nd grade. For a colorful spiral alternative, see Horizons Math. Browse kindergarten math and elementary math curriculum.
Who RightStart Mathematics is for (and who it isn’t)
Best for
- Hands-on, visual learners who benefit from manipulatives
- Parents who enjoy teaching and playing math games
- Families who want to avoid finger-counting habits
- Siblings who can share one set of manipulatives over many years
Look elsewhere if
- Families who need an independent or open-and-go program
- Parents with little daily teaching time in the early years
- Tight first-year budgets
RightStart Mathematics pros and cons
Pros
- Strong focus on visualizing quantities rather than counting
- Card games replace much of the drill
- Manipulatives are reused across six levels
- Free placement test and sample lessons
- Later levels shift toward independent work
Cons
- Teacher-intensive through the primary levels
- High upfront cost for the Math Set
- Advanced scope can mean a level takes more than a year
- Levels G and H overlap with high school geometry
What’s included
- Cotter Abacus, a two-sided abacus that helps kids see quantities instead of counting
- Math card games for practice and review in place of most drill worksheets
- Scripted lessons with a parent teaching the early levels
- Free online placement test
- Levels G and H written to the student for more independent work
- Online classes for Levels G and H
RightStart Mathematics levels
| Level | Grades | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Level A | Kindergarten | Beginning lessons: addition and subtraction to 10, place value to the hundreds, basic geometry and measurement, and an introduction to money and clocks. |
| Level B | Grade 1 | First-grade level in the publisher's lettering, continuing abacus work and facts strategies through games. |
| Level C | Grade 2 | Second-grade level continuing place value, operations and geometry with games. |
| Level D | Grade 3 | Third-grade level; Cathy Duffy notes it spends less time on division than she expected. |
| Level E | Grade 4 | Multiplying multi-digit numbers by two-digit numbers, dividing by one-digit numbers, and equivalent and mixed-number fractions. |
| Level F | Grade 5 | Final level that uses the RS2 Math Set, completing the elementary sequence. |
| Levels G and H | 6–8 | Middle school levels written to the student for more independent work, each about a year long, with heavy geometry using the RS2 Geometry Set. Online classes are offered. |
RightStart offers a free interactive placement tool. Levels are lettered rather than graded so children can move at their own pace; Cathy Duffy notes some students will need a lower level than their grade, and a level may take more than a year.
Official RightStart Mathematics placement test ↗How much does RightStart Mathematics cost?
As of October 2026, RightStart's own shop lists each level's book bundle with e-workbook PDF at $109.25. The Level A bundle includes the Level A Lessons, e-Worksheets PDF, the book Yellow Is The Sun and appendix pages. You also need one RS2 Math Set per family ($219.75, or $139.50 for the Super Saver version), which covers Levels A through F. Levels G and H use the RS2 Geometry Set ($160). Retailers such as Christianbook sell some bundles for less.
| Plan | Price | Billed | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level book bundle with e-workbook PDF | $109.25 | One-time | — |
| RS2 Math Set (Levels A–F) | $219.75 | One-time | — |
| RS2 Math Set Super Saver | $139.50 | One-time | — |
| RS2 Geometry Set (Levels G–H) | $160 | One-time | — |
Free trial: No trial, but free sample lessons are posted as PDFs.
Prices from the provider, checked 2026-10-13. Always confirm on the official site.
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RightStart Mathematics FAQs
How much does RightStart Math cost?
As of October 2026, each level's book bundle with e-workbook PDF is $109.25 on RightStart's shop. You also need the RS2 Math Set once per family, $219.75 or $139.50 for the Super Saver set. Levels G and H use a $160 Geometry Set.
What grade is each RightStart level?
RightStart uses letters so kids can move at their own pace, but Level A roughly matches kindergarten, B first grade, and so on through F for fifth grade. Levels G and H cover middle school, about grades 6 to 8.
Is RightStart Math teacher-intensive?
Yes, especially early on. Lessons are taught one-on-one, with games and the abacus at the center. By Levels G and H, lessons address the student directly and allow more independent work.
Do I need the abacus and math set?
Yes. The program is built around the Cotter Abacus and the cards and tools in the RS2 Math Set. One set covers Levels A through F and can be reused for siblings.
Is RightStart Math religious?
The publisher's descriptions and sample lessons focus on math only, and we found no religious content in them. Download the free sample lessons to see the style for yourself.
Is RightStart good for kids who struggle with math?
Many families choose it because visual, hands-on work helps kids who count on their fingers. Start at a lower level if the placement test suggests it; the levels are not tied to grades.
Can an ESA pay for RightStart Math?
Curriculum and manipulatives are commonly allowed in ESA programs such as Arizona ESA and Florida FES-UA, but each program decides. Save RightStart to your Edulist wishlist and check your state's programs.
Sources and last checked
Checked 2026-10-13 against these sources:
- rightstartmath.com
- rightstartmath.com · rightstart math level a book bundle pdf
- rightstartmath.com · supply kits
- rightstartmath.com · placement test
- rightstartmath.com · RightStart Math Level A Sample.pdf
- rightstartmath.com · RightStart Level E Sampler 0517.pdf
- cathyduffyreviews.com · rightstart mathematics
- rainbowresource.com · rightstart mathematics 2nd edition
- christianbook.com · rightstart mathematics