RightStart Mathematics

By Activities for Learning, Inc.Checked October 29, 2026No affiliate links. Programs never pay to appear. How we label

RightStart Mathematics is a hands-on math program in levels A to H, from kindergarten into middle school. The parent teaches from a day-by-day lessons book using an abacus grouped in fives and tens, and the child practices facts through math card games instead of flash cards, with worksheets alongside. Each year you buy that level's book bundle, plus, once per family, a set of manipulatives used across the elementary levels.

Subjects: Math
Grades: Levels A to H; Level B is 1st grade and Levels G and H are middle school, so about kindergarten to 7th grade source ↗
Method: Traditional, Mastery source ↗
Format: Books and workbooks source ↗
Faith label: Secular
Cost a year: $329 a year. Level D book bundle (lessons, appendix pages and worksheet PDF): $109.25, plus the RS2 Math Set of manipulatives, bought once per family, $219.75. First year $329; later levels need only the next book bundle. Read on October 29, 2026; prices change. source ↗
Placement: Free online placement test ↗

What it does well

The lessons book tells the parent what to teach and how, day by day, with card games built in for fact practice.
One set of manipulatives covers every level from A to F, so later years need only the next book bundle.
A free online placement questionnaire takes a few minutes, and a printable placement test is offered too.
Items can be returned for a refund within 60 days of receipt, minus shipping.

Watch for

The first year costs more because the $219.75 manipulatives set is needed once per family.
The parent leads each elementary lesson with the abacus and games, so plan on daily teaching time.
Numbers are first named the 'math way' (twelve is 'ten 2'), which differs from what a child hears elsewhere.
Levels G and H teach middle school math through geometry with drafting tools rather than a standard pre-algebra course.

It fits

A parent who wants to teach math hands-on, with an abacus and card games, and is happy to lead a lesson each day.

It doesn’t fit

A family that wants a young child to work alone from a book or screen, or one that cannot spend more in the first year for manipulatives.

Visit RightStart Mathematics ↗

Compare RightStart Mathematics

RightStart Mathematics vs Math-U-See side by side

Other programs for the same subject and grades:

CTCMath Kindergarten to 12th grade, through Pre-Calculus and Calculus
Generation Genius Kindergarten to 8th grade, in K to 2nd, 3rd to 5th and 6th to 8th grade bands
The Good and the Beautiful Preschool to 12th grade; high school has language arts and biology only
Horizons Math Kindergarten to 8th grade, ending with Algebra I
Khan Academy Kindergarten to 12th grade, plus early college courses
Math Mammoth Kindergarten to 8th grade
Math-U-See Kindergarten to 12th grade, in 13 levels placed by skill, not grade
Saxon Math Kindergarten to 12th grade

Lists it is on

What we read, and how we label

Every fact on a card was read on the publisher's own website on the date shown, and the page it came from is linked. A fact we could not confirm there is left out. Costs are for one child and one year of the main package, as the publisher's page showed them that day; prices and sales change. Method and format are the publisher's own description where it gives one. The only thing we say about religion is one label, secular or faith-based, given by the rule above; where the publisher's pages don't settle it, the card has no label.

The publisher’s pages we read on October 29, 2026:

Something wrong or out of date? Publishers and parents can send a correction and we will fix it. Publishers can send corrections, never money. All programs compared · Find your homeschool style