Celina Manville
I love your program and am thoroughly impressed with its logical and strategic methodology. It makes so much sense. It's amazing to see my sons understanding place value, seeing patterns, and applying these mathematical principles to other situations.Thanks Dr. Cotter. I tell everyone I know how wonderful this program is because it smacks against the ridiculous notions perpetuated [with] math systems generation after generation.
Barbara Phelps, Plant City, FL
Thank you for your RightStart Mathematics program. My son, Justin, is eight-years-old and over the past 2 years has completed books Transition Lessons, Book C and half of book D. He took his annual placement test PIAT (Personal Individual Assessment Test) and placed in the 6th grade!! Justin truly understands math, he visualizes numbers and math problems so easily.As a homeschool mom, I was so nervous at the thought of teaching my son math. Math was my least favorite subject and hard for me to understand. With your teacher manuals guiding me on what to say, I find teaching math very rewarding. He quickly understands new concepts because of your clear explanations. I am now looking forward to teaching my four-year-old daughter this year starting with book A.
I am so happy to know that I can continue to use your RightStart Mathematics program through middle school. Thank you for all of your research and time in creating this program.
CJ, ND
I have used your Activities for the Abacus for the program for my daughter and I can't say enough about how wonderful it is. My degree is in math, but having a degree in math doesn't necessarily make it easy to teach math. Your program is excellent in its approach to math and also in the guidance it gives for teaching.Judy, AK
I homeschooled for 10 years, and used RightStart for all my kids. It sure gave them a good foundation in math! My son, though, has been a little slower, and he was only in 3rd grade when we put him in school. I used my RightStart materials when he came home and did not understand a concept, or needed extra help (like the math games!). Now I believe we will homeschool him and give him the good start the girls have had until at least Jr. High. Thanks so much for your help.Morgan, Brea, CA
I finally wanted to take the time after almost 2 years of using the RightStart Mathematics Program to thank you for the wonderful math curriculum you have written for parents and teachers. I was a math major in college and wrote my Honors Thesis on teaching mathematics with manipulatives and how to help children develop their mathematical thinking. I then taught in elementary school for 8 years where my main focus was always mathematics. After having children, I stayed at home and am now homeschooling my children. My oldest child is in 1st grade, and we are about a month shy of completing Level B. From the time I started looking for math curriculum for homeschooling, I knew exactly what I wanted. I wanted a program that was hands on and guided children in constructing their own mathematical knowledge so that my child would truly have number sense and excellent logic skills. I didn't want a book program with a lot of worksheets that simply taught algorithms. I wanted my children every time they worked with numbers to always understand the why's behind the numbers and the problems. When I found the RightStart program, I knew it was exactly what I wanted, and it has exceeded every expectation I have had and beyond.My daughter enjoys mathematics, and everyone is duly wowed by her mathematical skills and number sense, and I have slowly started Level A with my 4 year old. My two year old is also running around the house also singing the songs. I have recommended RightStart to at least half a dozen other parents who are all using the program and love it as much I love it. Everyone says that it is the way they wish they had been taught math when they were young. My brother-in-law, who is a high school mathematics teacher, is as excited about the curriculum as I have been and has already started using it with his 4 year old also to introduce numbers to him.
The layout of the Lesson Book is excellent and easy to use. The sequence and concepts are perfectly laid out, and when I have talked on the phone to the company, I have always received excellent advice and help. As a former classroom teacher, most curriculum that I have been using the past couple of years, I usually tinker with and change to my preference, but no "tinkering" needed with the RightStart program. Thank you for writing the curriculum that I would have loved to have written if I had the time, expertise, and experience that you have. What a gift you have given to us parents! I hope more and more parents discover your curriculum. I am definitely doing my share to get the word out.
Sandi Rubanov
I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate Activities for Learning, Inc. I have had several contacts with various people in the company and every experience has been a positive one.Recently I had ordered a D to E Add On Kit and the goniometer was missing. Bernice got one out to me within a week.
A few years ago when I called to because I did not understand a lesson I spoke to someone who walked me through the lesson, step by step. She did not get off the phone with me until she was sure I understood the lesson completely.
When I was trying to decide between RightStart and another math program Dr. Cotter took the time to email a full explanation of how Rightstart worked.
When others are complaining about the customer service they get at other companies I always tell them the positive experiences I have had with this company.
Thank you again for all you do.
