RightStart Math Second Edition is a hands-on math curriculum built around understanding quantities, working with an abacus and practicing through games. We have used it since 2017, and I have loved having it as part of our homeschool. If you are considering it, the biggest things to understand are the parent teaching time, the reusable math set and how to choose a starting level.
I homeschool before my second-shift job, and we now have six children. A curriculum has to fit into a real morning with other subjects and other children who need help. RightStart deserves time for teaching together. I would budget for that before comparing it with a workbook a child might complete more independently.
What RightStart Math Teaches Differently
RightStart uses the Cotter Abacus, also called the AL Abacus, to represent numbers in groups of five and ten. Its approach emphasizes seeing quantities and relationships rather than counting every object separately. Card games provide practice alongside the lessons.[1]
For example, five and three more can be seen as parts of eight. That gives you something to talk about with a child before writing an addition sentence. The useful question becomes, “What do you see?” You can listen to the explanation rather than looking only at whether an answer is correct.
That is a practical reason to look closely at the method. If you want to understand how your child is thinking, a physical model gives both of you something to point to. It also means that using the materials is part of teaching the lesson. Its value comes from using the materials during the lessons and discussing the ideas they make visible.
What Comes With the Second Edition
The Second Edition runs from Level A through Level H. Lesson pages identify the objectives and materials, then provide teaching activities with explanations beside them. RightStart provides objectives and samples so you can inspect the format before ordering.[2]
I would read a complete sample lesson, not just the contents page. Notice how often the lesson asks you to demonstrate something, ask a question or bring out a material. That tells you much more about the teaching experience than a grade label does.
A lesson manual and a math set do different jobs. The manual gives you the teaching sequence. The manipulatives let you carry it out. Worksheets are another part of the purchase, so check the actual bundle contents rather than assuming the word “curriculum” includes everything.
| Part of the Purchase | What to Check |
|---|---|
| Level Book Bundle | Confirm the edition, level and exact included books or pages. |
| RS2 Math Set | Compare its contents with materials you already own. |
| Additional Student Materials | Check the publisher’s list for a second child in the same level. |
| Optional Convenience Items | Separate useful extras from what the lessons actually require. |
How Much Does RightStart Cost?
On October 15, 2026, the official RS2 Math Set was listed at $219.75. It includes the Math Card Games kit and the listed manipulatives. Manuals and worksheets are purchased separately or through a Book Bundle.[3]
The current Level A Book Bundle was $99.25. Its listing includes the Level A lessons, worksheets, appendix pages and Yellow Is the Sun book. Those two purchases total $319 before any applicable shipping or tax. This is a Level A example, not a quote for every possible starting situation.[4]
For a family adding another child at Level A, the publisher specifically lists duplicate worksheets, a Cotter Abacus, standard place-value cards and a geared clock. That matters when budgeting. Reusing a family math set does not mean every child can always use one copy of every item at the same time.[4]
I would compare the full first-year cost with the cost of the next level. A reusable supply set changes that comparison. I would also check the condition and completeness of any used materials before calling them a bargain. A missing teaching tool can turn a lower purchase price into more work later.
Choosing the Right Starting Level
RightStart directs new families to its placement assessment rather than requiring every child to begin at Level A. That is worth doing even if you already know the child’s grade.[2]
Work through placement when you can listen to the child. You want to see how they handle the questions, not just rush to an answer that matches the number on a school record. If the result surprises you, compare it with the sample lessons and ask the publisher about the entry point before buying.
Be careful with edition names. First Edition and Second Edition materials are not automatically interchangeable. The Second Edition overview discusses bridge materials for families switching editions. Check the specific transition you are making rather than buying a mixed collection and hoping it works.[2]
What the Parent Workload Looks Like
The lesson format gives the adult a clear place in the teaching. You are presenting activities and listening to the child’s responses. I would not schedule the entire lesson for a period when you must also be fully available to another child.
Before a lesson, look at its materials list and put those items together. Read enough of the instructions to know what you will demonstrate. That does not require recreating the curriculum in a separate planner. It means making the lesson ready to teach when your child is ready to begin.
For a morning with several children, decide which work needs you beside the child and which familiar practice can happen separately. A new explanation should receive your attention. A known game may have a different place in the day, depending on whether the children can play it correctly without you directing each turn.
RightStart also offers teaching-support videos, four-day pacing schedules and edition-specific corrections. Its corrections page explains how to compare the print date in your book with the dates in its errata files.[5] If a direction seems wrong, checking that page is more useful than repeatedly teaching from a known printing error.
Why the Games Matter
Games are part of RightStart’s practice approach, not just a reward after the “real” work.[1] That distinction changes how I would evaluate the program. If you want its method, leave room for the practice it actually uses.
A game still needs a purpose. Before beginning, know the rule being practiced and make sure everyone understands how a turn works. If a child spends the whole time trying to remember the rules, demonstrate another round together. Familiarity with the game makes it easier to pay attention to the math.
It can help to keep the current game’s cards and instructions together. You do not need to pull out every component of the math set each morning. Having the right pieces ready reduces the time spent searching while a child waits for the lesson to start.
Teaching More Than One Child
We have six children, but that does not mean one math lesson should suit all six. Placement, current understanding and the materials needed for a particular activity still matter.
Look at your week before assuming you can teach every new lesson back-to-back. Identify the children who need direct instruction and leave a clear follow-up task for anyone ready to practice. If two children share equipment, plan around the actual lesson materials rather than discovering the conflict halfway through teaching.
For the broader routine, I explain how school fits around meals and work in Homeschooling While Working Second Shift. That article covers the morning as a whole. A math curriculum is one part of it.
Who I Would Consider RightStart For
I would put RightStart on the list for a family that wants a hands-on, adult-led approach and is willing to use games as part of math practice. Its physical models give you a way to discuss the thinking behind a written calculation.
The main tradeoffs are the initial materials purchase, storing the components and making room for direct teaching. I have loved using RightStart. I also want you to know what you are choosing before you buy it.
If your main requirement is a program a child can start and finish alone every day, read the samples especially carefully. A well-organized teacher’s manual can make teaching easier, but it does not remove the adult from an adult-led lesson.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Use It Alongside Other Resources?
We also added IXL for reinforcement. That does not mean you need to buy another program to use RightStart. First decide what extra practice would help and whether the resources you already own can provide it.
Start With Placement and a Sample Lesson
You can explore RightStart through my affiliate link. Choose a level using placement, read a sample and total the books and materials you actually need. That gives you a much clearer purchase decision than comparing one book’s price with another curriculum’s full kit.
My Kids’ Morning Routine Chart is listed in the WFLI Shop. A written list showing teaching time, practice and getting ready for the day can help you give math a workable place in tomorrow’s morning.
For the other parts of our school day, read my Moving Beyond the Page review and IXL reinforcement review. They explain different teaching jobs rather than three competing names for the same lesson.
References
- RightStart: The RightStart Difference. Teaching approach and Cotter Abacus.
- RightStart Mathematics Second Edition. Levels, lesson format, placement and edition transitions.
- RS2 Math Set. Current contents and listed price, checked October 15, 2026.
- RightStart Level A Second Edition Book Bundle. Contents, duplicate materials and price, checked October 15, 2026.
- RightStart Teaching Support. Pacing, videos and corrections.
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