Pick just 1 program to teach toddler math

[Kerileanne99]

Forgot to mention that the 'Yellow Is the Sun' song that they learn is available on YouTube!

[mizzchrissee]

I still don't know whether I should get the rightstart basic kit or the mathtacular kit. The RS has lessons to follow, whereas the mathtacular kit just has manipulatives. I don't think Mathtacular has lessons, unless they are on the DVD?

I also tried pricing all the RS items kerileann99 mentioned above. For some reason, I cannot find the RS A manual in the online store, but the other level manuals are $45. Altogether, the price of these separate items are very close to the price of the entire basic program (the price came to $100, but the whole package is $110). So unfortunately, I cannot afford to buy this and the Mathtacular kit. Thanks for the suggestion, though.

I might end up buying the RS basic kit and Mathtacular DVDs for now. Next month,hopefully, I can buy the Mathtacular kit to use along with the DVDs. The in a few months, I might incorporate jones Geniuses. Does this sound like a good plan?

[Korrale4kq]

I bought the RS book A for under $20 on eBay. And I have not bought any of the manipulatives yet. I bought tally sticks from a craft store cheaply. The Yellow is the Sun sheet music  is in the back of the book. and you can find the son on YouTube if you can't read sheet music.
So far I have not need to purchase any other manipulatives. I wing it. I will eventually make a cardboard clock at some point. And we will use real coins too. The base ten manipulatives can be found all over the Internet for competitive prices. Just look out for good deals. Place value cards are easy to make with index cards. I personally print on cardstock and laminate stuff like that.
I will need to buy a balance. And eventually we will buy the card games. But we are far from that. I expect to be working through RS math over several years. So if money is tight (I completely understand) you might be able to just start with the book also.

[Kerileanne99]

Mizzchrisee-
After trying LOTs of programs! At the very minimum buy the RS A, the appendices for A And B, the AL abacus (and/or app!) and the card games....
Next, buy (or acquire!) the MathTacular DVDs, and corresponding manipulatives (whether you buy them or use DIY!)
Also feel that the Marshmallow Mathbook is a must as it puts parents in a proper mindset for teaching maths

This would be my absolute, bare bones recommendation! 

Then add theEuroTalk Maths, 3-5 app for IPad...

[Kerileanne99]

Mizzchrisee-
After trying LOTs of programs! At the very minimum buy the RS A, the appendices for A And B, the AL abacus (and/or app!) and the card games....
Next, buy (or acquire!) the MathTacular DVDs, and corresponding manipulatives (whether you buy them or use DIY!)
Also feel that the Marshmallow Mathbook is a must as it puts parents in a proper mindset for teaching maths

This would be my absolute, bare bones recommendation! 

Then add theEuroTalk Maths, 3-5 app for IPad...

[Mandabplus3]

Oh boy you lot talk ALOT in just one day!  I was locked out of Brillkids yesterday, I think a server must have been down?
Anyway... In answer to the IXL questions
Nee1 regarding IXL , I don't know of any similar program for English, but now that you have mentioned it I will certainly ask around the teachers circle! 
For Math is is great for mastery practice and you could use it to show YOU as a teacher WHAT to teach your kids, then teach it, then use IXL to practice and master the concepts. I often have to show my kids how to do something as they choose a new topic, I just teach it while they play. It's pretty easy to do.
There are various ways to pay for it. You can access it all for free, but only a few questions a day then it locks you out. You can pay on an automatic monthly basis ( about $10) or pay for a years subscription ( about $70)
If you pay you will get email alerts and progress charts to show you how much you kid is practicing and how much they know in certain areas. It has all sorts of graphs to show what they know in each math area. It also gives the kids ribbons which my 8 year old finds very motivating. They change from bronze to silver to gold as she masters a problem type.  It is an intelligent program, that adjusts the difficulty level of each question based on how fast and correct the previous question was completed. My kids will spend ages on it at a time. Doing a surprising number of problems without realizing.
 I am not convinced it is all that useful for under age 4....log in and try it out free first. Tell me what you think.
It's PERFECT for homeschooling parents who don't want to worry about making sure they cover everything. If they get 100 % done in a year they have mastered the year! ( not just covered the year, mastered it!) Not hard to do, my kids have done 30% of this year ( we are halfway throughout the school year now) and they attend school, with busy schedules afterschool!
Oh tight $$$ tip! Pay for one kid only! The others can use the same login and the graphs can all be viewed by year level anyway!
Saxon is the only other book based program that runs as closely to the school curriculum as IXL that I have found. But Saxon is boring for kids until they can work through independently ( level 5/4 ish).

[Mandabplus3]

So now back to the one program topic
Rightstart wins their are others that are more comprehensive ( IXL) there are others that are more academic ( Jones) there are others that use more mental math ( various Abacus programs) but rightstart wins because it is FUN for kids, EASY for parents and covers everything you need to cover!
To be honest, I think just buy the book level A, an abacus ( or the app) and the appendices. The manipulatives are so easy to find or substitute. The level A kit is good value...but check out the cost of postage before you decide! Wow!    I haven't needed anything other than what's in a normal household yet. We needed a 100 cube, we made one from paper and grids.  ( worked for my son, may not work for a toddler) We use paddle pop sticks, galss pebbles, the abacus and cerial mostly.! I have access to anything else I need through school...I just havnt needed it yet! A balance is really easy to make if you can use a drill too. I just don't think you need to spend all that much to teach good math. No one said you can't skip a lesson 
So the big money ??????
I would buy rightstart first. And if that's all you ever can afford your kid will be fine!
Then Marshmellow math if there is a few dollars left, or as soon as possible.
Then mathtacular at some point. You don't need all of them at once. Just get the first DVD. ( the second if your kids are 5/6) it isn't essential at all but the kids just love it and watch it over and over!
Then add rightstart games.
This will keep you busy for about a year! Consolidate the ideas, don't rush through it. Aim for mastery and complete understanding as a good foundation for later on. If you run out of sums use MEP, it's free isn't it?

[nee1]

Mandab,

Many thanks for your response. I'm very grateful.

[Mandabplus3]

In the interest of keeping down the costs of math manipulatives I thought I would share this little Gem 
A whole list of printable home made math manipulatives!
http://jimmiescollage.com/2011/04/ultimate-list-of-printable-math-manipulatives-games/

[lzp11]

Thank you for all these ideas everyone.

I'm keen to get Rightstart but am also horrified by the shipping costs to the UK (will be around $50 plus import duty and taxes which could be another 20-30$  )

So I'm thinking of buying just the lessons and worksheets and finding the manipulatives locally, or making them.  The only issue is that it's quite difficult to find an exact match of the abacus with only two colours grouped in fives and then switching at 50.  The closest I've found is this one http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PLASTIC-ABACUS-WITH-100-BEADS-EDUCATIONAL-TOY-BARGAIN-NEW-GIFT-LEARN-TO-COUNT?item=170859436300&cmd=ViewItem&_trksid=p5197.m7&_trkparms=algo%3DLVI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D3%26po%3DLVI%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D179099802012410046

For those more familiar with the programme, will it do instead?  Otherwise I guess I could buy a wooden one and try to paint the beads the correct colours.  I know there is an rightstart app but I'd like something hands on as well.

[Mandabplus3]

Sorry that abacus won't do. The beads need to move longwise across the wire. Order the books you need and JUST the abacus from rightstart. Tell them ( by phone or email) that you are only buying the abacus and not the complete kit as the postage price is scaring your wallet and ask them for minimal packaging and cheapest possible shipping for your goods
They have gone to a bit of effort to make their abacus quite user friendly for children. I don't know if you will find a good alternative for the long run. The abacus we have is a VERY popular toy in this house. Money well spent. Better value than the zuzu pets and barbie car they got! 
Painting a wooden one would be better than not having one at all though

[lzp11]

Thanks Manda.  In that case, I'll definitely get the abacus.  Do you think it is necessary to buy the math games cards? They are $30 which seems expensive.  The card game DVD is only $5 - I'm wondering if it's possible to make the cards (but of course you'd need to know what should be on each card!!)

[Mandabplus3]

Ok so I dont have the cards, just the CD. The cards are too small. I don't like using resources that I don't love so I figured making the cards would be one of the many chores I end up doing in the next month or two. We have played a few games using regular cards but it isn't ideal. I can look into this question further (study my CD) and let you know my ultimate verdict Oh we already have a photo of the cards somewhere on this forum I saw it months ago....if not we have ways 
We are way off topic, I just wanted to check that we have fully answered the original posters question. I am pretty sure we have turned half the forum into rightstart sales people on the way! 

[Kerileanne99]

You could absolutely make the RS cards yourself although after watching the DVD on games I just realized it would be fairly difficult to glean everything you needed from them....
It is unfortunate that the cards are such poor quality, and VERY tiny...they are very plain as well, just printed on card stock. Truly too bad as the games themselves are great!
I actually believe that these card games would be a fantastic addition to any math program! Indeed, the WTM forums are filled with parents doing just that

If there are a few of you wanting these, I am sure I could take a couple of pictures and maybe write out the sequence for DIY cards? Would that be helpful?

[lzp11]

Ooh - that sounds like a great idea, thank you Kerileanne 

If others are interested, perhaps we could work together to create better printable materials to use for games?  I'm happy to be involved and we can print out onto card or laminate at home.

Apologies if my questions have drawn this discussion off topic!  I'm coming to the conclusion that taking small bits from many curriculae is the best way but does not need to involve buying the most expensive items that a particular company sells. 

Hopefully between us we can help find ways to include as many different maths teaching methods as possible without breaking the bank 

Are we allowed to discuss the content of the JG packs?  I have purchased one and it does seem to me that some of the steps for the first level could be carried out with homemade materials without necessarily needing to buy the entire package.  I don't want to upset Dr Jones though!

I've also just created a Yellow is the Sun powerpoint presentation that can be used alongside the video on youtube.  I've uploaded to Brillkids, so hopefully will be available for others to download in the near future.

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