New Year, New Momentum
A new year creates an opportunity for new momentum—a chance to re-energize students, refocus their learning, and restart your pacing with confidence. Whether your class is right on track or easing back into routine, we hope these ideas bring a fresh spark of excitement and possibility. RE-ENERGIZE: Jump Back In with Enjoyable Learning Ideas: Use quick warm-up games to boost confidence without pressure. Try a “Two-Minute Challenge” each day—students play a familiar card game for two minutes to rebuild fact fluency. Launch a Math Game of the Week to ease back in and reconnect students. After a long break, the best way to wake up math brains is through movement, laughter, and low-stakes practice. A few minutes of a familiar RightStart Math card game quickly re-energizes students and gets them ready to learn. RE-FOCUS: Preview What’s Ahead to Build Momentum One of the best ways to help students refocus after break is to spark their curiosity about what’s coming next. Share a simple peek at upcoming topics— “Over the next month, we will be diving into fractions!” “Next week, we will be learning new multiplication strategies!” “Geometry is coming soon!” A short preview helps students reconnect with purpose, reignite curiosity, and refocus their minds on the exciting learning ahead. RE-START: Get Back on Track with Your Pacing Schedule January is a perfect time for teachers to restart with confidence. After the busy break, many classrooms naturally fall a bit behind pace—and that’s okay. Our pacing schedule will help you get back on target or stay on pace as you begin the new year. Take a moment to look ahead, revisit your pacing chart, and identify the next clear steps. Are you a little behind? You can make small adjustments—such as combining shorter lessons or review and game days—to help you comfortably get back on track without feeling rushed. Maybe you’re feeling more than a little behind and need support? Or don’t have a pacing schedule yet? We’re here to help—contact us! Contact Us PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Classroom Posters and Trifolds Enhance your math environment with our Classroom Posters and Trifolds—designed to give students instant access to the concepts they use most. These powerful reference tools help students stay organized, confident, and ready to learn. The Poster Set The Poster Set provides clear visuals for numbers, fractions, and multiplication. Their 24 x 36 inch size makes them ideal for classroom display, lesson modeling, and ongoing reference during instruction and math discussions. Our Elementary Trifold includes formulas, terms, and strategy reminders, and more. The Middle School Trifold includes geometry, trigonometry, circle parts, tessellations, and more. Contact us if you would like more information about any of these materials. Contact Us Your RightStart Math partners, Teresa, Rachel, Maren, and Kathleen
Snow Much Fun: Winter Break Math Card Game Ideas
As we head into Winter Break, now is the perfect time to keep fact fluency fresh—without adding extra worksheets or stress. One of the best ways to support learning over break is simply playing math card games. They build confidence, strengthen automaticity, and keep students moving forward…all while having fun with family and friends. Make Winter Break a Game-Filled Break Encourage your students to play a few favorite RightStart Math card games over break to keep developing their fact fluency. Games like Go to the Dump, Fraction War, and Multiplication Memory turn practice from boring to fun. Here are some game ideas: Assign specific games to build specific skills Provide RightStart Math’s Game Log for students to document what they played Invite families to send in pictures showing their game moments Have a friendly class competition for “Most Games Played,” “Best Family Game Night,” or “Most Improved Skills” A little bit of purposeful motivation from you will keep students engaged and growing through the winter break. Games Log Want to Encourage Even More Participation? If your school would like to make it easier for families to access materials needed to play the math card games, we can set up a special school discount code just for you. Reach out to us, and we’ll set up a code to share with your families so they can get a discount! Contact Us Product Spotlight: New Math Card Game Decks We’re excited to highlight our newly updated Math Card Game Decks! These decks: Feel more like a traditional playing card deck Are easier to shuffle Still feature the kid-friendly, visual design you love If you need additional card decks or want to replace older decks, now is a great time to switch to our redesigned, easier-to-shuffle decks. Contact us for pricing, and don’t forget—we still offer quantity discounts! We hope these ideas make Winter Break both fun and meaningful for your students. Thank you for all you do to support confident student mathematicians. If you need anything—from game suggestions to ordering support—we’re here and happy to help. Wishing you a wonderful winter break! Your RightStart Math partners, Teresa, Rachel, Maren and Kathleen
RightStart Math: Free Support, Resources, and Training
September 2025 Newsletter We want to remind you of the many free resources available to you as a school that uses RightStart Math. 1. Year-Round Teacher Support – FREE If you have questions about a lesson, activity, game, or student, we’re here to help. Reach out anytime, and we’ll provide the guidance needed to ensure effective instruction for all students. 2. Parent Letters – FREE We know parent involvement is key to student success. That’s why we’ve prepared ready-to-use letters you can send home each week. These include a summary of what students learned plus activities and games for families to enjoy together. 3. Professional Development – FREE We offer free PD courses via Zoom or in person (just cover travel costs for in-person sessions). Current courses include: RightStart Math: Why It Works RightStart Math: Classroom Management RightStart: Fractions RightStart: Geometry (great for middle school) RightStart: PreK RightStart: Kindergarten RightStart: 1st Grade RightStart: 3rd Grade 4. Game Instruction Videos – Only $0.99/year RightStart Math uses many engaging math card games. To save you time, we’ve created short, easy-to-follow video instructions—available by annual subscription for just 99¢. Vimeo Subscription 5. Specialized Support Just For You We’re here to support you every step of the way! Contact us for questions, resources, or to schedule a PD. Contact Us Your RightStart Math partners, Teresa, Rachel, Maren, and Kathleen
Start Math Right Dr. Cotter’s Greatly Anticipated Book is Here!
We are excited to announce the release of Dr. Joan Cotter’s new book, Start Math Right—a valuable resource designed to empower educators and parents with innovative strategies for teaching mathematics effectively. Drawing on her decades of experience in math education and curriculum development, Dr. Cotter provides practical tools and a fresh perspective to help learners build a deep and lasting understanding of math. In Start Math Right, Dr. Cotter explains the foundational philosophies behind the RightStart™ Mathematics curriculum, offering insight into why and how these methods lead to real success in the classroom. Rather than focusing on rote memorization or repetitive worksheets, this book explains the importance of helping children learn how to think mathematically. With an emphasis on visualization, hands-on learning, and meaningful connections, readers will discover how to transform math from a subject students fear into one they truly understand—and even enjoy. The book is ideal for a variety of audiences. Whether you’re a veteran teacher looking to deepen your practice, a new educator just beginning your teaching journey, or an administrator working to bring renewed energy and effectiveness to math education at your school, Start Math Right is written for you. The tone is accessible and encouraging, with real-life examples and practical suggestions that you can implement immediately. Curious to learn more? Listen to Dr. Cotter discuss the book in her own words and get a glimpse of the inspiration and research behind it. You can also explore a sample of Start Math Right to preview the content. If you’re ready to transform your approach to teaching math and make a lasting impact on your students or children, Start Math Right is the perfect place to begin. For ordering information, contact us today!
Thank you teacher!
We want to take a moment to say a special thank you for the incredible work you do. We see the dedication, the late nights, the creativity, and the heart you pour into your students every single day. Your work often goes beyond the classroom—into lesson planning at home, answering emails long after school hours, and finding new ways to connect with students who need extra support. And we just want to say—thank you. Teaching is more than a job; it’s a calling. It requires patience, perseverance, and a deep love for learning and growth. Every day, you shape lives, inspire futures, and make a lasting impact in ways you may never fully see. The lessons you teach extend far beyond textbooks and tests. You instill confidence, encourage curiosity, and spark a love for learning that can last a lifetime. We know there are challenges. Some days are exhausting, and the impact of your hard work may not always be immediately visible. But never doubt the influence you have. A kind word, a listening ear, a simple act of encouragement—these small moments can change a student’s path forever. A Special Message Just for You As William Arthur Ward once said,“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” As you continue to make a difference in your student’s lives, remember that we are here to support you! Don’t hesitate to reach out and ask! So, again, thank you, teacher! You are an inspiration. Keep going. You are making a difference. With deep appreciation, Your RightStart Math partners, Teresa, Rachel, Maren, and Kathleen P.S. If no one has told you today—you are doing an amazing job.
RightStart Math and Classical Education
Classical education is built on the foundation of strong reasoning, deep understanding, and mastery of fundamental skills. When it comes to mathematics, RightStart Math aligns beautifully with these principles, offering a structured, hands-on approach that promotes true number sense. How does Classical Education Philosophies and RightStart Math align? Truth – Intellect (Mind) Discover truth through logic, inquiry, and Socratic Instruction RightStart Math Lessons encourage students to contemplate and discover math ideas through guided activities using manipulatives. They also are learning the language of math to help them communicate the beautiful ideas found in math. How? The teacher asks questions and guides the student to use math manipulatives in a way that enables them to see patterns in the math facts and processes. Students are guided to discover algorithms, which are not just formulas to be memorized but a process to be understood. Learning to think like a mathematician is a higher order than simply memorizing a formula. Goodness – Virtue (Will) Do good through the practice of perseverance, humility, and prudence RightStart Math Lessons encourage students to face math challenges with perseverance, humility, and prudence daily. How? Students are instructed to search for patterns not only in geometric shapes but also mathematical facts. They create geometric drawings without detailed step-by-step instructions, relying on a visual of the completed design and using prior knowledge of problem solving. Students use reason and tools to determine their own approach to solving problems with guided support. They also practice recreating designs using the tools and strategies they previously learned. Math card games provide students with an engaging method of practicing math facts and processes. Students learn humility and perseverance while working on math facts. Students are taught various methods for solving problems, helping them to see there is more than one way to find a solution. Beauty – Harmony (Heart) Recognize and contemplate beauty through an experience with form, unity, and harmony Throughout the curriculum, RightStart Math develops visualization, imagination, and creativity. It inspires and enables students to understand and love the truth in unified and harmonious patterns that are discoverable through playing with and experiencing numbers and patterns. How? Students practice extensively with manipulatives and are then encouraged to visualize the process, using their imagination to form a picture in their mind’s eye. Instead of simply memorizing key words, students focus on visualizing and truly understanding the meaning of word problems. Students learn the language of math, which helps them learn the art of communicating truth through beautiful ideas. Lessons show students how to explore concepts in a way that allows them to see the contemplative beauty of math. Students discover many unique patterns found in the multiples. They also find the square root spiral in nature after drawing it themselves. While students are learning about fractals, they use their drawing skills to recreate several iterations of the Koch Snowflake. Students often find their geometric drawings in many facets of nature, from cauliflowers to seashells, honeycomb to sunflowers, and melody to harmony. Math can be seen and heard everywhere. Express and Discover Great Ideas Able to express and discover great ideas, not only through memorizing, but also through a poetic experience which is rooted in opportunities to figure out the meaning of mathematical concepts. Throughout the RightStart Math lessons, students analyze and synthesize the processes in their own words and frequently explain how they found their answers. Learn How to Think Teach how to think and what to do, not what to think and how to do Beginning in kindergarten, students actively think about the processes rather than simply memorizing procedures. Algorithms are taught through discovery, and students focus on building understanding. Once a student is able to understand how a process works, memorization is easy to achieve and maintain. In RightStart’s middle school levels, students learn how to read math text for understanding, use the resources and tools they have developed, and apply their knowledge to new and unfamiliar problems. Primary and Grammar years Lay a foundation for advanced study; Learn through experience, observation and sequencing All elementary math levels in the RightStart curriculum focus on building a solid mathematical foundation in arithmetic, fractions, geometry, money, telling time, and problem solving. This foundation provides students with all the education they need to succeed at higher levels of math. How? Students develop a deep understanding of mathematics by performing tasks and activities using math manipulatives such as the Cotter Abacus, fraction chart, colored tiles, and geoboards. Understanding of arithmetic can be enhanced by using the Cotter Abacus and Math Balance. The fraction chart teaches students how to understand and apply fractions using a linear model. Colored tiles and the geoboards teach students about patterns, symmetry, graphing and shapes. All these activities build a solid and concrete understanding of math. Logic Learn to think through arguments Throughout middle school, RightStart Math helps students develop critical thinking skills by allowing and encouraging students to utilize their previously gained knowledge and tools and applying that knowledge to unknown or unfamiliar problems. Emphasis of Patterns Patterns are essential to the experience of wonder Math is the science and poetic expression of patterns. RightStart emphasizes this through the use of place value cards, the exploration of patterns in geometry, various strategies taught for understanding, and the discovery of patterns in arithmetic, all of which highlight the beauty and musicality of math. Ability to Order Thought Ability to present a cohesive and persuasive argument When working through RightStart Math lessons, students frequently explain how they arrived at an answer and what method they used, often writing definitions and verbally expressing processes in their own words. Coherent Thought Demonstrates what they know to be more persuasive of the truth Students are given the opportunity to prove how rules and algorithms function by demonstrating them on a physical manipulative. As students mature, they frequently demonstrate their understanding and articulate their arguments and explanations verbally or in writing. Classical Education Philosophy: To know truth, to do good, and to experience beauty RightStart Math Mission Statement: Helping
Happy New Year! Welcome to 2025!
January 2025 Newsletter Welcome to the New Year 2025! We hope everyone had a fabulous winter break! As you start the new year, here are some ideas to ease students back: Review and Reset the Routine Use what worked in the fall and change the things that did not work. What did your students positively respond to? Bring more of that strategy into your instruction during the new year. What did they struggle with? Spend some time reviewing the processes and make the necessary changes. Set new goals Share new expectations and encourage students to set personal goals. Help your students succeed by explaining your expectations. Teach them how to set personal goals and give them direction on how to achieve them. Engage in Community Discussion Have your students share experiences from their break that relate to your topic of instruction. Bring math into it. Have your younger students calculate how often they did something during the break, such as eating a cookie, sledding, watching a holiday movie, etc. Then, have them double the number. For older students, have them calculate the ratio of how many days they slept in to the number of days they were off school. Incorporate Fun and Engaging Activities Bring something new to ‘ordinary’ learning activities. For example, when playing math card games, incorporate physical activities. Here are some ways you can bring physical activity into gameplay: -Turn your math card games into relay races -Have students practice even and odd numbers by incorporating hopscotch: hop on one foot for an odd number, hop on two feet for an even number. -For games such as Swim to Ten, make a large game board on the floor and have the students become the game markers We are here for you As you get back into your routine, don’t forget that we are here to support you all year long. If you find yourself behind schedule or fresh out of ideas, reach out! We’re here to help make this school year a great success! Sincerely, Your RightStart Math partners, Teresa, Rachel, Maren, and Kathleen
Math Facts: Fun, Games, & Discounts
December 2024 Newsletter Keep math fun during the winter break! Everyone looks forward to winter break, but we also don’t want our students to lose the progress they’ve made this year. You can keep math fun even as your students develop fact fluency by sending them home with fun Winter-Themed Bingo Cards that encourage continued practice over the break. Get creative! Use these fun Bingo Cards to spark a little friendly competition over the winter break as you encourage a fun way to practice math facts. Give them goals to achieve during the break with a promised award for those who achieve those goals. Then, when January rolls around, consider having a celebration or party as they share their achievements with one another in class! If your parents do not have the Math Card Games Kit, we are offering a special holiday discount of 10% off the kit. The code they will need to use is: PAR24MCG10. This code is for parents and teachers who want to purchase the Math Card Games Kit. Make sure to place your order before December 31st, 2024, though! Because that is when the discount code expires. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to help make this school year a great success! Sincerely, Your RightStart Math partners, Teresa, Rachel, Maren, and Kathleen
Your RightStart Classroom Team – October 2024 Newsletter
Get to know your RightStart Classroom Team and how we support you and your school. We created a quick video for you to view to help you get to know us and the services we provide. Video Let us know how we can help you have a fantastic school year! Sincerely, Your RightStart Math partners, Teresa, Rachel, Maren, and Kathleen
Are You on Target? – November 2024 Newsletter
Are you on target to finish your grade level during the school year? It is essential that each level of RightStart Math is finished in full by the end of the year to ensure your students receive a complete and comprehensive math education. We know it’s only November, but now is a great time to evaluate if your current progress will lead to success—or stress—at the end of the year. How can you know if you are on target? At this point, most schools are about two months into the year, with roughly six months remaining. This means you should be approximately 25% through the curriculum. If you are not quite where you’d like to be and need support to get you back on course, we’re here to help! We can work with you to ensure you are where you need to be. Pacing Schedules Did you know that we supply pacing schedules to help you stay on target? Pacing Schedule If you have a unique school schedule or calendar year, contact us. We can create a customized pacing schedule to ensure your students receive a complete math education. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to help make this school year a great success! Sincerely, Your RightStart Math partners, Teresa, Rachel, Maren, and Kathleen
