RightStart™ Mathematics Video Lessons, Grading & Support

RightStart™ Math is a hands-on math curriculum created by Dr. Joan A. Cotter that uses the Cotter Abacus and visualization strategies to develop true number sense. It emphasizes understanding over memorization, using games and activities instead of traditional worksheets.

RightStart™ Math covers Kindergarten through middle school with Levels A through H. We are developing courses for Levels C, D, E and F. Each level builds a strong foundation in mathematical thinking through hands-on activities and the Cotter Abacus.

Yes — the first 75 lessons are available now, and we're releasing the rest on a rolling basis until the curriculum is complete (expected by December 2026). Watch a sample lesson to see them in action, or start your free 7-day trial to get going today.

RightStart™ Math was created by Dr. Joan A. Cotter, the founder of Activities for Learning, Inc. She holds a Ph.D. in mathematics education from the University of Minnesota, a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and an AMI Montessori diploma. Dr. Cotter designed the Cotter Abacus and developed the RightStart curriculum as an outgrowth of her doctoral research.

The Cotter Abacus is a specialized two-sided abacus designed by Dr. Joan A. Cotter. It groups beads in fives using alternating colors, helping students visualize quantities and develop mental math strategies naturally.

Take the placement test. RightStart™ levels don't map one-to-one to grade levels, so the placement test is the reliable way to find the right starting level for your student. Take the placement test before you begin.

Yes. You'll need access to the manipulatives — including the Cotter Abacus — and RightStart's Second Edition books for your student's level, which RightStart calls the Lessons book and the Worksheets book. These can be purchased from the RightStart™ Math website.

Nicole's video lessons follow the Second Edition of RightStart™ Mathematics — the current edition sold on the RightStart™ website. Make sure you have the Second Edition Lessons book and Worksheets book for your student's level, as the lessons won't line up with the older first-edition books.

Yes — the games aren't optional extras. RightStart™ uses games in place of traditional practice sets, so the games are where your student gets their practice. If your schedule doesn't leave time to play them, RightStart may not be the best fit for your family.

Each video is 10-15 minutes. That's a little longer than our lessons for other curricula because RightStart™ builds the practice into the lesson itself, rather than assigning long practice sets afterward.

Each RightStart™ level has roughly 140–150 lessons. In the video lessons, Nicole works through the exact problems used in the Instructor's Guide.

Your student solves each problem from the book, enters the answer, and it's checked instantly — with a chance to retry. The questions stay in your own materials, not on screen. The practice-set problems can be found in the student workbook, and the answers can be found in the teacher's guide or home instructor's manual.