Math Mammoth Lightblue Series

115 pages
102 lesson pages


111 pages
101 lesson pages


133 pages
120 lesson pages


137 pages
123 lesson pages


149 pages
136 lesson pages


165 pages
152 lesson pages


173 pages
159 lesson pages



170 pages
161 lesson pages




163 pages
147 lesson pages

Math Mammoth Light Blue series constitutes a complete elementary mathematics curriculum for grades 1, 2, 3, and 4. Part A is available for 5th grade. Each complete grade level consists of two worktexts (A and B), their answer keys, tests, cumulative reviews, and an additional worksheet maker.

These products are available for download at Kagi store, as CDs at Winterpromise.

You can also buy the worktexts as printed copies, and the answer keys and other supportive materials as a download. Please see the pages for the individual grades for purchasing information.

Main Features

Some main features of the Math Mammoth complete curriculum are:

• focuses on understanding of mathematical concepts
• uses clear explanations, lots of visual exercises and pattern exercises
• mastery oriented: concentrates fairly long on a topic, with fairly few topics per grade
• emphasizes mental math and developing number sense
• practically self-teaching for kids who can read; thus very little teacher preparation needed: perfect for busy homeschool moms or teachers

Please follow the links below to read description of each grade level, see the samples, and the table of contents.

Math Mammoth Grade 1-A and 1-B complete worktexts

Math Mammoth Grade 2-A and 2-B complete worktexts

Math Mammoth Grade 3-A and 3-B complete worktexts

Math Mammoth Grade 4-A and 4-B complete worktexts

Math Mammoth Grade 5-A complete worktext

*BONUS*: If you buy the above products in Kagi store (as downloads), you will also get Soft-Pak elementary math & language arts programs completely free.

General questions and answers concerning the LightBlue books

1. Do you have placement / diagnostic tests?

Yes. Simply click here for placement tests for all the grade-levels.

2. Is there a teacher's manual?

In the beginning of each chapter there are notes for the teacher (Introduction), but this curriculum does not contain a separate teacher's manual nor scripted lessons. I've tried to create a text that is as self-explanatory as possible, so that a separate manual wouldn't be needed. This saves time for the teacher. Also, many elementary students will be able to just read and learn through the lessons on their own (once they can read).

3. Are there printed versions available?

Yes. You can purchase printed versions at two places: At Lulu or at Winterpromise, who sells them with a CD. The links to the printed books at Lulu are located in the right sidebar of each particular book's page on my site. If you buy the printed versions at Lulu, you can then purchase the answer keys, tests, and cumulative reviews as a download.

4. Can I buy it on a CD?

Yes. Winterpromise sells each grade level separately on a CD. Or, you can buy all available grade levels on one CD here.

5. What is a worktext?

Worktext means that the books contain the explanations and the problems. Simply put, the textbook and problems are in the same book. This is especially useful for homeschooling and for any kind of independent study.

6. What is the difference between the Blue Series and Lightblue series?

These two series have a lot of the same material. There are a few minor differences, which will probably become even less as I write more material. Some of the differences in material are: The Blue Series Geometry 1, Fractions 1, and Fractions 2 books have material not included in the LightBlue grades 1-4. The LightBlue 4th grade has material on measuring that is not (currently) in any of the Blue Series books.

The MAIN difference is in how the material is organized. The LightBlue goes by grades and also includes tests. The Blue Series just consists of worktexts for various topics. Many of the Blue Series books contain material spanning several grade levels, but just on the same topic. For example, Clock and Money books in the Blue Series span grades 1-3.

So, which you would choose depends mostly on your goals: Do you wish to have a complete curriculum for a given grade level? Go LightBLue. Do you wish to review/reteach certain topics only? Go Blue. Do you want the sequence of topics preplanned for you? Go LightBLue. Do you want to piece together your curriculum? Try Blue.

7. How does the complete curriculum (Lightblue books) compare with Singapore math?

Please read comparisons of Math Mammoth with other homeschool math curricula here.

8. Are earlier concepts reviewed in later levels?

To some extent, yes, but not so much as in a typical spiral curricula. For example, I often introduce somewhat difficult topics in two grades. A few topics are "introductory" in one grade and "in focus" in the next. For example:

• Adding so that the result "goes over 10" is included in the last half of 1st grade and first half of 2nd; for example 6 + 8.
• Borrowing over zeros is included both in 2nd and 3rd.
• Multiplication concept is introduced in the very end of 2nd but studied in depth in 3rd.
• Multi-digit multiplication (the algorithm) is touched in 3rd grade but studied in length in the first part of 4th grade, and studied once more in 5th (5-A).
• Similarly, long division is studied both in 4th and 5th.
• Concept of a decimal is introduced briefly in the end of 3rd, and then studied quite a bit more on 4th. Decimals and their operations are studied in depth in 5th grade (5-A).
• Fractions are introduced a tiny bit in 2nd grade, gradually studied a little bit more in 3rd and 4th. In 5th grade, they will in "focus" — we'll study all the fraction operations in-depth in the book 5-B.

Some elementary mathematics topics are covered over several years in a spiraling style, such as place value (with increasing digits), measuring units, some geometry vocabulary (pentagon, octagon, parallel), reading clock, coins, and money problems.

These topics are NOT reviewed in any great depth, but mastery is expected: single digit addition/ subtraction after 1st grade, double-digit addition/subtraction after 2nd, clock reading or coins after 3rd. Multiplication tables and basic division receive a quick review in 4th grade but not after that. I cannot list every single concept and its progression in this short space though.

9. Are tests included?

Yes. There is a chapter test after each chapter and an end of year test to be used after each grade level.

10. Will you be writing more grade levels?

Yes. During spring 2009 I'll be working on 5-B. Once that's ready (probably summer 2009), I will start 6th grade. I haven't decided anything beyond that.

11. What about kindergarten math? At what age is it appropriate to start your 1st grade books?

There are no Math Mammoth kindergarten books, but I've written a fairly comprehensive article about what you can do in kindergarten math. You can start 1st grade once a child can write and recognize numbers, count to 20 (preferably to 30 or beyond), has mastered basic concepts of equivalence, more, and less; and has a basic idea of addition.

12. My daughter understands the concepts of addition and substraction but she has not memorized the tables. For drilling the addition and substraction tables should we just go over each lesson over and over until she memorizes her tables?

First of all, you should go through the books and check that she knows all the concepts related to addition and subtraction.

To learn the facts, go carefully over those lessons that present fact families and number rainbows. These provide the structure and a context for learning the facts so that they are not learned as separate, random things.

Then, once she thoroughly understands fact families and the pattern in the number rainbow, you can move on to other math topics such as place value, geometry, etc. but keep up the facts practice a few minutes a day with games, worksheets, and flash cards.

These basic facts are also used a lot even when studying place value and other topics, so that helps kids remember them too.

13. Is Math Mammoth aligned with any state standards?

In general, no. Typically the mathematics standards of various states include a tremendous amount of goals and material to be covered. I do not intend Math Mammoth to be "an inch deep and mile wide" curriculum, but instead concentrate on certain topics heavily in particular grades. For example, 3rd grade devotes a lot of time for basic multiplication, multiplication tables, and basic division (by single-digit numbers).

For a comparison, I've made charts that compare Math Mammoth complete curriculum grades 1, 2, 3, and 4 with corresponding California mathematics standards. In general, Math Mammoth matches Californian standards for addition, subtraction, and place value related goals. In some areas, California standards are about one grade-level ahead of Math Mammoth, such as in multiplication and division. For statistics and probability, California standards are much more advanced.
Comparison between Math Mammoth and California Standards, Grade 1
Comparison between Math Mammoth and California Standards, Grade 2
Comparison between Math Mammoth and California Standards, Grade 3
Comparison between Math Mammoth and California Standards, Grade 4

14. Your program looks really good, but I am concerned that there won't be enough review. Do your books have review problems that continue to review previous concepts?

When you buy Math Mammoth complete curriculum product, you get a worksheet maker with which you can make all sorts of calculation problems for review. The program also has cumulative reviews meant to be used after each chapter that have various kinds of problems, including word problems.

The major concepts of mathematics, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division or fractions, actually get "reviewed" in a sense because they get used all the time. For example, a child who learns their multiplication tables will keep using them all the time in division and multidigit multiplication. Addition and subtraction strategies are used in word problems about money or measuring, or again when studying place value and large numbers. Division facts are used in long division. I never make only multiplication word problems for multiplication chapters, but the word problems dealing with various topics (such as money, division, fractions) include the usage of all operations all the time (once the operation has been studied). The word problems in this curriculum constantly use important concepts that have been already learned. So the math just builds itself up.

Origin of the curriculum

Math Mammoth books had their start at around 2002, when the author Maria Miller was tutoring homeschooling children, and noticed the difficulties their parents had in explaining mathematics.

This series is designed to help homeschool parents explain and teach processes and concepts of elementary math. The books contain very clear explanations, lots of visual exercises, and pattern exercises that help children see the structure of mathematics and clearly understand the concepts of mathematics, instead of just memorizing rules.

Ample practice for computation is not forgotten either. Word problems abound.

Math Mammoth curriculum lets children concentrate longer on one topic so as to learn it well, before moving on, building good mastery of key concepts among elementary students.

The goal of the curriculum is to first achieve mastery of one topic, and then move on and build on it. Therefore, in this curriculum you will quite likely see fewer topics per grade, and less review of earlier topics in higher grades. However, as noted above, some topics are repeated over several grades.

Customer feedback/reviews

The following is one of the winning entries to Math Mammoth 2008 Thanksgiving Contest.

I am a Canadian homeschooling mum of four living in Switzerland. My school age children are 11, 9 and 6. My preschooler is 2 1/2. I absolutely adore the complete curriculum series. I am currently using grades 1 and 4. My six year old flies through the pages asking if he can do just one more most days. I suspect that he will be on the grade 2 books by Easter at this rate. Prior the starting the grade one curriculum, he attended a Montessori school. His passion for numbers may be inborn for but this was not the case for his older brother or sister and they enjoy the work as well!

Last year I decided to homeschool our 10 year old son. He is bright outgoing and articulate but he had lost his spark for learning. As there was no complete curriculum available for 5th grade I used the fourth grade one and supplemented with the green and golden materials for 5th grade. Within a few weeks, he stopped groaning about math and began to genuinely look forward to the work. Words cannot express how pleased I am that he has found a love of numbers again. I found it very, VERY challenging to choose a program for him this year but settled on YourTeacher.com pre-algebra which I supplement with gold and green grade 6 materials.

Our 9 year old daughter has never found math easy or interesting but I hope to see that change as we embarked on a homeschooling journey with her this year as well. She is diligently working her way through the complete curriculum for fourth grade and when she finds that too daunting, I print something from the third grade books to refresh her memory. I don't expect her to look forward to her daily math lesson BUT she no longer dreads it and we are only 7 weeks into the year.

My communications with you have far exceeded my expectations. You answered my emails promptly when I was begging for a 5th grade curriculum in February 2008 and I am so pleased to see that it is now available. Well done!

There was a time when I lost all of my data because of a hard-drive malfunction and this meant that I no longer had access to the Math Mammoth materials. I was about to re-order when I thought that it might be worth asking if it might be possible to have them re-sent. They were in my inbox within hours.

We also own the clock and multiplication book which are being used by our 6 and nine year olds respectively. They are thorough and progress in a slow and steady manner that makes learning these tricky concepts easy.

I always look forward to reading your latest articles about teaching math. I do not have a true passion for numbers myself but I am thankful for the math teachers in my life who did. It is thanks to them that I never struggled with the concepts. From your articles, it is clear that you are one of those teachers and I am grateful to have stumbled upon your website.

Thank you so much for all that you do to instill a love of math in children!

Respectfully,
Denise
30 November 2008