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Math Mammoth Grade 1 complete curriculum

Math Mammoth Grade 1 complete curriculum consists of two student worktexts (A and B), a separate answer key for each, chapter tests and an end-of-year test, cumulative reviews, and an easy worksheet maker (Internet access required) to make extra practice worksheets when needed.

116 pages
102 lesson pages


113 pages
99 lesson pages

1-A contents and samples
1-B contents and samples

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Prices & ordering

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Downloads:

Full set (A & B) $29.70

Full set for 1-A: $15.50
Full set for 1-B: $15.50

Supportive materials only $14
(answer keys, tests, cumulative reviews, worksheet maker, and Soft-Pak)

Order downloads
at Kagi store

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Printed copies:

Part A worktext $11.90
Part B worktext $11.80
Answer Keys $13.75
Tests & Cumulative Reviews $10.25
(+ shipping; sold at Lulu)

The two student books (A and B) for 1st grade cover the following topics:

• addition and subtraction concept and basic facts within 0-10
• place value with 2-digit numbers (a.k.a. tens and ones)
• some adding and subtracting within 0-100
• some geometry and measuring topics
• reading clock to the half-hour
• counting and using coins (US, Euro, or Canadian)

Please also see the table of contents for 1-A and 1-B (in the sample files), which will let you see the topics covered in more detail.

Some main features of the Lightblue Series books 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
• very little teacher preparation needed

AN ADDED BONUS! Buying this in Kagi store (as a download), you will also get Soft-Pak programs completely FREE. The 7 programs in Soft-Pak (4 math, 1 language arts, 2 testing) offer both on-screen and printable activities in a low-graphic, high content format. Read more and see screenshots.

Introduction

The main topics during first grade are the concepts of addition and subtraction, addition and subtraction facts within 0-10, and place value till 100. Other topics studied are clock to the half hour, measuring length in inches and centimeters, shapes, and coins.

When you use these books as your only or main mathematics curriculum, they can be like a "framework", but you still have a lot of liberty in planning your child's studies. While addition and subtraction topics are best studied in the order they are presented, feel free to go through the geometry, clock, and money sections in some different order.

This might even be advisable if your child is "stuck" on some concept, or is getting bored. Sometimes the brain "chews the cud" in the background, and the concept she was stuck on can become clear after a break.

This 1st grade curriculum aims to concentrate on a few major topics at a time, and study them in depth. This is thus totally opposite to the continually spiraling step-by-step curricula, in which each lesson typically is about a different topic from the previous or next lesson, and includes a lot of review problems from past topics. This does not mean that your child wouldn't need occasional review. However, when each major topic is presented in its own chapter, this gives you more freedom to plan the course of study and choose the review times yourself.

In fact, I totally encourage you to plan your mathematics school year as a set of certain topics, instead of a certain book or certain pages from a book.

The chapter on Money (chapter 8) is included in three currencies: US, Canadian, and Euro money — you will get all three versions when you buy the Grade 1 Complete Curriculum or the 1-B part.

Manipulatives

Here is a list of manipulatives that are needed or recommended for grade 1:

1. A 100-bead abacus (for 1-B)
   The initial lessons in the place value chapter use a 100-bead abacus extensively. A 100-bead abacus or school abacus simply contains 10 beads on 10 rods, a total of 100. It is not a special abacus as used by the Chinese or the Russians. In the school abacus, each bead simply represents one. The 100-bead abacus lets children both "see" the numbers and use their touch while making them.

   At Amazon you can find Melissa & Doug Classic Wooden Abacus at Amazon for around $10. An abacus where the beads alternate colors by fives is even more useful. You can browse Amazon's abacus selection here. Other stores carry abaci as well.

   You can also use this virtual abacus.

2. An old-fashioned alarm clock or other analog clock where you can turn the minute hand and the hour hand will turn as it is supposed to (for 1-B).
3. A ruler that measures in inches (for 1-B).
4. A ruler that measures in centimeters (for 1-B).

Reviews / Testimonials

Review of Math Mammoth Grade 1 Complete Curriculum from Learning As I Go... blog.

I just wanted to tell you how HAPPY I am with Math Mammoth! I have two kids who are doing the Light Blue Series I-A and one child who is in I-B. They LOVE it! I CANNOT believe how easy and thorough it is for only $30/year!!!! I'm so thankful that I happened to find you on the internet and decided to take a chance and buy the 1-A! If my kids don't quite grasp something it is so easy to just go back a few pages and re-print them. I also love the computer games that you have searched out for me and given the links to. So thank you, thank you, thank you!!

Denise Kennedy
January 2010

Three weeks ago, I bought Math Mammoth for grades 1-2, and I've been evaluating it with my 8-year-old since then. I have been homeschooling for 19 years, and I must say this is one of the best elementary math programs I have seen yet. I have used many different curriculums before, and I find that Math Mammoth combines the best of several. It has the built-in review of Saxon, the uncluttered feel of Miquon, and the incremental, step-by-step skill building of Developmental Math. What I like most about it is that, unlike some other programs, the math facts memorization is built into the program. With every program I've used except Developmental Math, I have had to interrupt the study sequence to focus on memorization drill. Math Mammoth accomplishes this key skill with more clarity and ease of use than I've found in Developmental Math.

Thanks again for a great program--I look forward to using the upper levels in the future!

Jackie Lee
Vero Beach, FL
Review left November 28, 2008

From a homeschooling parent who has used Grade 1 Complete Worktext with a 6.5 year old, as a supplement to Rightstart Math B:

We like Math Mammoth because it's very clear, logical, mastery-based and easy to use. It's pretty much like Singapore, but with a lot more practice. We use it as a supplement to Right Start Math which has an approach of manipulative --> abstract. Math Mammoth has an approach of pictorial --> semi pictorial --> abstract.

I found that the pictorial presentation of Math Mammoth helps a lot to cement a concept. I could've supplemented RS with Singapore which I did during the K-year, but our concern is that Singapore does not has that many practice. Secondly, the scope and sequence is much too different from RS, because it introduces multiplication and division pretty early, whereas Math Mammoth s & s is pretty in line with RS. And thirdly is the cost. I don't want a supplemental program which costs a lot. Math Mammoth fits the bill. It's really a low cost high quality program.

Dian