RightStart Mathematics is written with the understanding that lessons are done daily, taking a school year for each level. This curriculum is written based on the math proficiency worldwide, not just the United States. Most everyone knows that the US is not doing well compared to the rest of the world.

We recommend lessons be taught 5 days a week for a school year (assuming 36 weeks for a school year). Based on this plan, here is the length of time it will take to complete:

Level A 32 weeks
Level B 30 weeks
Level C 32 weeks
Level D 29 weeks
Level E 28 weeks

There are clearly marked lessons that will take more than one day to complete.

So, with Level B being first grade, if you keep on track, you will be doing Level E in fourth grade. As you said, RightStart Mathematics; A Hands-On Geometric Approach will be fifth grade. This will take about two years because about halfway through, VideoText Interactive Algebra Module A can be started and done for one day a week. Your student will be done with the Geometric Approach by the end of sixth grade and starting algebra in seventh grade.

The current plan is having student start algebra in eighth grade. If your student is "on track", they will be one year ahead of their peers. Or, you know you have a bit of a buffer if life should rearrange your plans.

I hope this helps. Have a great day and play a math card game!

Kathleen

"Or, you know you have a bit of a buffer if life should rearrange your plans."

That's it exactly heh... We don't always manage to do 5 days a week, every week. Of course, you can go through the summer, or take time off when you need.

You can also stop at a particular lesson and just play games for awhile if your child needs more practice and security before moving on.

So maybe think of the long-range plan as a "projected minimum" heh.

Many folks who start RS later than age 5 are "behind" that 'ideal' pace. But when they do standardized testing they're still ahead of average! My son was 10, grade 5, when we started level E -- our first foray into RS. The Transitions lessons took us about 2 or 3 months, then level E itself took about one full year (ie, 52 weeks) -- that's with some weeks off, and not nearly 5 days a week consistently.

So midway through grade 6 (if you're counting grades, which we don't really...), we started the Intermediate Geometry. We're also slowly starting Pre-Algebra (using Teaching Textbooks, since we already have it, have used it before, etc), skipping much of the first 20 lessons since it's just review, and just doing about 1 lesson a week on things he actually NEEDS reviewing. :)

On this pace, even having started "late" according to the official RS timetable, he'll be doing full-on algebra by grade 8, which is completely in line with the school system... for what that's worth

Excellent! Glad to hear another RightStart success story!

Kathleen