Kindergarten Math With Confidence Instructor Guide

Are you looking for a “Goldilocks” math curriculum? You know, the one that is not too hard, not too easy, but just right. Math with Confidence may pass the Goldilocks test for your child! Not only does it provide the right level of challenge for most children, but it also passes the Goldilocks test for parents with well defined goals, sequenced lessons, open and go scripted lessons, and easy to implement activities. The curriculum focuses on mastery with topical units and spiral review. Currently five levels are completed (K-4), with Grades 5 expected Summer 2025, and Grade 6 Summer 2026.  The Instructor Guide and Student Workbook(s) are required to successfully teach the course.

Instructor Guides begin with introductory information and a helpful “how to use” section which gives parents the tools to confidently teach math. Scripted lessons for the teacher and easy to implement activities that use household items, along with a few common math manipulatives, enable the Instructor Guide to equip parents to be successful. From kindergarten through 2nd grade, there are four teaching days and one optional enrichment or review day, for a total of 32 weeks. Weekly lessons have the same format: Overview of the week, lesson notes, and materials list for activities. Each lesson includes interactive teaching time and independent workbook time. The amount of time spent on each lesson will vary depending on the grade level. Kindergarten lessons will take about 15-20 minutes advancing to 25-35 minutes in Grade 4. Enrichment or review activities focus on games/activities or a suggested read aloud math book of the week. Beginning in Grade 3, the lessons have been grouped into units rather than weeks to provide more schedule flexibility. There are 16 units (128 regular lessons) in Grade 3, and each unit concludes with an optional enrichment activity and suggested picture book to read together. Guides also include Answer Keys and Blackline master’s which are reproducible for your immediate family.

Colorful, consumable Student Workbooks provide independent daily work. Beginning with Grade 3, the Student Workbook is divided into 2 parts: Part A covering Units 1-8 and Part B Units 9-16. The Student Workbooks are reproducible for immediate family members, although the publisher has made great effort to keep the student workbooks affordable for families. Manipulative Kits are available for your convenience.

Recommended for ages 5-6 years, children should be able to count to 10 and hold a pencil. Topically, children learn to count to 100, write numbers, perform simple addition (0-10), skip count by 2, 5 and 10, recognize shapes and patterns, handle measurements, time, and calendar skills. Recommended manipulatives include 100 small counters, pattern blocks, coins, index cards, blank paper, and pencils. Numerous household items are required for example: construction paper, shoes, and a small toy.

The Instructor Guide (460 pgs) offers scripted lessons to guide you through every step. Goals are given for each lesson as well as notes to help parents understand math learning at this age. There are weekly suggestions for math picture books to enhance the learning, checkpoints to ensure that your child is ready to move on, and suggestions for incorporation into daily activities. Guide also includes answers to the student workbook.

The Student Workbook (128 pgs) is colorful and provides review and practice for the concepts presented in the lessons as well as developing fine motor skills in preparation for first grade. Children and parents will both love this engaging approach to math.