Activities for Learning, Inc.
To help children understand, apply, and enjoy mathematics
Please visit the Activities for Learning website
http://alabacus.com/
Activities for Learning, Inc.
Kathleen Lawler
866-354-9003
Email: Kathleen@ALabacus.com
Website: http://alabacus.com/
RightStart Mathematics uses the AL Abacus to provide a visual, auditory, and kinesthetic experience. The elementary and intermediate program lessons guide the teacher day-by-day and year-by-year, helping children understand, apply, and enjoy mathematics while surpassing state standards.
The AL Abacus is grouped in fives and tens for quick recognition of quantities. Children develop visual strategies as they use this manipulative. The back side of
Practice is provided with math card games, minimizing review worksheets and stressful flash cards, presenting a variety of repetition, and creating hours of fun learning math facts and concepts. Understanding and problem solving are emphasized throughout the curriculum.
RightStart Mathematics follows the NCTM guidelines, and incorporates most state math standards. The website has downloads available for each grade with the Objectives, the Table of Contents, and sample lessons.? NCTM also has an electronic abacus available for you to explore.
We recognize each classroom and school situation is unique. If you would like to discuss your specific needs, please contact Kathleen at 866-354-9003 or email at Kathleen@ALabacus.com . Professional development is also available.
Explore our wealth of information found on our website. Thank you for giving your child a RightStart in Math.
Dr. Joan A. Cotter received her BSEE (electrical engineering) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and MACI (curriculum and instruction) from College of St. Thomas (now University of St. Thomas, Minnesota), and earned her Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota (mathematics education).
Joan worked as an engineer at Univac (now Unisys),?resigning when her children were born. She taught her three children at home before and after school and during summer vacations. To help them learn their basic arithmetic, she devised card games that became the basis of her first book, Math Card Games: 300 Games for Learning and Enjoying Math.
Joan started a Montessori school and taught children, ages 3-6 years, as a Montessori teacher. She studied the Suzuki method and used it to teach violin and piano to young children. She also tutored children with learning problems and taught junior high mathematics.
Dr. Cotter designed the double-sided AL Abacus and wrote RightStart Mathematics, a comprehensive K-4 mathematics program that incorporates visualization, the AL Abacus, and math card games. The RightStart curriculum is an outgrowth of her doctoral research. Currently, she is writing middle school math curriculum, conducting workshops, and presenting at conferences nationally and internationally.
Joan and her husband, Al, have three adult children and four grandchildren. Dr. Joan A. Cotter can be reached by email at JoanCotter@ALabacus.com .
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