Wondering if Math Mammoth is a good fit for your family? You can read my in-depth review here.
Many different websites sell the Math Mammoth complete curriculum (the “Light Blue” Series). This Math Mammoth buying guide will lead you through the process so you can buy just what you need, at the best price possible.
Note that for a complete curriculum, you’ll want to buy the “Light Blue Series” and NOT the “Blue Series.”
Step 1: Placement test
Before buying anything, have your child take the Math Mammoth placement test. Math Mammoth’s scope and sequence is fairly close to other major curriculum, so you child will likely place where you expect. But it’s always best to check.
Step 2: Downloaded copy, CD or printed copy?
Next, decide if you want to print Math Mammoth yourself or receive it already printed. The major advantage of buying the CD or download is that you can print it for your own family as many times as you’d like. Printing costs do add up, but this is a huge savings for larger families. (Note that the digital worktexts are in color, but the author says that is is fine for you to print them in black and white.) If you’d rather not deal with printing the materials yourself, you can just buy the worktexts already printed.
Step 3: Individual grades or a bundle pack?
If you’ve decided to buy a CD or download, you can save a lot of money by buying the entire curriculum at once. For example, you can buy a CD with the complete curriculum for grades 1-7 for only $150 at Rainbow Resource right now! That’s a pretty astounding value compared to other programs. (Although don’t forget to factor in printing costs.)
Buying curriculum in advance can be a little dangerous, since we never know how our kids or our family will change. But if you feel that you have a good sense of what works well for your children, buying the bundle pack might be your best bet.
Step 4: Comparison shopping
Math Mammoth lays out the purchasing options at the bottom of this page. Although there are several different online stores that you can buy from, all of the best prices are at Rainbow Resource, so I recommend starting there. Math Mammoth also sometimes runs deals at Homeschool Buyers Co-op, but make sure to compare the price to what Rainbow Resource offers.
Step 5: Add manipulatives
If you’re using grades 1-3 of Math Mammoth, the author highly recommends buying a 100-bead abacus. She also recommends an analog clock and a ruler for those grades, as well as a few more measuring instruments for grade three. (The list is halfway down this page.)
For most young children, this won’t be enough hands-on materials. Start with my free Minimalist Math Manipulative Guide to put together your own hands-on math materials kit with items you have around the house.
Frequently Asked Questions About Math Mammoth
What should I use to prepare my child for Math Mammoth?
Math Mammoth begins with first-grade. On her website, the author offers some recommendations for simple activities for kindergarten.
If you’d like to use a formal program rather than making up your own activities, I recommend either Kindergarten Math with Confidence or Singapore Essential Math. Both cover these skills well and prepare children for the number skills in Math Mammoth’s first grade worktext. Plus, they’re inexpensive and don’t require you to invest in multi-year manipulative sets!
How many pages should my child do each day?
Since Math Mammoth isn’t organized by lesson, it’s up to you to decide how many pages your child should do each day. Generally 2-3 pages is a good amount.
Does my child have to do the Puzzle Corner?
Math Mammoth includes occasional puzzles. Some kids love them, and some kids hate them. If your child hates them, feel free to skip them. They’re not essential.
My child is overwhelmed by how busy the pages are. How can I make them feel more manageable?
The simplest way to simplify the pages is to cover parts of them with blank paper or sticky notes so your child can focus on just one problem at a time. Or, write one problem at a time on a whiteboard.
Happy Math!
Updated May 2020. Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links. If you buy an item through an affiliate link, I may receive a commission, at no additional cost to you.
Please note that comments are closed on this post. If you have a question, you can contact me here.
I don’t have a laser printer, so it’s generally more economical for me to do printing at a print shop. When I estimated the cost of the MM 1A work text, it was $25 bound at the most inexpensive place. By my figuring, that makes the printed materials from Rainbow Resource a better deal. Am I missing something? I sometimes feel there’s a secret way to print and bind cheaply that I’m not aware of 😉
Yes, the best deal definitely depends on what printing options you have available. I think the people who save money by printing themselves usually have laser printers, remanufactured ink, and enough kids to make it worth it. (I also wonder if people sometimes THINK they’re saving money, but haven’t actually worked out the total ink costs.) If you don’t have a laser printer, buying the preprinted texts may be the most thrifty (and convenient) option.
Hi Kate,
We have been using Math Mammoth and Beast Academy per your recommendations. We are finishing up grade 6. What would you suggest after grade 6? I saw that grade 7 MM is out but wondering if it would be wise to transition to another curriculum for pre-algebra/algebra.
We have been so grateful for your recommendations in the past. Thank you for sharing your wisdom!
Hi Michele,
So glad that the combination has been working well for you! If your children love Beast Academy and enjoy a challenge in math, this would be a good time to move to Art of Problem Solving’s Pre-algebra course. Be forewarned: it’s a very challenging course, and it requires a lot of deep thinking. But if your kids are mathy, they may love it.
If Art of Problem Solving doesn’t seem like it would be a good fit for your kids, then I would finish MM7 and go with one of Maria Miller’s algebra choices. She has done a lot more research than I have on this, and her recommendations look spot on based on the small amount of research that I’ve done.
(I would also add that I would not recommend 3 very popular options: Saxon, Teaching Textbooks, or Math U See. Saxon’s procedural, spiral approach probably wouldn’t click well with a child who’s done MM and BA. And TT and MUS would probably not be challenging enough. )
Happy Pre-algebra!
Kate
Do you have any advice for a student struggling with Bob Jones university 22nd grade math? We have looked at saxon until out friends were over last week. Their small Christian school uses mm and they love it… It seems you love it but I’m concerned with the transition and that it won’t be more of the same issues. Silliness of adding 2 digit numbers starting with the 10s etc… Thank you !!
Hi Lindsey,
It really depends on what exactly isn’t working about BJU for your child. If it’s remembering the steps in 2-digit addition, more conceptual teaching (like in MM) could definitely help.
Happy Math!
Kate
I’d like to subscribe to the free minimalist math manipulative guide.
Thank you!!
Hi Kelly,
Sorry that link was broken! I’ve fixed it now, and you can click here to find the Minimalist Math Manipulative Guide.
Thanks, and happy math!
Kate
I bought the Math Mammoth downloadable version for grades 1-8. Since it was on sale with the homeschool co-op I wanted to go ahead and get it. My son doesn’t start first grade until next year, so would your “Preschool Math at Home” be an appropriate book for him since he’s in Kindergarten age or would you recommend a different book for kids a bit older?
Hi Lauren,
Preschool Math at Home covers counting to 10, recognizing quantities with up to 10 objects, written numerals to 10, comparing to 10, and beginning addition and subtraction. If your son isn’t proficient with any of these skills, it would be a great place to start. After that, I’d suggest doing Singapore Essential Kindergarten Math B for an inexpensive and thorough way to cover the rest of the skills that he’ll need to be successful with Math Mammoth first grade.
Happy Math!
Kate
Can you compare Rod & Staff to Math Mammoth? Rod & Staff teaches math the way that I learned it, and it appears that Math Mammoth is more conceptual and more common core aligned. Do you think a child learning the “old school way” would have a hard time making the transition? Thanks!
PS I love your reviews and recommendations!