Coffee and Curriculum: Kindergarten Math with Confidence

Math is a dreaded subject in many households, and while there are hundreds of options for reading programs, math can sometimes feel a little more barren. As a kid, I hated math after about fifth grade, so I can understand the dread.

One of the things we forget when we’re nervous about teaching math to our own kids (I’m talking to myself here) is that most math up to 6th grade is stuff we use every day. That’s why I really like a curriculum that is full of real-world examples. It’s even better if it gives a solid foundation and is easy to teach. That’s a great summary of Math with Confidence. Kate Snow has, so far, stuck to what she knows—which is math—and I really appreciate that in this world of “all-in-ones” and easy online solutions.

There aren’t a lot of thrills or fluff included in this curriculum. No fancy supply box, and while it is in color, it uses a red tone over most everything that I personally found a bit unpleasant. However, it still adds more visual interest than a full black-and-white curriculum. It’s not just a wall of text—the student guide and even the teacher guide include illustrations and examples.

On the Well-Trained Mind Press website, you can download samples, see pictures from inside the curriculum, and view a table of contents for each level to get an idea of what it looks like in use. The only word of caution I’ll give is that it currently only goes up to 6th grade.

Today's review is brought to you by coffee, bird song, and my new Mother's Day chair!

Now on to the review!

Ease of use:

This is another curriculum that is exceptionally easy to use. It is fully scripted, which means it tells you exactly what to say. As long as you follow the instructor’s guide and complete the lessons, your child will have a well-rounded working knowledge of numbers and what they mean by the end of the year. It includes very beginning concepts like money, adding and subtracting, shapes, and patterns, and it uses a spiral approach with built-in opportunities for review.

Having said that, the only time I see people really complain about this curriculum is when they don’t realize that you need the teacher’s guide. The teacher’s guide and student workbook are both necessary and work together. The student workbook by itself makes very little sense. It’s not a do-it-yourself program—it requires a teacher. This is true for all Math with Confidence levels.

Another complaint I see, especially with older levels, is that it is “too much”—and that one always makes me laugh. If any curriculum is too much, don’t try to do it all.

It gets a 10/10 from me here.

Do I have to print it?

No, it comes already printed. You do need both the student book and the teacher book. 10/10

Cost:

The cost is fair. It is far cheaper and more streamlined than some other programs. 10/10

Who published it?

It’s published by Well-Trained Mind Press.

Here’s what their website says about them:

We are a small, family-run company, working together to produce the best materials for classical education the world has ever seen.

Most educational presses are run by large, international companies that make large profits by pushing poorly designed, overpriced books to institutional buyers. Not them. They’re a small company and intend to stay that way. When you call their office, you don’t get a phone tree—you get to talk to a real person. Their books aren’t written by committee; they’re produced by a small group of skilled writers with training, experience, and often multiple graduate degrees.

From my perspective as someone who has been in the homeschool world my entire life, this is a solid company run by people who care about the quality of their materials. I haven’t seen any problematic stances, and they support smaller curriculum authors like Kate Snow. 10/10

Secular or faith-based?

This is something people debate a lot, but the Math with Confidence series has no mention of religion, so I consider it secular—or at least faith-neutral. It’s math. Just math. 10/10

Who is it for?

This curriculum is advertised for kindergarten-age kids, and I think you could even start it in pre-K. It is very gentle. If you have a child who hasn’t done formal math or struggles with number sense, I’d start at the K level. 10/10

What is the scheduling like?

10 units spread over 32 weeks, which is pretty standard for a kindergarten pace. You could easily go faster or slower, but it’s designed as a full-year program. It works well at 3–4 days a week. 10/10

Did we use it/actually like it?

Yes! We have used it, and for my older child, I really liked it. He is a stronger math student, and this was all he needed. For my middle child, we ended up switching to something else because it just wasn’t the right fit. Still, I can recommend this without hesitation because it works well for most learners and is easy to teach. It provides a strong foundation without the “drill and kill” approach found in some math curricula. 8/10

Does it need a lot of manipulatives or a formal kit?

No. At the start of each lesson, suggestions are given, but you don’t need a formal kit. The curriculum itself can be your only cost. I do recommend having a small bag or basket of counting items—like mini erasers or LEGO pieces. There’s also a materials list in the back of the book, and it’s almost entirely made up of common household items. 10/10

Math with Confidence K gets an A+ from us. The entire program is really strong, and I’ll likely review the other levels as well. Kate Snow also offers additional guides for helping kids learn math facts, along with a Preschool Math at Home book, which isn’t a formal curriculum but provides a gentle introduction to early math concepts.

Do you have a favorite math curriculum? What do you love about it, and why? Math can be tricky for some adults, which makes it even harder to find the right balance when teaching. What worked for you?