Alpha focuses on building a strong foundation for the concepts of single-digit addition and subtraction. We use systematic teaching strategies to help your student commit addition and subtraction facts to memory.
Alpha
Addition and Subtraction for Single-Digit Numbers and Other Topics
What do I need?
To successfully complete the Alpha level, you will need:
- Instruction Manual — includes detailed instructions and solutions
- Instructional lesson videos — on DVDs and streaming within the Alpha Digital Pack
- Student Workbook — includes Lesson Practice, Systematic Review, and Application and Enrichment worksheets
- Test booklet
- Integer Block Kit
Browse our sets to find the best fit for your needs.
What concepts are taught in Alpha?
Major Concepts and Skills Include:
- Understanding place value
- Extending the counting sequence
- Fluently adding all single-digit numbers
- Solving for an unknown addend
- Understanding the relationship between addition and subtraction
- Fluently subtracting all single-digit numbers
Additional Concepts and Skills:
- Telling and writing time by hours and minutes
- Recognizing & drawing rectangles, squares, and circles
- Measuring length by repeating units
- Introducing halves and fourths
- Counting by 2s, 5s, 10s, and 100s
- Reading, writing & interpreting word problem
Lessons contained in Alpha
- Lesson 01: Place Value and the Manipulatives
- Lesson 02: Counting to 20
- Lesson 03: Unit Bars
- Lesson 04: Addition: Symbols, +0
- Lesson 05: Addition: +1, Commutative Property
- Lesson 06: Counting to 100, Skip Counting by 10
- Lesson 07: Addition: +2
- Lesson 08: Solve for an Unknown
- Lesson 09: Addition: +9, Mental Math
- Lesson 10: Addition: +8
- Lesson 11: Shapes: Circles and Triangles; Skip Counting by 2
- Lesson 12: Addition: Doubles
- Lesson 13: Rectangles, Squares; Skip Counting by 5
- Lesson 14: Addition: Doubles +1; Associative Property
- Lesson 15: Addition: Making 10
- Lesson 16: Addition: Making 9
- Lesson 17: Addition of the Extras: 3 + 5, 4 + 7, 5 + 7
- Lesson 18: Introduction to Subtraction
- Lesson 19: Subtraction: –1 and –0
- Lesson 20: Subtraction: –2
- Lesson 21: Subtraction: –9
- Lesson 22: Subtraction: –8
- Lesson 23: Subtraction: Doubles
- Lesson 24: Subtraction: Making 10
- Lesson 25: Subtraction: Making 9
- Lesson 26: Subtraction: Extras
- Lesson 27: Subtraction by 7, or Adding Up by 3
- Lesson 28: Subtraction by 6, or Adding Up by 4
- Lesson 29: Subtraction by 5, or Adding Up by 5
- Lesson 30: Subtraction by 3 and 4
- Appendix A: Telling Time: Minutes
- Appendix B: Telling Time: Hours
Lesson 09: Addition: +9, Mental Math
Use Math-U-See’s four step approach and try out an example lesson from the Alpha level.
Step 1: Watch the video and review the material in the sample PDF below.
Step 2: Present the concept to your child using the build, write and say method.
Step 3: Have your student practice the concept using the sample PDF below.
Step 4: Evaluate their level of mastery and if ready move on to the next lesson.
Each lessons A, B, and C pages are used to teach the current lessons concept. The lettered lesson pages that come after those are for systematic review. These review pages may not be necessary for your child to fully complete, they should be used to practice the concepts they have not yet mastered or to review the concepts they have.
Still Unsure? Have your child take one of our Placement Assessments to see if this is the right level for them!
Alpha Sets
- Canadian Edition
Includes everything you need for a successful experience with Alpha:
- Instruction Manual with complete solutions
- Instruction DVD
- Student Workbook
- Tests booklet
- Integer Block Kit
- Lifetime access to our Alpha Digital Pack
- Skip Count Songs MP3s
- Songbook PDF
$257.50
- Canadian Edition
For customers who already have the required Integer Block Kit, this Set includes Alpha:
- Instruction Manual with complete solutions
- Instruction DVD
- Student Workbook
- Tests booklet
- Lifetime access to our Alpha Digital Pack
- Skip Count Songs MP3s
- Songbook PDF
$141.95
Alpha Individual Items
All of our Math-U-See books are the Canadian Edition and we are the only authorized retailer in Canada able to offer it.
- Canadian Edition
The Alpha Student Pack contains the Student Workbook with lesson-by-lesson worksheets, systematic review pages, and Application and Enrichment pages as well as Alpha Tests.
$68.50
- Canadian Edition
The Alpha Instruction Pack contains the Instruction Manual with lesson-by-lesson instructions and full solutions, and the DVD with lesson-by-lesson video instruction.
$88.50
Lifetime access to Alpha streaming instruction videos and online Instruction Manual, lesson and test solutions, Skip Count Songs MP3s and Songbook PDFs, and other online resources from any browser. You’ll also have access to the Math-U-See Digital Manipulatives. Digital Access information will be sent in a separate email once the order has been processed. Note: Digital Packs do not include Student Workbook or Tests.
$63.95
This CD and songbook will help your student learn their skip counting and addition facts. They include a booklet with the words and music. There are two versions of the songs on the CD, one with Christian lyrics, and the other with the lyrics taken from science and literature.
$16.95
This 133-piece manipulative block set is the only one you’ll need for all levels of Math-U-See, from Primerthrough Algebra 1; includes 20 ones and tens, 13 fives, and 10 each of twos, threes, fours, sixes, sevens, eights, nines, and hundreds blocks, plus the Decimal Street™/Block Clock poster. The durable cardboard storage box doubles as a carrying case while keeping blocks tidy and simplifying clean up.
Note: While it’s fun to build with our Manipulatives, please remember that they contain small parts and are not toys. We recommend them for children ages 4 and above.
$129.50
Note about the Canadian Edition: MathCanada is the only authorized distributor for the Canadian Edition of Math-U-See. Every Math-U-See book we sell will be the Canadian Edition. If you are purchasing your books from another vendor, unless they are used, will be the US version which does not contain Canadian content such as the metric system or Canadian money.