First Grade Math with Confidence Review
What is MWC?
Math with Confidence (MWC) is a homeschool math program for grades K-6. The books are written for a parent to work one-on-one with a child rather than for a full classroom. At the time of writing this I have used levels K-3 with my children and am preparing to repeat K and 2nd and start 4th next year with my three kids.
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I have written a number of articles about MWC with plans to write one for each grade as we go. Below you’ll find a list of the other articles. Keep scrolling to read my breakdown of the first grade level.
Related Math with Confidence Articles
(Links will be added as the articles are completed.)
Kindergarten Math with Confidence Review
Second Grade Math with Confidence Review
Third Grade Math with Confidence Review
Samples
The First Grade MWC lessons take about twenty minutes per day, 4-5 days a week. This level consists of an Instructor Guide and one student workbook. If you do not own a copy of it (which I’d assume if you’re reading this!) then go download the PDF Samples to refer to as you read this breakdown. Here’s where to find them…
Go to: www.welltrainedmind.com/mwc
Scroll down to the First Grade section.
Just under the video you’ll find samples in orange boxes.
Download the First Grade Instructor Sample, Including Blackline Masters AND the First Grade Student Sample.
Below you will find a very detailed breakdown of the first grade math with confidence curriculum. I explain the structure of each book, the units, chapters, and lessons, as well as give suggestions and tips from my experience using it.
If you want to watch a 5-minute video of the author talking about this curriculum, check out the video that is linked in the box above.
Student Book
Structure
First grade steps it up a notch with 2 workbook pages per lesson - meaning one sheet front and back. Like in Kindergarten, these are completed with parent help as needed (but many seem to be perfect for independent practice).
The front side is typically a practice of the current lesson concepts and sometimes a game. The second page, which is always on the back of the sheet is generally a review of previously learned concepts.
The pages are perforated to tear out if you (or your child) prefer this. Otherwise, you can easily do the worksheets and keep them together in the book. My first grader preferred to keep it as a book this year and we didn’t have any trouble with pages coming out unintentionally.
Each chapter, which she calls a “week,” is color-coded with a line of color on the bottom of the page. This helps you to see the pages that go together in any given week. There are four front-and-back sheets per week. The week and lesson number is included on the bottom of the page along with a page number.
Independence
The students can either read the instructions on their own or the parent can go over the instructions with them. They are typically straightforward enough that I can quickly tell my child what to do in each section and then let them do the worksheet independently.
Some lessons just make more sense to different kids. So, don’t be surprised if you have to give more help on some lessons but not on others. That’s ok!! They are learning, and the goal is for them to understand rather than do worksheets independently for a grade.
Requirements
The student book only contains instructions for the practice problems. But it is not intended to be used without the instructor’s guide.
I have occasionally used it without the instructor’s guide to go over a concept that my child already understood or found super easy. BUT it is not meant to be used this way and would be really frustrating to both parent and child if you tried to do this for the whole year since the instruction is not included in the book - nor are the games or manipulative activities.
If you really want to just have one book for practicing math and don’t care about the games, etc., find another book! Don’t spend money on this curriculum unless you plan to use the games and manipulatives (most of the time)! As a certified teacher, I would highly recommend using manipulatives to teach math to kids esp. in the early years when they are such “concrete” thinkers.
Again, the meat of the curriculum is in the instructor’s guide…
Instructor’s Guide
Introduction and General Info
The Instructor’s Guide contains over 550 black-and-white pages in a perfect-bound (glued) spine. I usually take it to a store and have it spiral-bound so I can lay it flat and so it won’t take up as much space on our school table.
The guide is well-organized with an Introduction, followed by a section on “How to Use This Book.” The author’s notes are extremely helpful in understanding the way it’s set up and how to teach the curriculum. If you used her Kindergarten curriculum, you are already familiar with the method and structure but may want to skim through this section of the instructor guide anyway. If you haven’t used her material before, I’d definitely recommend reading this thoroughly. This is available in the PDF sample that you downloaded (see box above with instructions to access).
The First Grade curriculum is divided into 11 Units, with approximately 3 weeks (chapters) per unit. There are a total of 32 weeks, each of which is broken into 5 days. But only four days are “required” for each week.
Each fifth lesson is an optional “enrichment” lesson that includes possible reading books and extensions of what has been learned that week. If you do a four-day week or have a co-op or other activity that prevents you from doing math one day, this is easy to skip. (I usually skip it.) But, if you prefer to have a math lesson for all five days each week, you can easily add this in.
Unit Structure
Each of the 11 units begins with a brief overview that tells you what will be covered and often gives brief explanations of the “why” behind her methodology (in gray boxes).
This unit overview also includes a list of the “Weeks” (chapters) included and their titles.
Next, there is a section called “What Your Child Will Learn” that has a bulleted list of objectives.
And finally she lists the recommended picture books that are suggested for the optional enrichment lesson at the end of each week in that unit.
Chapter Structure
The beginning of each chapter, which she calls “weeks,” has an Introduction page. (I use the terms interchangeably in this article.) In the chapter intro she explains the concepts taught in that particular week with a brief overview followed by a list of the lessons in the chapter.
Next she provides some very helpful math teaching tips called “Teaching Math with Confidence” that pertain specifically to the specific topic. I would highly recommend reading or at least skimming this section each week.
Finally, Snow lists any Extra Materials needed for that week. These extra materials are also listed in the appendix “Materials List” under Other Supplies (see Appendices below for more info). Optional materials and books for the Enrichment lessons are noted as well and differentiated from the ones needed to accomplish the core lessons 1-4.
Do you have to teach a chapter per week?
No! Although the chapters are called weeks, and are divided evenly into 4-5 lessons per week, you most certainly do not have to teach them in a calendar week.
It is helpful to have this structure for general planning purposes but is completely unnecessary when teaching the curriculum. Just do the next lesson and move on. If you have a three-day week then just go to lesson 4 the next Monday. Do whatever works for you!!
Lesson Structure
For each lesson you need to have the Instructor’s Guide, Student Workbook, Math Kit, and any other materials for the lesson at hand. I keep my math kit in a box (see this how-to article) and the BLMs in a binder nearby. The rest of the math manipulatives that don’t fit in my box go in the cabinet with all of our other school supplies.
Like Kindergarten, the First Grade book is divided into 4-day weeks with an optional 5th lesson. This 5th lesson includes enrichment activities and books to read.
Do you have to do the lessons in order?
They are definitely intended to be completed in order. HOWEVER - I have found that there are times that you can skip ahead to go over another concept and then come back. For instance, if a kid is really reluctant to do a topic or is particularly frustrated by it I might want to give them a break by moving ahead. However, if you plan to use the second page (the back side of the worksheet) it may include review of concepts you haven’t studied.
Kate Snow does a fantastic job of really mixing up the chapters so that your child isn’t spending five or ten solid weeks just working on addition or subtraction facts. She sprinkles in other math topics in a way that gives your kid a break to just review while learning something totally different. I really appreciate this (esp. as they move into higher grade levels).
Appendices
At the back of the Instructor’s Guide are a number of Resources that you may find helpful to tab or even copy and save elsewhere for easy reference. These include:
Complete Memory Work List - This tells which week each memory work item is taught. There is not one for every week in the First Grade book. This list would be great if you like a classical model and want to review the memory work regularly.
Scope and Sequence - (This is included in the sample PDF you downloaded above.) It is a broad, two-page, overview of what is covered in First Grade MWC. Each unit has several objectives listed. For a more specific breakdown of what is covered, look at the Table of Contents. However, this Scope and Sequence is helpful when comparing math programs or ensuring that you understand what is covered in each grade level.
Complete Picture Book List - She gives one picture book suggestion for each chapter. This list is strictly optional and she suggests you may find alternative books at your library.
Materials List - The materials list has two sections. (This is available to view in the sample PDF you downloaded above.)
What You’ll Need in Your Math Kit tells you a list of items that are used throughout the book and should be easily accessible for every lesson. You can see how I set up my math kit here. The math kit is used with very few changes throughout the program from Kindergarten up. So, I create one math box and use it for all my kids and just confirm before each school year that it has what I need for all upcoming grade levels.
Other Supplies contains a list of items that are needed throughout the book but only once or twice. I like to make sure these are nearby and available, or purchase them ahead of time so I don’t have to find them the week of. However, some of them are marked with an asterisk* that indicates they are used for the optional enrichment lessons. If you choose to do the 4-day approach then you can skip those items.
Game List and Extra Game Boards - This lists all games that are used throughout the book and includes the lesson in which you can find the instructions. Additional black-and-white copies of all the game boards are provided on the pages following this list (pp. 509-525). They are single-sided, so you could pull them out if you wanted, but I would recommend copying them if you need them. Each one is included in the student book. So you could just tear them out of the student book as you need them or make a color copy from the student pages. Better yet, download the Sample Instructor Pages from the publisher’s site here and print them directly from the PDF. This will give you cleaner copies much more quickly than trying to copy page by page.
One frustration I’ve had with some of the games is the spots are smaller than my tiny counters. I ended up making my own set of games so that I could get around this inconvenience and will link them here when they are ready to share.
Blackline Masters - (These can be viewed in the sample PDF you downloaded above.) The remaining pages of the Instructor’s Guide (pp. 527-557) contain single-sided Blackline Masters (BLMs) that are used throughout the curriculum. Following are my suggestions for each BLM and how I’ve used it. Note: I put every single one of mine in a sheet protector, and some (that are cut in pieces) in a special type that has a protective flap to keep pieces from falling out.
BLM 1 - Double Ten-frames - You’ll use these all year long for most lessons. I put mine in a sheet protector and sometimes just draw on it with a dry-erase marker because that’s faster than putting out counters.
BLM 2 - Number Examples - We didn’t use this much so it probably doesn’t need a whole lot of prep. Just print it off (and maybe stick it in a sheet protector).
BLM 3 - 100 Chart - You’ll use this a lot. Put it in a sheet protector.
BLM 4 - Part-Total Mat - Definitely put this in a sheet protector so you can use it throughout the year. This also lets me write on mine with a dry-erase or vis-a-vis marker. You could print it on cardstock too just for durability but it should be ok in the sheet protector.
BLM 5 - Shape Cards - two pages. I’d suggest printing these on cardstock. Then cut them out and place them in an Avery Secure Top Sheet Protector. Alternately, you could put them in your math box.
BLM 6 - Simplified Tangram - This is not used much. And if you already have tangrams, you may just skip this BLM. Otherwise, definitely print it on cardstock before cutting it out. And, store the pieces safely in a special type of sheet protector called “Avery secure top” or even a plastic bag - or even your math kit!
BLM 7 - Place-Value Chart (tens and ones) - This will be used some through the year, so just put it in a sheet protector. I don’t think it needs to be cardstock.
BLM 8 - Paper Rulers, Inch Squares, and Centimeter Squares - (2 pages) Use these only if your pattern blocks (which will go in your math kit) are not one inch wide (mine are not exactly an inch - so these are helpful). If they are you can just them. Or, if you use metrics measurements you can use the centimeter squares on this BLM. Definitely print these on cardstock if you use them.
BLM 9 - 150 Chart - You’ll use this but not as often as the 100 chart. Still, put it in a sleeve protector and stick it in your binder or math box.
BLM 10 - Pattern Blocks - (3 pages) If possible, purchase pattern blocks rather than trying to make your own with this BLM. My kids love playing and building with them. They make great building/learning time-fillers, and you can find lots of patterns online for your kids to build with them.
BLM 11 - Play Coins for Families Outside the U.S. - If possible, use real coins because the kids can get used to the actual coins rather than copies. You will need them in denominations of 1’s, 5’s, 10’s and 25’s. She provides this BLM for anyone whose local currency is not in these units. If you decide to use these, be sure to print them on cardstock. The importance of these is for U.S. kids to learn our money as well as for the reinforcement of the base-10’s system of math.
BLM 12 - Play Paper Bills - You could certainly use real dollars if you wanted to. I keep one $1 bill in my math kit for reference. Otherwise you can use any paper money that has these denominations in it. I just made my own that includes the $1000 bill needed for 3rd/4th grade MWC.
Assessments
There are no formal assessments (aka tests) included in first grade.
Checkpoints
But, at the end of each unit she provides a "checkpoint" to help you determine whether your child is ready to go on to the next unit. I find these incredibly helpful in determining if my kid has sufficiently covered the material in the current unit. See the unit 1 checkpoint that is included in the sample PDF (linked above).
Here is an excerpt from the Unit 6 Checkpoint (p. 282 of the Instructor’s Guide):
What to Expect at the End of Unit 6
By the end of Unit 6, most children will be able to:
- Read and write numbers to 100 mostly fluently. Many children will sometimes still confuse the order of the digits.
- Confidently use greater than or less than to compare numbers to 100.
- [continues with two more objectives, then…]
Is your Child Ready to Move on?
In Unit 7, your child will use the numbers to 20 for real-life measurements as he learns to measure length with inches and feet. Your child does not need to be completely fluent with the numbers to 100 before moving on to Unit 7. He will continue to review the numbers to 100 throughout the unit.
Conclusion
I have used and loved this curriculum with my kids. Although my oldest child didn’t start using Math with Confidence until second grade, I have used this level with my middle child and loved the simple, open-and-go format. The lessons are short enough not to be overwhelming and include lots of hands-on learning that makes math more enjoyable for active kids.
Further Reading
Check out the author, Kate Snow’s, first grade MWC overview article here.
