The Best Math Programs for Kids

Written By Manisha Snoyer (co-founder of Modulo)

During the pandemic, thousands of families called us to inquire about the best math curricula to help their children learning from home. We reviewed thousands of comments in a dozen of the most popular facebook and reddit homeschooling groups to see which math curricula had worked best with their kids. We then had certified teachers review these materials to ensure they were mastery-based, secular and vetted for accuracy. Last but not least, we had over 600 kids try these tools and observed them to see which were the most helpful and engaging. We wanted to find learning materials that kids would consistently love.  By using these math programs while getting help from a parent our peer tutor, are kids jumped 2-3 grade levels within a matter of six months.  A couple students, who spent an hour a day with a college student or parent (not a trained teacher), went through the entire K-8th grade math curriculum in six months, starting at basic addition and finally being able to do pre-algebra and even try calculus problems. 

Here are our favorite math programs and apps for families to use with kids.


Singapore Math

For an engaging, but rigorous mastery-based math curriculum that accommodates a wide range learning styles we recommend the US edition of Singapore Math, accompanied by the teacher’s guide.  It is highly work-booked base, but can be a big dry for some students.

Math Mammoth

Math Mammoth is an appropriately challenging mastery-based curriculum that teaches the "whys" of math, enabling the student to develop critical thinking skills to ensure a strong mathematics foundation, preparing the student for success in higher level mathematics.

Right Start

RightStart Mathematics is a complete elementary and middle-school program which provides children a solid understanding, mastery, and love for math. It’s often considered to be the most engaging for gifted students and those with special needs.

Saxon Math

Saxon math provides an innovative way of engaging students in mathematics concepts through active learning of on-hands projects and worksheets.

Beast Academy

Beast Academy is a rigorous program that uses graphic-novel style content to teach students mathematical concepts.  The program fosters deep understanding using critical thinking and problem solving strategies.

Manisha Snoyer (co-founder of Modulo)

For the last 20 years, I’ve taught over 2000 children in 3 countries (of all socio-economic backgrounds). I pioneered an English language program in a conflict region in the Middle East. I’ve worked as a bilingual public school teacher at some of the highest and lowest performing public schools and in all five boroughs of NYC. I’ve tutored 18 subjects in three languages to some of the wealthiest families in NYC, San Francisco and Paris to make up for shortcomings in private schools they were paying up to $60,000 a year to attend.

Since 2015, I’ve helped hundreds of parents start microschools (way before this was a household buzzword). I founded CottageClass, the first marketplace for microschools and learning pods that was part of the Techstars 2018 class. In 2019, I created a virtual learning program to help families through the pandemic, a free online math tutoring program (masteryhour.org), and schoolclosures.org, a hotline developed in collaboration with Twilio and 80 other partners including Khan Academy, Revolution Foods and the Crisis Text Line, that served 100,000 families impacted by school closures.

I’ve climbed trees with children in forest schools in San Francisco, and tested new digital apps with kids in seven countries.

I’ve also coached dozens of families at different stages in their homeschooling journey. Most recently, I founded Modulo with homeschooling dad, best-selling author and tech entrepreneur Eric Ries, to help families curate their children’s education, social and childcare experiences drawing from a diverse array of in-person and online resources.


During the last three years, I’ve devoted much of my time to reviewing and testing secular homeschooling curriculum and other resource. I’ve spent the last three years talking to thousands of secular homeschooling families, and poring over tens of thousands of secular curriculum reviews and testing physical curriculum and digital apps for with hundreds of students to find the highest quality, most engaging, personalized learning materials for every type of learner.

I’ve spoken about homeschooling and modular learning at multiple venues including SXSW EDU, NY Tech Meetup, and on the LiberatedEd podcast.

In 2022, Modulo was one of 8 organizations who were awarded the Bridge Grant from the Vela Education Fund to expand access to homeschooling and modular learning to under-resourced communities.

My experience in education and homeschooling has led me to believe that there is no perfect education for every child, but families have an extraordinary amount of wisdom they can apply to building the perfect education for their individual child.

My goal with Modulo is to make it possible for any family to easily build a customized education that their child will love, and that will empower the whole family to thrive, taking into account, social, emotional and academic needs.

I love to answer questions from parents and receive feedback on how we can improve Modulo, so feel free to reach out anytime! I personally answer all the questions and comments readers leave on my blogs.

In my free time, I like hiking, traveling the world, tasting ceremonial grade matcha, enjoying dark chocolate.

I graduated Summa Cum Laude from Brandeis University with highest honors, with a double degree in French Literature and American Studies and minors in Environmental Studies and Peace & Conflict Studies.

And I love to learn!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/manisha-snoyer-5042298/
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