Math-U-See Alpha
Math-U-See keeps it simple and smart—clear pages, short lessons, and a mastery approach that helps math make sense from the very start! Already have a Demme Learning subscription? Customize math to remove the extra subscription card.
Quantity:
Consumable
In a Curriculum Kit
Mastery Learning
Nonreligious
2026 First-Grade Curriculum Kit
Addition and subtraction are at the heart of elementary math, and Math-U-See Alpha helps students develop a strong understanding of both through a mastery-based, hands-on approach.
In Alpha, your child will learn single-digit addition and subtraction, explore place value, solve missing-number problems, and discover the relationship between addition and subtraction. Rather than relying on memorization alone, students use visual models and manipulatives to see how numbers work together and build lasting understanding.
Along the way, your child will also practice telling time, identifying and drawing common geometric shapes, measuring with informal units, exploring fractions such as halves and fourths, skip counting by 2s, 5s, 10s, and 100s, and solving simple word problems.
Like all Math-U-See levels, Alpha follows a mastery-based sequence that introduces one concept at a time, allowing students to build confidence before moving on. Clear video instructions, hands-on learning, and incremental practice help children develop a solid mathematical foundation that supports future success.
Instructional videos and teacher resources are accessed through Math-U-See's Essential Plan. Each subscription includes 2 course credits, supports up to 5 student seats, and provides access to activated levels for one year.
Designed for students who are ready to master addition and subtraction, Math-U-See Alpha provides the skills, understanding, and confidence needed for the next stage of mathematical learning.
(Need help picking a level? We’ve got placement tests ready for you.)
Look inside this book and read through a lesson to see how it might work for your family.
How to Use Math-U-See
- Begin each lesson by watching the instructional video. You can watch it ahead of time and teach the concept yourself, or view it together with your student. The videos introduce each new concept step by step and demonstrate the Math-U-See approach in action.
- Before teaching, review the online teacher resources included through the Essential Plan. These materials provide teaching notes, practice suggestions, and answers, but most parents find that a quick review is all that's needed before getting started.
- After the lesson, choose the worksheets that best fit your student's level of understanding. Each lesson includes seven worksheets labeled A–G. Start with Worksheet A to introduce the concept, then add additional worksheets as needed for practice and review.
- Many families find that completing Worksheets A, D, and G provides a good balance of instruction, review, and challenge. However, one of Math-U-See's strengths is its flexibility. Students who need more practice can complete additional worksheets, while students who quickly master a concept can move ahead.
- Plan on completing approximately one lesson each week. With 30 lessons in the course, this pace allows ample time for instruction, practice, review, and mastery throughout the school year. If a concept needs more time, don't hesitate to slow down. Math-U-See is designed around mastery, not speed.
- Use the included manipulatives and visual demonstrations whenever appropriate. These tools help students develop a strong conceptual understanding before moving to more abstract mathematical thinking.
- By working at your student's pace and focusing on understanding rather than memorization, you'll build a solid foundation for success in mathematics.
The Essential Learning Set includes 1-Year Essential Plan Subscription Access, a Student Pack, and Integer Blocks.
Purchase this set if you have never taught Math-U-See before.
Universal Set
The Universal Set includes 1-Year Essential Plan Subscription Access, a Student Pack, Integer Blocks, and a printed Instructor Manual.
Purchase this set if you have never taught Math-U-See before, and feel like you would benefit from having a printed Instructor Manual.
Level Up Set (Digital Instructor Version)
The Level Up Set (Digital Instructor Version) includes 1-Year Essential Plan Subscription Access and a Student Pack.
Please note: Integer Blocks required. Purchase this set if you already own Integer Blocks.
Level Up Set (Printed Instructor Version)
The Level Up Set (Printed Instructor Version) includes 1-Year Essential Plan Subscription Access, a printed Instructor Manual, and a Student Pack.
Please note: Integer Blocks required. Purchase this set if you already own Integer Blocks.
Student Pack
The Student Pack includes the Student Workbook and Tests. The Student Pack is suitable for families with a second student.
Please note: Integer Blocks and Instructor Materials required. Purchase this set if you already own Integer Blocks and Online or Printed Instructor Materials.
Printed Instructor Manual Only
Printed Instructor Manual Only is a printed copy of the Instructor Manual for those who prefer to have it in print rather than online, or both.
This would typically be for those who purchased the Essential Set and realized they would like to have a printed book as well. If you want a bundle that includes a printed manual, order the Universal Set or the Level Up Set (Printed Instructor Version).
DVD Only
DVD Only is the level DVD with the Lesson Videos.
This is no longer included in any of the Math-U-See bundles. It can only be purchased separately.
1-Year Essential Plan Subscription Access Only
To purchase 12-month online access to instruction videos and online instruction manual as well as other resources, click here.
A note from Demme Learning: If you already have an active Demme Learning subscription, have already purchased a Math-U-See set that includes a subscription card, or have purchased a subscription card individually, please review the following before purchasing.
- The Demme Learning online subscription platform only allows one active subscription per account at a time.
- Subscriptions cannot be stacked, combined, or applied simultaneously to extend duration or unlock additional courses/students.
- If you currently have an active subscription or are purchasing multiple sets/cards, you will not be able to redeem a second code until your current subscription expires.
Publisher: Demme Learning
Series: Math-U-See
Age Recommendation: 6
Grade Recommendation: 1st
Faith-Based: No
Consumable: No: Instruction Pack, Integer Block Kit; Yes: Student Pack, Subscription
Copyright: 2012
Lessons: 30
CHOKING HAZARD - Small parts. Not for children under 3 years. Alpha Overview:
Alpha Lesson 9 Sample:
Addition:
Subtraction:
Table of Contents:
review by One Luckey Wife
”Math-U-See Alpha deals with a lot of concepts but it is broken down in such a nice way that it isn’t overwhelming for the student.”
Read the Review
review by Making Everyday Magic
”The approach that Math-U-See provides has truly made learning math easy for my girls. I love the simple pages and the blocks used.”
Read the ReviewFind answers to the most frequently asked questions about this product below:
Math-U-See has transitioned from lifetime access to a one-year subscription for its digital resources, including instructional videos and the online teacher manual.
This new subscription provides digital access for two levels and up to five students. Depending on your family’s needs, this may offer more flexibility than the previous level-by-level lifetime access model.
One of the strengths of this plan is its flexibility. Your students are not locked into a single level. If a student finishes a level early or needs to go back and review an earlier one, you can swap a course credit to a different level right from your dashboard, up to once every 30 days. Because the plan includes two credits, a family with two students in different levels can often cover both with one subscription. When a student is ready to move up, you simply purchase the physical materials for the next level and swap the credit. As long as your subscription is active, there is no new subscription to buy to keep going.
For more information, view our 1-Year Essential Plan Subscription Access page.
Math-U-See is a skills-based program that focuses on student mastery of a concept before progressing to the next concept. Because of this, it is not aligned with the common core and, therefore, may not meet the requirements of state standardized tests.
In other words, Math-U-See covers topics in a logical sequence, which may not exactly correlate with the more scattered assortment of skills that are typical for each grade. Parents who wish to compare the Common Core State Standards for kindergarten through sixth grade with the content taught in Math-U-See can do so here.
Most families find it more convenient for both children to have their own set of Integer Blocks. However, you can stick with one set to ease the budget if your students don't mind taking turns as needed.
Your subscription includes a PDF of the Instruction Manual, so every page from the physical book is there in digital form. Pick a lesson and you'll find the menu just below the lesson video: Lesson Instruction (the PDF of the lesson pages), Solutions (the PDF solutions to the Student Workbook), and other Resources. The virtual manipulatives are in the Digital Toolbox.
If you chose the Printed Instructor's Manual instead, those same pages are in your book.
Customer photos
- September 17, 2026
jessica b.
I've used this for both my girls. We love how short the lessons are and how well the concepts are taught! I will continue to use this.
- April 21, 2026
Amanda
Wonderful program. Easy to use with clear instructions and gives great tips for teaching. The manipulatives are a great tool. Highly recommend this program.
- April 23, 2025
Still A Fav
Karolyn B.
Our second year doing Math-U-See and we are still a big fan. The blocks make math concepts easy to understand. The workbook builds in a beautiful cyclical and at a manageable slow speed.
- October 5, 2024
Using this again for sibling
KitMama
We started this curriculum with my older son and it works really well. He enjoys watching the videos for each lesson and they’re really helpful for learning each concept. We decided to stick with this for my daughter now that she’s ready for this math level.
- July 18, 2024
Must have math
Sara W.
Our second child to be doing Alpha. We love Math U See and I will keep using it. So thankful for the videos!
- November 12, 2023
Finally something that works
Cassandra J.
My daughter has been struggling with math concepts for a while but this curriculum finally allowed her to pick up on the concepts and she is doing much better now.
- September 25, 2023
Easy to
Sarah M.
A straightforward approach that makes it easy for my daughter to learn and easy for me to teach. Plus my younger kids can play with the manipulatives while I teach- they are already eager to start math lessons!
- September 20, 2023
Excellent Resource
Christopher G.
This is the perfect compliment to the math u see curriculum! My child loves to use these manipulatives to do math. The decimal street map is amazing! My child can place the blocks in the appropriate place value home and they fit perfectly. It really solidifies the point that only 9 blocks of a kind could fit in its respective home before you have to move out to the next place value. The blocks are colorful and helps to visualize the math concepts (I.e. addition, subtraction, etc) outlined in the curriculum. It makes learning place values/math fun and easy, particularly for the visual learner!
- August 31, 2023
Love this one!
Jenny B.
We have tried many different math curriculums and so far this one is our favorite. I have a daughter who is autistic and struggled with math. She loves this program. highly recommend. Wish I had started in Kindergarden but had went with a cheaper option that was large print and colorful. This one is way better and explains it is a way a child can get with great manipulative. Thank you Timberdoodle.
- August 2, 2023
My son says 5 stars!
Cassandra T.
This has been very helpful to my child. We started on primer, did alpha, and now are on Beta, and he has loved them all. He enjoys watching the dvd because it helps him better understand the steps, and he loves the blocks because he can not only do his lessons, but he can use his imagination and build different things as he is doing his lessons. At the end of some lessons there are connect the dots using the math they learned, or color by numbers using math learned which makes it fun as well. The lessons aren’t very long which is also a help too.
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