Last term, my 9-year-old son with ASD and a PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) profile had the opportunity to trial Milestone Maths Level D1. This level is designed to cover the first term of Year 3 in the Australian Curriculum.
Before using Milestone Maths, we were working through an overseas multisensory maths program. While it was a solid program, my son has a natural ability in maths and was beginning to feel bored. He needed more challenge and forward movement.
Milestone Maths turned out to be a much better fit.
The program is:
- Clear and easy to follow
- Well-structured
- Open-and-go
- Short enough to avoid overwhelm
He completed lessons 3–4 times per week, with each lesson taking around 45 minutes, depending on how familiar he was with the topic.
What Worked Well with Milestone Maths
One of the biggest strengths of Milestone Maths is how simple it is to use.
- Lessons are straightforward and clearly laid out
- The book format is portable
- It can be used at the table, in the living room, or even on the go
- It requires very little preparation
As a busy homeschooling family with four children, this flexibility was invaluable.
My son appreciated that Milestone Maths offered genuine challenge. In our previous program, he was mostly reviewing concepts he had already mastered. With Milestone Maths, he was introduced to new ideas and was able to move forward at a pace that matched his ability.
As a result:
- His engagement increased
- His confidence grew
- His passion for maths returned
Another huge advantage was the length of the lessons. They are not long or exhausting. He was able to complete a lesson within an hour, which helped prevent frustration and fatigue. Because of this manageable structure, he retained information well.
He chose not to use the supplied manipulatives or cards, preferring to work independently. While I believe he may have benefited further from using them, this did not impact his ability to progress successfully through milestone maths.
Challenges We Experienced
The main challenge with Milestone Maths was the pace.
Compared to our previous program, it moved faster, which my son enjoyed intellectually, but occasionally found challenging emotionally.
Because he has PDA, he can struggle when he feels a loss of control. The expectation to complete a set number of lessons each week sometimes felt like pressure for him, particularly when we were trying to maintain consistency.
However, this reflects his executive functioning challenges rather than a flaw in Milestone Maths itself. The structure of the program is clear. However, children who require flexibility around pacing may need adjustments made by the parent.
Who Is Milestone Maths Best Suited For?
Milestone Maths Level D1 is well suited to:
- Year 3 students ready for independent learning
- Children who can complete written work on their own
- Families wanting an open-and-go maths curriculum
- Homeschoolers seeking Australian Curriculum alignment
- Students who enjoy being challenged
It may not be ideal for:
- Children who need significant hands-on guidance
- Students not yet ready to work independently
- Learners who require a very slow, scaffolded pace
Final Thoughts on Milestone Maths
Overall, I was very happy with Milestone Maths Level D1.
One of my biggest concerns with our previous curriculum was alignment with the Australian Curriculum. Knowing that Milestone Maths is designed specifically with Australian outcomes in mind gave me peace of mind.
What stood out most was:
- The clear structure
- The flexibility
- The level of challenge
- The ease of use
- The portability
Milestone Maths has been a strong fit for our homeschooling needs, and I would confidently continue using it with my children.
I would highly recommend Milestone Maths to other homeschooling parents looking for an easy-to-follow, comprehensive, Australian-aligned maths program that still provides genuine challenge.
Homeschool Parent Crissy complete this review of Milestone Maths Level D1 with a 9 year old. The review period was conducted between October & December 2025
⭐️ To learn more about Milestone Maths visit their detailed listing in the Homeschool Directory.
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⭐️ Milestone Maths Homeschool Curriculum: Parent Review Level B1
