It’s Picnic Time. Don’t Forget to Pack the Math!

Many classrooms are planning year-end picnics, so it’s the perfect time to read We’re Going on a Picnic! by the beloved author Pat Hutchins. Like several of her other books, such as Rosie’s Walk, this tale is set in the farmyard and illustrated with big, bold pictures and simple text. Hen, Goose, and Duck prepare…

Explore Estimation While Enjoying a Whopper of a Tale!

Ever exaggerate a good story? The little boy Hugh Thomas sure does in the book A Million Fish… More or Less by Patricia C. McKissack, illustrations by Dena Schutzer. In the book Hugh Thomas goes fishing in a swampy bayou. After listening to the tall tales of his elders, he catches on to the art…

Make Room for Halloween Math

Have some Halloween fun with the witch’s tale Room on the Broom. In this lively story by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, a witch makes room for her animal friends to ride on her broomstick… until there’s one too many animals, and the broom snaps in two. Then, when a hungry dragon threatens, the animals use…

Why Do the Math Wars Rage On?

Are the "Math Wars" back like a bad movie sequel? Why does the debate continue, sometimes vehemently, even when most people agree that quality math education must focus on both skills and conceptual understanding? Perhaps it is the adoption of new standards, the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSS-M). They have reinvigorated the debate.…

Finding Math in The First Day of Winter

This charming tale by Denise Fleming is the perfect book for any wintry day—and a fun way to introduce a lot of important mathematical ideas. As a little boy adds more and more trimmings to a snowman on each page, children can chant along and experience the growing pattern:  “4 prickly pinecones, 3 striped scarves,…