Can You Help Me?

I’m finishing up my plans for the project and pledge levels for my Word Problems from Literature (2nd Edition) Kickstarter in two weeks. Where did the time go?!

But I need help. Could you please take a few minutes to look over the project page and give me some feedback?

It’s so hard to edit myself because I miss too many mistakes. So having new eyes on the page would be a great help in catching typos and making sure the descriptions make sense and are as clear as possible.

Here’s a screenshot of what you’ll see:

There’s a place to enter comments on the right. Or you can email me directly with anything you want to share.

There’s also a Notification link at the top left corner of the page, for anyone who hasn’t yet signed up for Kickstarter to tell you when the project launches.

Thank you so much for the feedback!

Yes, I’d Love To Help. Let’s Go!

Math Game Monday: 2-D Nim

This simple logic game is accessible even to very young children, challenging players to think ahead and play strategically.

“2-D Nim” is an excerpt from 312 Things To Do with a Math Journal, available as an ebook at my bookstore (Thank you for cutting out the middleman!) and in ebook or paperback through many online retailers. Read more about my playful math books here.

The Math Game Monday posts will be available for one week only. If you missed this one, explore the Topic Tag links in the sidebar. There are more than forty free games scattered around the blog. Have fun playing math with your kids!

Why Kickstarter?

Over the next several weeks, you’ll be hearing a lot about Kickstarter and my Word Problems from Literature project. I’m proud of the book, and I want to spread the news as far and wide as possible.

But I know there are many people out there who don’t know much about crowdfunding platforms, and you may wonder what it’s all about.

So this week, I want to share a few of the things I totally love about Kickstarter and why I use the platform.

(1) It’s the “New World” of publishing.

In the old days, traditional publishing companies paid writers in advance to write the books the publisher wanted to see. In this new world, readers get to choose and support the writers who are creating books you want to read.

(2) Backers get books in advance.

I will publish the books anyway, even if no one supports my project. But through Kickstarter, I can send early-release copies to backers several months before the books are available through normal bookstores.

(3) You get a bundle of cool special perks.

When you buy at a standard bookstore, or even at my publisher’s online store, you get a copy of the book. Period. When you support my work on Kickstarter, I can send you all sorts of bonuses like printable activity guides and a behind-the-scenes audio commentary. What fun!

(4) You can help make a better book.

If the project passes its relatively low funding goal and shoots into Stretch Goal territory, each additional pledge improves the final book. Depending on how high our funding goes, you’ll be helping to pay for extra illustrations or additional chapters. It’s a collaborative project.

Does all that sound good to you?

Then I hope you’ll join me as we take this book over the finish line, covering its production costs in advance of publication and spreading the idea of playful math to a whole world of new readers.

I’ll see you behind the backer wall!

Sign Up To Get Notified When We Launch

Math Game Monday: Chance

This simple game gives children experience with probability and with addition in the hundreds. With a variation for more risky play.

“Chance” is an excerpt from Addition & Subtraction: Math Games for Elementary Students, available as an ebook at my bookstore (Thank you for cutting out the middleman!) and in ebook or paperback through many online retailers. Read more about my playful math books here.

The Math Game Monday posts will be available for one week only. If you missed this one, explore the Topic Tag links in the sidebar. There are more than forty free games scattered around the blog. Have fun playing math with your kids!

Sample My New Playful Word Problems Book

I’m so excited to announce that on August 9th, I’m launching my newest playful math book, Word Problems from Literature (2nd Edition).

And the prelaunch page is now live! You can sign up to get an email from Kickstarter as soon as the campaign launches.

Visit the Prelaunch Page
(free Kickstarter account required)

This is one of my all-time favorite books, and I’ve had so much fun with this new edition — adding stories, writing make-your-own-problem prompts, sneaking a few teaching tips into the worked-out solutions, creating an almost-magical guide to helping kids reason their way through math problems.

I’ve put together a free 14-page printable (pdf) “Word Problems Sampler” to give you a taste of things to come, including three ready-to-use student workbook pages.

Check it out:

Download the Sample Pages

Help Your Kids Learn Math the Creative Way

  • Are you a parent trying to help your child learn math?
  • Or a teacher looking for creative ideas for your classroom?
  • Or a homeschooling parent hoping to enrich your student’s understanding?

Then you’ll love Word Problems from Literature and the Word Problems Student Workbook because they prepare your children for school success, providing the tools they need to solve tough math problems.

Feed your child’s mathematical imagination with puzzles inspired by classic books, from 2nd-grade stories based on Mr. Popper’s Penguins to prealgebra stumpers inspired by The Lord of the Rings.

Hit the button to visit the prelaunch page and sign up for notifications:

Get Notified

Math Game Monday: The Product Game

This may be the best multiplication game ever, forcing players to think flexibly about multiples and factors as they strategize their moves.

“The Product Game” is an excerpt from Multiplication & Fractions: Math Games for Tough Topics, available as an ebook at my bookstore (Thank you for cutting out the middleman!) and in ebook or paperback through many online retailers. Read more about my playful math books here.

The Math Game Monday posts will be available for one week only. If you missed this one, explore the Topic Tag links in the sidebar. There are more than forty free games scattered around the blog. Have fun playing math with your kids!

6th Grade Minimalist Math Curriculum

For details on using a Minimalist Math Curriculum, see my earlier post How To Make Time for Exploration.

If you’re teaching or homeschooling students in 6th grade, here’s the new minimalist curriculum link:

As I mentioned in my earlier post, a minimalist curriculum can be a great way to free up time for playing math games and exploring enrichment activities (like these).

Math Game Monday: Race to Zero

This game offers subtraction practice with 2-digit (or larger) numbers.

“Race to Zero” is an excerpt from 70+ Things To Do with a Hundred Chart, available as an ebook at my bookstore (Thank you for cutting out the middleman!) and in ebook or paperback through many online retailers. Read more about my playful math books here.

The Math Game Monday posts will be available for one week only. If you missed this one, explore the Topic Tag links in the sidebar. There are more than forty free games scattered around the blog. Have fun playing math with your kids!