Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math

Give Thanks

Posted on November 26, 2020November 29, 2020 by Denise Gaskins

Did your device hide the video? Find it on YouTube here.

1 Chronicles 16:8-12

Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name;
make known his deeds among the peoples!

Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wondrous works!

Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!

Seek the Lord and his strength;
seek his presence continually!

Remember the wondrous works that he has done!

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV.org.

Printable Activity Guides

Posted on November 25, 2020December 30, 2024 by Denise Gaskins

Since my publishing house opened its online store last month, I’ve been busy stocking the shelves with printable math activities for all ages.

It’s a fun collection of low- or no-prep ideas for playing math with your kids.

And it’s still growing. I’m pouring through old notes of my favorite projects from years of playing math with the kids in our math clubs and homeschool co-op enrichment classes, looking for ideas.

Which One Will You Try?

We’ve kept our prices as low as possible to fit struggling family budgets — less than a cup of coffee at my favorite cafe, back when we could still go out for a sweet, creamy cuppa.

Just go to our online store and click the “Printable Activity Guides” button to check out all the mathy fun.

Someday, I hope to combine these books into a creative math “uncurriculum” for homeschoolers. Stay tuned to this blog for more news about that. Eventually…

Not Attained by Chance

Posted on November 24, 2020 by Denise Gaskins

I’ve been collecting quotes about life and learning. They make great discussion-starters or essay/journaling prompts.

This is one of my favorites.

“Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence.”

—Abigail Adams

[Aw, face it. They’re all my favorites. That’s why I collect them!]

If you like quotes, too, you might enjoy browsing my collection:

Math & Education Quotations

Make Sense of Math

Posted on November 23, 2020December 30, 2024 by Denise Gaskins

So, I decided to rewrite the Standards for Mathematical Practice into student-friendly language.

Here’s the final installment…

Math Tip # 8: Make Sense of Math.

Use the patterns you discover to help you solve problems.
Don’t get lost in the details of a problem. Look for general truths.
Apply common sense to math situations.
Think about how different things are similar.
Think about how similar things are different.
Remember that your mind is your most important math tool.
Pay attention to your thinking process. What patterns do you find there?

Continue reading Make Sense of Math

The Professor of Legend

Posted on November 22, 2020September 9, 2023 by Denise Gaskins

The traditional mathematics professor of the popular legend is absentminded.

He usually appears in public with a lost umbrella in each hand.

He prefers to face the blackboard and to turn his back to the class.

He writes a, he says b, he means c; but it should be d.

Some of his sayings are handed down from generation to generation.

“In order to solve this differential equation you look at it till a solution occurs to you.”

“This principle is so perfectly general that no particular application of it is possible.”

“Geometry is the science of correct reasoning on incorrect figures.”

“My method to overcome a difficulty is to go round it.”

“What is the difference between method and device? A method is a device which you used twice.”

—George Pólya
How To Solve It

If you’re not familiar with Polya’s work, here’s a 4-page summary of his problem-solving method.

Or check out David Butler’s wonderful Solving Problems Poster, which encapsulates Pólya’s system in a visual, easy-to-follow way that works with younger students, too.

CREDITS: “Professor” cartoon (top) by André Santana via Pixabay.
THE FINE PRINT: I am an Amazon affiliate. If you follow the book link above and buy something, I’ll earn a small commission (at no cost to you).

New Printable Puzzle Books: Diffy Inception

Posted on November 21, 2020December 30, 2024 by Denise Gaskins

The best way to practice math is to play with it—to use the patterns and connections between math concepts in your pursuit of something fun or beautiful.

Diffy Inception puzzles have their own symmetric beauty, but mostly they are just plain fun. Students can practice subtraction and look for patterns in the difference layers.

I just published four new activity books to our online store:

Diffy Inception: Subtraction Puzzles with Whole Numbers
Diffy Inception: Subtraction Puzzles with Fractions, Decimals
Diffy Inception: Subtraction Puzzles with Integers
Or get all three in the Diffy Inception Bundle: Subtraction Puzzles from Primary Math to Prealgebra

Notes to the teacher include puzzle instructions, game variations, journaling prompts, and more. Plus answers for all puzzles.

Available with 8 1/2 by 11 (letter size) or A4 pages.

My publishing company runs this online store, so you can find all my playful math books there — including an exclusive pre-publication ebook edition of my newest title, Prealgebra & Geometry: Math Games for Middle School. Click here to browse the Tabletop Academy Press store.

Have a Mathematical Thanksgiving Dinner

Posted on November 20, 2020November 19, 2020 by Denise Gaskins

With the pandemic still raging, most of us will have to adapt our normal holiday traditions to fit the new reality. We may not be able to have a big family gathering (except over Zoom), but we can still enjoy great food.

So for those of you who are planning ahead, here is a mathematician’s menu for next week’s Thanksgiving dinner.

Optimal Potatoes

Green Bean Matherole

Borromean Onion Rings

Thanksgiving Turduckenen-duckenen

And for Dessert

May I suggest some of Don Cohen’s Infinite Cake?

Click here for cake

CREDITS: “Thankful” photo (top) by Pro Church Media via Unsplash.com. Food videos by mathemusician/doodler Vi Hart.

Discern Patterns

Posted on November 19, 2020December 30, 2024 by Denise Gaskins

I’m almost done rewriting the Standards for Mathematical Practice into student-friendly language.

They say mathematics is the science of patterns. So here’s…

Math Tip # 7: Discern Patterns.

Look for patterns in numbers, shapes, and algebra equations.
Notice how numbers can break apart to make a calculation easier.
Number patterns morph into algebra rules.
Adapt math situations to make the structure clear. (For example, by adding new lines to a geometry diagram.)
Step back from a situation to see it from a new perspective.
Try to find simpler patterns within complex equations or diagrams.
Not all patterns continue forever. Test your patterns. Can you trust them?

Continue reading Discern Patterns

Exciting New Homeschool Math Program

Posted on November 18, 2020November 17, 2020 by Denise Gaskins

Homeschooling friends, check out this new homeschool math program that’s fun, rigorous, and engaging — a delightful, hands-on course that helps parents (and their children) understand math.

Introduction to Cuisenaire Rod Structures Course

I had the privilege of previewing this class as Sonya and Lacy put it together. I highly recommend it to anyone who struggles with math, or who wants to take a non-traditional approach.

By focusing on making sense of number relationships, and by teaching algebra before arithmetic, this course provides a stress-free path to rich mathematical mastery.

And for all they provide, including weekly live workshops and a slew of printable math journal pages that prompt deep thinking, the price is a steal!

Continue reading Exciting New Homeschool Math Program