Why I Love Kickstarter

Posted on by Denise Gaskins
Photo of woman thinking about books

Math Journaling Adventures Kickstarter projectOver the several weeks, you’ll be hearing a lot about Kickstarter and my Math Journaling Adventures project. I’m proud of the books, and I want to spread the news as far and wide as possible.

You’ll appreciate how these books make it easy to weave playful math into your family’s schedule. Just open to any page for a puzzle, activity, game, investigation, or other creative prompt.

But I know there are many readers who don’t know much about crowdfunding. Some people even think that a campaign like this is just online begging.

So I want to share what I totally love about Kickstarter and how much it offers you, the customer:

(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, you get to choose and support the writers creating books you want to read.

Continue reading Why I Love Kickstarter

Coming Soon: Math Journaling Adventures

Posted on by Denise Gaskins
Math Journaling Adventures Kickstarter

Coming Soon! On March 3, I’ll be launching the first installment in my new book series, the Math Journaling Adventures.

You’ll love these books because they make creative math investigations open-and-go for busy parents and teachers.

And the Kickstarter prelaunch page is now live. That means you can sign up to get an email from Kickstarter as soon as the campaign launches:

Visit the Prelaunch Page ❯

If you back the campaign on launch day, you can catch a great deal with the Earlybird discount pledge levels.

Continue reading Coming Soon: Math Journaling Adventures

FAQ: Can I Use Your Books as a Math Curriculum?

Posted on by Denise Gaskins
Father helping girl with math homework

I recently listened to you on Cindy Rollins’ podcast, and I was captivated by your perspective on math. It was exciting, freeing, and wonder-filled. I would absolutely love to be able to teach in the ways you described.

    We use early-elementary Saxon Math right now, which is thorough, but has SO MUCH to do that I’ve always struggled to do it all. Then I feel like I’m missing things, and I never know quite what is important. And yet, the actual lessons move so slowly that my kids get bored with the repetition.

      I use a published curriculum because I have no idea of an appropriate scope and sequence, or similar flow of learning. With your playful approach to math, how do I know where to start, and what to do each day?

        Do you have a suggested order to approach your books to have a full math approach? A sort of curriculum, per se, using your books.

        [For those who missed my chat with Cindy Rollins about a Charlotte Mason approach to math, you can listen to it here.]

        Continue reading FAQ: Can I Use Your Books as a Math Curriculum?

        New Math Game Books and a Back-to-School Sale

        Posted on by Denise Gaskins
        Tabletop Math Games Collection books by Denise Gaskins

        After wrestling with some technical issues to connect my book printer to the store, I’m pleased to announce that the new Tabletop Math Games Collection, Volume Two books are now available in digital and print formats on my Playful Math Store.

        Visit the New Products page to find everything in the image above:

        Or check out the Tabletop Math Games Collection page to see the Volume One books also:

        I’m working on getting the paperback and hardcover editions of these books into all the regular online bookstores, but that’s been a slower process than normal. You can purchase ALL versions through my store now, and I’ll let you know whenever I find out the other bookstores have them available…

        Back-to-School Sale

        Would you like to add a playful challenge to your homeschool or classroom planning?

        For many years, I led math enrichment classes through our local homeschool co-ops. In recent years, family health issues have kept me from teaching and from doing library meet-ups.

        But even if you’ve never done one of my classes — or even if you live far from my hometown — you can still give your children a taste of creative math through my books and activity guides at Denise Gaskins’ Playful Math Store.

        Back to School Sale: Save 20% off problem-solving ebooks and printable activities through September 30th.

        Because thinking hard can be downright fun!

        FAQ: My Playful Math Books

        Posted on by Denise Gaskins
        Playful math books by Denise Gaskins

        Number Neighborhoods game book by Denise GaskinsIn the weeks since I opened my new Playful Math Store, I’ve been getting a lot of questions about how all the books relate to each other.

        For example…

        Q: Your books look so interesting! Is the material in the books all different?

          A: There is a bit of overlap between books, but not much in most cases.

        Continue reading FAQ: My Playful Math Books

        Spring Sale on Let’s Play Math

        Posted on by Denise Gaskins
        Let's Play Math book by Denise Gaskins

        Spring 2024 Sale: Save 20% off Let’s Play Math: How Families Can Learn Math Together and Enjoy It in ebook or paperback!

        Shop Now ❱

        As school wraps up for the year in the U.S., many homeschoolers turn their minds to planning for next fall. That makes spring a great time to discover how to transform your child’s experience of math through playful discovery!

        Continue reading Spring Sale on Let’s Play Math

        Playful Math Store Grand Opening Sale

        Posted on by Denise Gaskins
        Family hiking in the mountains

        I’ve just launched the Denise Gaskins’ Playful Math Store!

        The Grand Opening Sale runs through April 20 — add the discount code GRAND_20 at checkout to save 20% on your first order.

        We have plenty of fun mathy goodness on hand, so I hope you’ll take some time to browse our collections. Don’t miss the math art collection, or the journaling resources, or my classic Math You Can Play series. And of course, there’s the merch.

        Even better, we have both digital and print books, which is something my previous store couldn’t handle.

        So many ways to celebrate the joy of mathematics.

        May your family always enjoy the adventure of learning!

        Shop Now

        Calendar with sale dates marked

        You Can’t Find These in Bookstores

        Posted on by Denise Gaskins
        Family game night with the Tabletop Math Games Collection books by Denise Gaskins

        This is your final notice for the Tabletop Math Games Collection Kickstarter.

        Thank you so much to everyone who has backed these fun books. Your encouragement and support keep me going!

        For procrastinators, get thee to the Kickstarter:

        Order Your Books Now ❯

        Sample game pages from the Tabletop Math Games Collection by Denise Gaskins

        Regular Bookstores Won’t Carry These Books

        Most of my books eventually show up in the regular online bookstores, making it easy to delay purchasing because you know you can find it later.

        But these are not typical paperback or hardcover books. Instead, they’re designed to lay flat so players can use the gameboards or easily refer to rules as they play.

        The regular online bookstores will only stock standard paperbacks, NOT the saddle-stitch and spiral-bound versions that lay nicely flat.

        We’ve got less than 36 hours left on our Tabletop Math Games Collection Kickstarter campaign.

        Do you really want to miss out?

        Scroll down for a peek at what other people say about my math games.

        Then order your copy today, and have fun playing math with your kids!

        Continue reading You Can’t Find These in Bookstores

        Math Games Kickstarter: It Keeps Getting Better

        Posted on by Denise Gaskins
        Friends playing math games

        Did you know that, with our recent stretch goals, the Tabletop Math Games Kickstarter now features more than 90 amazing ways to play math with your kids?

        And every pledge pushes us closer to the next new bonus, which means more new games and playful math goodies for every backer.

        Don’t miss out on the excitement. Order your copy today:

        Visit the Math Games Kickstarter ❱

        How Are These Books Different?

        I love how the challenge of a well-fought math game pushes players of all ages to think more creatively and build fluency.

        So my Tabletop Math Games Collection is designed to make it easier than ever for busy families and over-stressed teachers to play with math.

        All you need are common household supplies like cards, dice, and scratch paper. Children can open a Tabletop Math Games Collection book to any page and start playing right away, and the digital files make great classroom handouts or learning center games.

        Continue reading Math Games Kickstarter: It Keeps Getting Better

        What’s So Special About Math Games?

        Posted on by Denise Gaskins
        Family playing math game with dominoes

        To everyone who has supported my Tabletop Math Games Collection Kickstarter project: thank you ever so much! We’ve blown past our funding target and made it into Stretch Goal territory.

        Now every pledge just makes the project better, earning new games and bonuses for every backer at the $5 level and above.

        If you haven’t backed the project yet, check out what you’re missing:

        Visit the Kickstarter ❯

        Math games build mental flexibility and strategic reasoning in players of all ages. And even people who hated math in school can enjoy the friendly challenge of a game.

        I love how the challenge of a well-fought math game pushes players of all ages to think more creatively and build fluency.

        Continue reading What’s So Special About Math Games?