Customer Reviews

Arithmetic for Parents: A Book for Grownups about Children's Mathematics

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If you have read E.D. Hirsch book The Schools We Need, and Why We Don't Have Them, you should not miss Aharoni's book. In fact, this is a book for every parent who is sincerely interested in the learning process and the teaching process of his children. I wished I had seen Aharoni's book before. The book consists of basically two parts. The first is about the nature of mathematics in general, and principles of didactics that the author believes in. Since I agree with the principles (going through the concrete, stress on the meaning of the operations rather than their calculation, and mainly methodic, systematic and graded teaching) I found this part most inspiring. The explanations about what is math are eye-openers, even for mature mathematicians.

The second part goes, step by step, through the mathematics of elementary school. It is indispensable for any teacher. For example, it explains why in long division one starts from the left, whereas in the calculation of the other operations one starts from the right. Or, why is division of fractions done asit is. The whole book is entwined with personal stories, and reads like a novel. In short - a gem.

Parents sometimes can't help their children with elementary school mathematics even if they know how to do the calculations, because they don't know why things are done the way they are. This book explains the logic and the meaning of Arithmetic in a pleasant, easy to read and easy to understand way, and gives some insights about teaching in general and about teaching of mathematics in particular. After reading the book even not-mathematically-oriented parents can say that "after all - arithmetic does make sense"' and "I see that there are some ways in which we can help our children understand, and even like mathematics".

Ron Aharoni writes clearly and deeply about the crucial concepts of fundamental maths, how to teach them and how not to teach them. He explains the layered and subtle structure of elementary maths and how missing a layer can lead to frustration and maths anxiety. "There's no royal road the maths", an Euclidian quote he emphasizes which summarizes well the message in this book. I'm not sure the book is for "Parents" as its title suggests, but I highly recommend it for both lovers and "haters" of maths, regardless of their "parental status". Looking forward to Ron's next book.

I am not home school my kids and I do not have the background in eduction. I love math and I use math in my profession, but my kids does not understand math. This book gave me the method to teach and to present idea in a child friendly way that is easy for my kids to understand. I use it with Singapore math text books so that I have a set curriculum to teach my kids. I wish I known this book earlier.

A must read for parents; I believe this book is profoundly important. It provides a clear, deep understanding of the operations and the history of arithmetic. In it the author-- to whom I am most grateful-- quotes the aphorism "mathematics is the queen of science." After my second reading of this book (which immediately followed the first) I speculate that arithmetic may well be the queen of mathematics.

This book is the best arithmetic teaching manual you will read. Caution: Ron Aharoni's sensible approach and "big picture" understanding of his subject fosters mathematical creativity in children-- something that may not be appreciated by your child's elementary school teacher. Indeed, that teacher is most likely programmed to suck the life and enjoyability out of arithmetic in deference to "progressive teaching standards." After you guide them "The Aharoni Way" your children may well be bored, if not stupefied in class. They could rebel with ridicule and contempt. And your child could be ostracized accordingly. Such was my experience. Still, it's worth it. Good luck!

Bob Hager
Westlake Village, California

Prof. Ron Aharoni from the Technion (The Israeli Institute of Technology) is a professional mathematician and ex-dean of the math faculty. Eight years ago, he saw that something is definitely wrong with the math education, so he decided to teach kids at the primary level (1-6). In doing so, he acknowledges that he got many insights concerning the subtleties of simple arithmetic. "I learned math", he confesses.

This book describes and summarizes his special and unique mathematical and pedagogical/didactical experience.


Opher Liba, math educator, researcher and author
Mathematically (R), Center for Educational Enrichment, Jerusalem
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I have enjoyed the book so fare. It was exactly what I was looking for.