Family Math [Paperback]

Jean Kerr Stenmark (Author), Virginia Thompson (Author), Ruth Cossey (Author), Marilyn Hill (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1986

How can parents help their children with math at home? With over 300 pages of lively activities, the classic FAMILY MATH book represents one of the greatest strides taken to involve parents in the mathematics education of their children. Using easy instructions and simple objects such as beans, blocks, pennies, buttons, and string, parents and kids solve problems together. FAMILY MATH is a rich resource of math curriculum including number and estimation, logical thinking, probability and statistics, geometry, measurement, and calculators. The stimulating games, puzzles, and projects entice kids in playful ways to master math concepts. Because this book reinforces the basic school curriculum, it is also a must for teachers. The book has a step-by-step description of how to organize a FAMILY MATH class in your community. For families with children five to twelve years old. Grades K-8. 318 pp

Editorial Reviews

Review

FAMILY MATH is what it claims, a guide for parents and children to work together not on passive tasks of rote learning but in active game play, solving problems, experimenting and even discovering. The tools are many but familiar: cups and playing cards and beans, paper and pencil and scissors, for some a watch with a second hand, and a $5 calculator. What to do is neatly shown in the 100 or more math activities that are laid out in this cheerfully illustrated, informal book. High aims include the growth of confidence no less than skill and a glimpse at how careers open in this world with math. This is a curriculum for informal math education, so badly needed. -- Excerpts from Scientific American, December, 1989.

About the Author

Jean Kerr Stenmark and Virginia Thompson are innovative educators and curriculum developers. Virginia Thompson founded the FAMILY MATH program at The Lawrence Hall of Science.

Product Details

• Paperback: 319 pages
• Publisher: Lawrence Hall of Science; 1st edition (1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0912511060
• ISBN-13: 978-0912511061
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,649 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #19 in Books > Parenting & Relationships > Reference

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

205 of 205 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun ways to help your children love math, July 21, 2001

By 

slomamma (San Luis Obispo, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Family Math (Paperback)

I hate math. Memories of trying to understand long division in fourth grade can still make me squirm. Algebra was a lost year of my life - I had no idea what the teacher was talking about. Wouldn't you just guess I'd end up with a son who could add two digit numbers in his head before he started kindergarten? (I'm over 40 and I still can't do it very well) He even thought it was fun to do so.

You can probably guess that the normal elementary school math curriculum did not thrill him. Fortunately, early on, his kindergarten teacher lent me her copy of this book, and suggested that it might help him get started on understanding some higher math concepts, while still being age appropriate. The words "higher math" were not exactly music to the ears of a math phobe like me. But within a couple of weeks, after trying out a few games, I was hooked, and bought my own copy.

During the time he was in elementary school, I think we did at least 3/4 of the activities in the book, not because I thought he should, but because he wanted to. And, to my enormous surprise, so did I. The games and activities in this book are so intriguing that even I began to develop a sense of what it must feel like to really love math. (And, amazingly enough, I even got a little better at basic arithmetic.) Several of the games were so much fun, they became obsessions. We played them day after day.

My younger child, who recently finished kindergarten, doesn't remotely share her brother's love of numbers, but this year I dug out my old copy of the book to see if it might get her more interested. Sure enough, it worked. The games of logic and the games designed to develop rapid mental arithmetic skills that so fascinated her brother don't really interest her. In fact, most of the book is still way beyond her skill level. But I've found quite a few games that are appropriate for a child still struggling to add and subtract single digit numbers. (She says they're more fun than the math games they play at school). And there are several activities (Tangrams, and Color Designs, for instance) that take advantage of her love of art to help her understand math better. At the end of kindergarten, my daughter told me that her favorite school subject was math. I have no doubt that her exposure to Family Math games had a lot to do with that. And I have no doubt that we'll be using this book more and more over the next few years.

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Making Math Fun!!, October 10, 2002

By 

Daphne Scroggie (Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Family Math (Paperback)

Fantastic! Family Math puts math and problem solving skills on the kitchen table. A far cry from homework, these games and activities involve common household materials like toothpicks and dried beans. They are easy to learn, quick to play, and cover a range of mathematical abilities and topics. Definitely enjoyable for both adults and children.
The book is organized into different math topics (like Logical Reasoning, Numbers and Operations, Probability and Statistics) and each activity clearly states the age level that it is for and its purpose.
FAMILY MATH ends with instructions for setting up a Family Math class to teach parents and teachers how to use the material.

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good for teachers, too!, November 30, 2005

By 

hypatia - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Family Math (Paperback)

Besides teaching math in a middle school, I also sponsor a math club. It can be tough finding useful, stimulating activities that are enticing to students, especially when the alternative is free time to socialize. I borrowed this book from a co-worker and found that it was a real hit---full of great ideas that are fun and easy to use. I liked it so much that I bought the book for myself, and a copy for still another teacher, too! At the end of the school year when parents start asking me what they can do with their child over the summer to strengthen math skills, you can bet that I'll be recommending this book.