Imprint
Heinemann
Author(s)
Susan O’Connell
Stories create a space where students can explore their mathematical thinking and understanding in unique ways. Children’s literature offers memorable opportunities to discuss mathematical ideas and connect those ideas to meaningful contexts.
Math by the Book is a K–5 resource dedicated to connecting literacy to math and teaching mathematics strategically through literature. Math is found in all kinds of stories, but how do we connect the reading of a story to significant math learning? Real learning comes from authentically and purposefully linking a story to important mathematical concepts and then, through the story context, exploring those concepts more deeply.
In Math by the Book, you’ll find:
- a curated list of 20 children’s books linked with math skills and concepts
- classroom-tested lessons and activities aligned with each suggested children’s book
- additional discussion prompts and project ideas for extending student thinking
- supporting online resources to simplify lesson planning and prep
- tips for selecting other books to integrate into math instruction
- guidance for designing original math tasks that link books to math concepts.
A good story brings math to life. It enhances our teaching, spurs discovery, and supports problem solving. Math by the Book helps students understand the structure and purpose of math in new ways through literature.
Each grade-level package comes with a featured text, one of the children's books highlighted at each grade. To support the use of children's literature in math, there are additional coaching notes, features, and online resources related to the featured text.
These are the featured texts at each grade level:
- Kindergarten: Grandma’s Purse by Vanessa Brantley-Newton
- First Grade: Thanking the Moon: Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival by Grace Lin
- Second Grade: Max’s Words by Kate Banks
- Third Grade: Bilal Cooks Daal by Aisha Saeed
- Fourth Grade: Sweet Potato Pie by Kathleen D. Lindsey
- Fifth Grade: Tía Isa Wants a Car by Meg Medina