Number Sense and Nonsense

July 1, 2001
Gr 3-6-Zaslavsky offers an innovative approach to teaching the properties and relationships of numbers and their relevance in the everyday world. Each chapter presents scenarios of children grappling with different concepts. The first section encourages youngsters to experiment, looking for patterns and using "number sense" to determine whether or not solutions are feasible. Next, the author explains prime numbers and divisibility rules. Chapter three deals with the role and properties of zero and with place value, while the fourth delves into math in daily life, focusing on money and measurement. Other chapters are devoted to puzzles and games and provide an overview of counting in ancient cultures. Rather than emphasizing rote memorization, the examples and challenges promote creativity and empower children. Two excellent annotated reading lists, one primarily for upper-elementary-school children and one for adults, are appended. Simple black-and-white cartoons and diagrams illustrate the principles and concepts. Though motivated students will enjoy reading the book and tackling the problems on their own, more reluctant youngsters will benefit from whole-class discussions or one-on-one tutorials for optimum comprehension.-Barbara Auerbach, New York City Public Schools

Copyright 2001 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.