Herding a Hundred

April 1, 2013

K-Gr 2-This subset is a busy mix of language arts and math. The texts have short sentences, and most of the titles engage readers with a story. Each book begins with "iMath Ideas," which introduces a concept, poses a math problem, and provides strategies for getting the answer, encouraging students to evaluate which method is strongest. Every volume ends by reiterating the same "iMath Ideas." Additional sections include a "Discover Activity" and an informational section that connects the math discussion to science, history, or art. Each book ends with a "What Comes Next" page that gives ideas for expanding on the concepts presented and an "Additional Notes" section that provides answers to the various problems. Photos, charts, illustrations, and diagrams decorate the pages. At times, there is so much going on that the math might become lost for this young audience. For example, it seems almost random that "ligers" and "tigons" are discussed in Picnic Fun. Do not expect intense computational practice. This comprehensive set of CCSS resources may work well with reluctant math students.

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