Number Jugglers: Math Game Book and Math Game Cards
- Book Review,
by Ruth Bell Bell Alexander
Book Description
Developed by learning specialist Ruth Bell Alexander, Number Jugglers: Math Game Book & Math Game Cards is the innovative game that the whole family can play to encourage children to think with numbers, and have great time doing it. Combining a custom-designed deck of 86 number cards with a full-color book of 20 games, Number Jugglers uses the author's unique equation approach to teach fundamental math concepts. The games are open-ended; can be played alone, in a group, or in teams; and, best of all, are adaptable for all ages of children, from kindergartners learning to count to middle schoolers on the verge of algebra. There are no right answers, just as there are no barriers to start playing. Instead, the games tap into every child's intuitive understanding of how numbers relate to one another, and build on this innate knowledge to develop more and more confidence, problem-solving skill, and creativity.
67,000 copies in print.
Card catalog description
Presents twenty games designed to teach fundamental math concepts whether played alone or with others.
From the Back Cover
It's Math and It's Fun! From 1+1=2 to E=mc2, equations are at the heart of mathematics. And making equations fun is at the heart of Number Jugglers. An innovative approach that works for kids of all different skill levels, Number Jugglers offers 20 games plus variations that encourage children to think, reason, and create with numbers. Played alone, in groups, in teams, or with the whole family, these equation games are based on every child's intuitive understanding of how numbers relate to one another. And since there is no "right" way to achieve success, kids invent their own open-ended learning experiences while building mental-math techniques and problem-solving strategies. A Sampling of Games & Skills: The Times Square Game: The art of multiplication, with a table for help The Operation Game: Add, subtract, multiply, and divide, all in the same game The One Equals One Game: How to use parentheses to make equations within equations The Column Game: Use your numbers as digits and see how high-or low-you can go The Hit the Jackpot Game: Learn the importance of zero.
About the Author
Ruth Bell Alexander, who holds a Master of Education degree from Harvard, is an education consultant at elementary and middle schools in the Pacific Northwest. She is also a co-author of, among other books, Our Bodies, Ourselves and Ourselves and Our Children. The mother of two, Ms. Alexander lives with her family in Oregon.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
From the Preface for Parents and Teachers) Math can be a lot of fun. In fact, it can be downright exciting. Everyone knows something about math, and whatever you know is the best place to start. Little children know that if they are four on this birthday, they'll be more than four on their next birthday. They know that if they have three cookies and eat one, they'll have fewer than three cookies left. Studies show that from the time they are infants, humans have a basic understanding of quantity-of more and less-and that's what arithmetic is really all about. Number Jugglers Math Games are designed to let players start where they feel comfortable. Because the games can adapt to all ages and all ability levels, the same game can be fun for a kindergartener, for a sixth-grader, and even for a college graduate. Siblings can enjoy playing them together at home. Parents can have fun playing them with their children. And at school, all the students in a class can be successful. The level of skill needed for a particular game often depends simply on how many cards you use and how you set the rules. For beginners who like to see the actual quantity of a number, the cards are marked with dots to count. The dots also show the difference between odd numbers and even numbers, one of the most basic math concepts your children can learn. Number Jugglers Math Cards do not include operation signs-the plus, minus, multiplication, and division signs that tell us what to do. We omitted them for a reason. When students see an operation sign, their brains seize on it. They see a plus sign and think addition. They see a multiplication sign and think multiplication. That limits their freedom to invent. In these games, we don't want to restrict your child's math creativity in any way. Looking at the numbers, children make whatever connections and relationships they can from their own store of math knowledge. The games are not threatening, because players start from where they feel comfortable. The games are good learning tools because they encourage players to make more and more complicated computations as they go along. There's fun and challenge for math whizzes and beginners alike. Excerpted from Number Jugglers. Reprinted with permission by Workman Publishing.
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