Problem Solving with Math Curse by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith

I've been saving one of my favorite literature connections for this time of year. It's May 1 when I'm writing this and many teachers are in the midst of testing or the craziness of the end of year activities. Math Curse by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith offers humor, insight and lots of problem-solving opportunities for those busy days. (This post does contain affiliate links in which I receive a small compensation with a purchase.)

Click on the picture to purchase from Amazon.

If you have ever explored Jon Scieszka's other books, he has a great way of making wacky pictures that make you want to explore each page. Now, he's combined some wonderful math problems with a student whose teacher, Mrs. Fibonacci, explains that you can think of anything as a math problem. The student realizes math is everywhere from trying to catch the bus, deciding what to eat for lunch or even in other subjects, such as geography and art.

This wonderful read aloud will have your students laughing and looking for other math situations in their daily lives. It's a great book to read a few pages during those busy moments and come back to it when needed. It can also be used as a center for students to try and solve the problems using my free download listed below.

Here are a few suggestions in how you can use this book effectively in your math instruction:

• Read each page. Ask: What problems could you actually answer? What questions would be harder to answer? How do you know?

• Invite your students to solve each problem that can be answered using the free download shown below. Encourage your students to show their thinking and explain their answers. (Some of these are fairly simple while others are a bit more challenging. This may take a few attempts.)

• Ask your students to consider what other questions could be asked. Write them on sticky notes and place them in the book. Then, ask other students to try and solve those questions.

• As you go about your day, high five your students when they come up with a math question that can be asked and answered about what you are doing. Maybe students determine how many minutes there are until lunch or how many shoes there are in the class. Encourage them to see math all around them in their daily lives.

You know I love math literature, and this is a book that just keeps giving great ideas. Be sure to download your free problem-solving problems that invite students to follow along in the book while solving some challenging problems.

Download yours for free by entering your information below: