Teaching Addition, Subtraction, and Multiplication Facts and OTHER subjects too!

FUN ACTIVITY TO ENCOURAGE SPELLING

2012-01-31T18:49:00.000-07:00

This is a paper and pencil activity that is perfect for a long car or plane ride; wait in the doctor's office; or during a snowstorm instead of watching TV!

Ask children to write as many words as they can from a particular word.

When I was teaching in a classroom, this was a monthly contest.
For the month of February, I used: Valentine

Some sample answers: I, it, it, tin, ten, lit, nine, live, ate

If you give them the same word with the letter s at the end: Valentines, there will be a lot more possible answers: tin, tins, nine, nines, live, lives, its, slave, slit,

More spin-off activities from just this one:

1. Alphabetize the three-letter words

2a. List the nouns. (adjectives, verbs)

2b. Separate this list into persons, places, things.

3. Write four sentences using three of the words in each sentence.

4. List all the words which begin with a consonant blend or have the same vowel sounds.

(Out of paper? This can be done on an iPad too.)

See other posts for tips to teach addition, subtraction, and multiplication facts!

www.TwoPlusTwoIsNotFive.com

NUMBER SENSE IS SO IMPORTANT TO SUCCESS IN MATH

2012-01-25T10:42:00.000-07:00

Readiness Skills for Teaching Addition and Subtraction

This post is again copied from an older post because, I cannot say this enough times, before we ask children to learn how to add or subtract, we need to make sure they have an understanding of number sense.

A few years ago, a young teacher told me that her student could show three objects + four objects, and count the objects correctly to get a total of seven, but she said the child did not know the numerals. The child did not know the number symbol for seven is 7.

So, please make sure your students have prerequisite skills in place before you ask them to do new tasks.

1. Children need to be able to count to at least 20.

2. Children need to be able to recognize the the numerals 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9.

3. Children need to be able to count a given number of objects (to at least 20) correctly.

4. Children need to be able to match up the number with those counted. *** represented by a number 3.

5. Using some counters or objects, children need to be able to show what a number means. The number, 6, means six objects.

5. Children need to be able to orally identify a written number. See a 12, and name it as twelve.

6. Children need to be able to write or type the numbers 1-20.

After these prerequisites, or readiness skills, are in place, then teach what addition and subtraction mean.

Teach a way to remember the answers to the math facts. Use strategies and tricks, and give children plenty of written practice with the facts they learned.

Finally, when teaching lessons with word math or story problems, use math facts that are already mastered or known.

Two Plus Two Is Not Five: Easy Methods to Learn Addition and Subtraction provides record-keeping pages, worksheets to introduce math fact strategies, and lots of practice and review pages. Instructions on how to use the book, answers, and a certificate of mastery are also included. This book is for students of all ages! If you know students who need to memorize math facts, check out the sample pages at the website. http://www.TwoPlusTwoIsNotFive.com

Look also for tips to teach math facts, and some thoughts on what testing math facts in a minute really test. You can also find out about purchasing books from the website.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A PROFESSIONAL STORY-TELLER TO HAVE FUN WITH CHILDREN

2012-01-17T12:59:00.000-07:00

My granddaughter turned three last week, and I had the opportunity to spend a few days with her. Each of those precious moments with her reminded me of the days years ago which I spent with my own three now-grown children.

Lots of fun ideas came back; I suppose it's like riding a bicycle.

Now, keep in mind, this little one has about every princess and little-girl related toy, doll, and book out there. I've filled in with educational books, building toys, and classics. (Toys that don't ring bells, talk to you, or play annoying music every time you touch them.)

Telling stories:
Best part: The TV IS OFF.

This is something you can do without a book. Try it In a car; on a walk; while your child is getting dressed or in the bathtub; or waiting for an appointment or food in a restaurant; when cuddling or sitting together anywhere; or to distract from cranky behavior.

You can tell stories for 45 seconds or 10 minutes. No rules!

Telling stories with your child is so much fun, and it's like sneaking in the vegetables. It's also educational!

Think about the imagination skills being developed; Ability to answer inferential questions; reading comprehension; auditory memory; visualization; sequential skills and what happens next?

The blank lines or underlined words represent where you let the child fill in. Those blank lines can be anywhere in the story, and there are no wrong answers. Only fun stories! For example:

Once upon a time, there was a little girl named _______ who lived in ______ (Atlanta, on a farm)

One day, she went for a walk (Plane ride, boat ride) with her ____________ (Can be friends, you, her parents, grandma's dog, the fireman, Cinderella, Robin Hood).

When they got to the park, (or the grocery store, the zoo, Justin's house, the farm, or around the corner) they saw a little ______________ (For whatever reason, my grandchild liked to pick a big bad wolf, and then the story led to me taking an airplane from Colorado, and making it go away with my magic wand.)

She liked the stories when I said, we walked around the corner and everything was the color RED. Our teeth were red, our faces were red, the dog was red, the grass was red...... The colors changed as we turned corners or arrived at places, and I could see her thinking about and visualizing the changes.

Big sisters, little brothers, daddies, grandpas, and playmates can join in too!

Try it. It's fun; doesn't cost a penny, and you don't have to be a professional story-teller!

CONCEPTS I PRESENTED at Colorado Council of Teachers of Mathematics 2011

2011-11-08T12:07:00.000-07:00

I gave a presentation, and thought it might be good to post some of this information in my blog. My talk was on the importance of math facts fluency for success in school, and for solving problems in everyday life. I asked the attendees to consider what students ought to know before mastering basic addition and subtraction facts.

The idea behind my talk was for teachers and parents to think about different ways to differentiate or individualize for children.

A "Bag of Tricks" is something we all have! It is "filled" with any idea which may help children learn. These ideas can be teaching methods and ideas you already use or know about, or something new that you will add to your "Bag of Tricks" collection. It may mean doing something different than you have done in the past, and it might mean researching to find a new way to teach a concept. It could be merely using on-the-spot creativity or ideas collected from educational magazines, university classes, in-services, workshops, talking with other teachers or reading their blogs or tweets. I kept my collection of ideas in a file box sorted by topic. (It's like when in the middle of cooking, you realize you are out of an ingredient. You either modify the recipe, borrow from a neighbor, run to the store, or quickly change to another recipe!)
I suggested using worksheet templates to create parallel assignments. Different numbers can be written in based on the different abilities or levels of the students.
I talked about the importance of record-keeping, and informal assessments to see what the children already know, and to design assignments using the students' knowledge, and strengths to teach new concepts. If a student knows the Magic 9 addition facts, such as 9+5, use those facts in the new concepts you are teaching. Some very simple examples:

Money - $9 + $5.

Estimation - Estimate 89 + 52. (90 + 50)

Word math: There are 9 red chairs and 5 blue chairs. How many chairs in all?

Addition regrouping: 190 + 150.

I encouraged thinking about why children are not succeeding, and why they are making math errors.

Is it because prerequisite skills weren't mastered?
Is it because math facts aren't memorized, and children are counting incorrectly to get answers?
Is it because when working on math problems, columns are not set up correctly, and careless errors are made?
Is the student proficient with math facts, but does not understand how to regroup? Is the student placing the new ten or hundred in the wrong spot, and therefore adding incorrectly? Does the student understand WHY numbers are regrouped?

Word math and following directions could be affected by reading ability or limited English.

Think of a student who struggles to sound out most of the words, but by the time he or she has finished reading the word math question, the meaning of what was just read was lost!
Children with non-verbal learning disabilities can read, but might be having trouble comprehending what they read. They will need strategies to help them visualize the problem.
What about children who can read and do the math, but do not follow directions?
There are children who can read, and do the math, but may not understand some of the vocabulary.

So, when you are giving math assignments, ask yourself, what are you measuring in the assignment? Ability to read, ability to know how to solve a word math problem, ability to be able to do certain computational skills, or ability to know what certain words mean in math such as mean, mode, median?

Please let me know if this blog post was helpful to you.

Watch this spring for my newest book: LP 250 Addition and Subtraction, Beyond Math Facts

Customers in Canada or outside of the U.S.

2011-10-18T11:41:00.003-06:00

Over the years, I have had numerous inquiries from parents and teachers who live outside of the United States and want to purchase Two Plus Two Is Not Five and Five Times Five Is Not Ten. Parent Books in Canada ships to Canadians, and other customers have used Barnes and Noble bookstores. (Email me for the contact information for Parent Books.)

If you live in the United States, please support your local parent/teacher or educational supply store. The books are also available in certain school catalogs, educational online stores, and numerous other vendors.

Contact me if you need more information, and please let us know how you like the books!

NEW TESTIMONIALS!

2011-09-27T11:42:00.004-06:00

This month, I received, by email, three new testimonials about Two Plus Two Is Not Five & Five Times Five Is Not Ten.

9/16/11 - Before we found Two Plus Two is Not Five, we tried at least half a dozen learning systems and workbooks to teach math to our 4 year-old son. But we found that he was not able to learn much from them other than counting up the numbers on his fingers or pictures on the page. Then we happened upon the Two Plus Two is Not Five system. From the start, he has mastered the tricks easily. As part of the exercises, he has learned a number of new skills including counting backwards, counting by twos and adding/subtracting doubles. The system of learning the trick, practicing, and then doing the mixed exercises has quickly reinforced the learning and helped us immediately spot weaknesses in learning that we worked with him to correct. The structure of the book makes it easy to sit down with him, walk him through the tricks, and let him practice until he masters the skills. There is limited parental preparation involved, and we go through one page a night, five nights a week.

Deborah and David Liu, Palo Alto, CA

9/15/11 - I'm such a fan of your books that I just had to reply. I have both the addition/subtraction and multiplication book (found them online) and I'm dearly hoping that you're working on a division version! I'm a parent who is supplementing my son's math education at public school with your books. He has a terrific school and teachers, but has ADD and math is his least preferred activity so it's a challenge! I'm working with him on just the basic math facts so that his learning in other math areas in school is supported by a solid foundation. The schools really don't have the time to thoroughly address basic math facts, and I'm happy to take on the task particularly when I have terrific tools like yours to use.

Claire Connell, Portland, OR

10/11/11

I wanted to drop you a line to tell you how much I appreciate your book 2+2 is not 5. I began using it late last school year after finding it at Barnes and Noble. I had much success with it with my Special Education students in grades 2 and 3. Now these kiddos are back with me again. I am using it with all of my students who have math computation as an IEP goal. They are becoming very successful with the practice sheets and are beginning to generalize it to their other work. Because we need to collect data for these students, I have found the chart in the back of the book to be most helpful. I have begun this process with my 2+2 kids and am finding it a big success!

Along with your books, I have been using a very simple computer program that lets me list the practice facts by the tiers. This has been another good way for them to practice without jumbling up their brains with things they don't know. The kids are really enjoying this process! I have some on tier 2 and some on tier 4. They are helping each other, and looking forward to moving on to the multiplication and division facts.

Thanks for all of your work on this book!

Donna Marlette, St Louis, MO

Math Presentation: CCTM 2011 in Denver

2011-09-27T11:32:00.004-06:00

Friday OCTOBER 28th, 2011

Colorado Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Denver, CO

My presentation will be at 11 A.M.-12 P.M. on:

Title: Two Plus Two Is Not Five

How important is fluency of basic math facts for success in school, and solving problems in everyday life? What must students know before mastering basic addition and subtraction facts? We will answer these questions, and see how checklists, assessments, instruction, and practice can assist you in differentiating math lessons.

Planning to attend? Send your questions, and I will answer during Q + A time. Go to: www.TwoPlusTwoIsNotFive.com to email questions.

NUMBER IN THE MIDDLE, an ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION STRATEGY (REPOSTED)

2011-09-16T08:41:00.003-06:00

NUMBER IN THE MIDDLE teaches the addition facts: 2+4, 3+5, 4+6, 5+7, 6+8, 7+9, and 4+2, 5+3, 6+4, 7+5, 8+6, and 9+7.

Students must first know the Doubles addition facts: 3+3, 4+4, 5+5, 6+6, 7+7, 8+8.

Be sure to use counters to show why these facts work with Number in the Middle!

Only one number fits in the middle between the numerals in these facts. (Students need to be able to tell which number comes between, or in the middle.)

2+4 3+5 4+6 5+7 6+8 7+9

2 3 4 3 4 5 4 5 6 5 6 7 6 7 8 7 8 9

If your student knows 3+3, then teach 2+4 and 4+2.

Ask, what comes between the numbers: 2 ____ 4, and 4____2.

Why? Show the math fact with counters. Take one off the 4 and put it on the 2. There are two groups of 3, and 3+3=6. What number fits between 2 and 4, or between 4 and 2? Double it.

If your student knows 5+5, then teach 6+4 and 4+6.

Ask, what comes between the numbers: 4 ____ 6, and 6____4.

Why? Show the math fact with counters. Take one off the 6 and put it on the 4. There are two groups of 5, and 5+5=10.

What number fits between 4 and 6, or between 6 and 4? Double it.

If your student knows 6+6, then teach 5+7 and 7+5. What number fits between 5 and 7, or between 7 and 5? Double it.

If your student knows 8+8, then teach 9+7 and 7+9. What number fits between 7 and 9, or between 9 and 7? Double it. (7+9 and 9+7 are also introduced with different strategy called Magic 9. See earlier blogpost.)

If your student knows 4+4, then teach 3+5 or 5+3. What number fits between 3 and 5, or between 5 and 3? Double it.

Written practice for these math facts is in Two Plus Two Is Not Five: Easy Methods to Learn Addition and Subtraction. See sidebar for where to purchase.

MULTIPLICATION TIP TO TEACH THE 9s (Reposted)

2011-09-12T10:43:00.002-06:00

Teach the nines in multiplication with a fun and easy strategy.

* Before asking students to memorize an answer, they need to show understanding of what the fact means.

For example:

4x9 means four groups of 9. (Four rows of nine trees = 36 trees.)

9x4 means nine groups of 4. ( Nine plates with four cupcakes on each plate = 36 cupcakes.)

To show students the strategy to remember the answers to nines in multiplication, I ask them to pretend to add with 9.

In order to use this strategy, students must first know the addition facts of 9 plus a number:

3+9, 9+3, 4+9, 9+4, 5+9, 9+5, 6+9, 9+6, 7+9, 9+7, 8+9, 9+8, 9+9

and the fact families to 9

2+7, 7+2, 9-2, 9-7, 3+6, 6+3, 9-6, 9-3, 4+5, 5+4, 9-4, 9-5

See a few examples of Pretend to Add With 9.

9x8 and 8x9. Pretend to add 9+8. Get the sound seven (from seventeen) 7 plus 2 = 9. 9 x 8 = 72
6x9 and 9x6. Pretend to add 6+9. Get the sound fif (from fifteen) and 5 plus 4 = 9. 6 x 9 = 54
9x4 and 4x9. Pretend to add 9+4. Get the sound thir (from thirteen) and 3 plus 6 = 9. 4 x 9 = 36

This strategy works for: 9x9, 9x8, 8x9, 7x9, 9x7, 6x9, 9x6, 5x9, 9x5, 4x9, 9x4, 3x9, 9x3

Try this with your student!

Author Visit to Learning Palace in Beaverton, Oregon

2011-05-23T15:12:00.002-06:00

On June 18th, 2011, I will be in the Beaverton, Oregon location of the Learning Palace educational store. If you live in the area, and are looking for strategies to teach math facts, or if you would like a signed copy of one of my workbooks, stop by between 11 AM and 12:15 PM that day.

These books are perfect during the summer break for giving children a boost on learning addition, subtraction, and multiplication facts.

The books are meant to be used for any age child who is still counting to get answers. It is easy to individualize a math facts program using the instructions and the many reproducible workbook pages.

The books are used by classroom teachers, teachers in resource rooms, and homeschool families.

Learning Palace
Canyon Place Mall
3861 SW 117th
Beaverton, OR
503.644.9301
For directions to the store: www.learningpalace.com

Five Times Five Is Not Ten - Tucson Festival of Books

2011-03-12T17:52:00.002-07:00

Today, my husband and I walked around the Tucson Festival of Books on the University of Arizona campus. It was a beautiful Arizona day, and we enjoyed being back on campus where we met and went to school together many years ago. There were 1000s of people of all ages having a wonderful time discovering books, hearing authors speak, enjoying the countless activities that were free for the public, and so much more. I loved seeing the families, the excited and happy children, and the many adults who were enjoying the day. I was impressed with how well-organized this huge event was. Congratulations to the TFOB committee and its supporters for this amazing successful event.

LINK to the Tucson Festival of Books bookstore: http://uabookstores.arizona.edu/RS/0311/TFOB.html
Hit: Learn More about the Events.
Hit: Sunday Events, Alumni Authors, and you can see information about me and Five Times Five Is Not Ten at the 12:30 PM time.

We sat in to hear several authors speak, walked most of the mall, stopped at so many of the booths, had some yummy refreshing ice cream from the little market on the outside of the Student Union near the UA Bookstore, and checked out the UA Alumni Author tent where I will be speaking tomorrow, on Sunday, March 13th at 12:30 PM. I hope parents, grandparents, teachers, and maybe even some old acquaintances from our college days come to hear me speak about Five Times Five Is Not Ten: Make Multiplication Easy.

If you want a copy, check with the two Barnes & Noble Tucson stores. I noticed that the UA Bookstore tent on the mall has only a few books, but there will be more available in the UA Alumni Author tent during my talk tomorrow. If you own a copy, bring it, and I'll sign your book.

University of Arizona Bookstore & Alumni Association Will Have Copies of Five Times Five Is Not Ten

2011-03-03T15:01:00.006-07:00

The University of Arizona Bookstore currently has a limited number of copies of Five Times Five is Not Ten: Make Multiplication Easy, so if you are on campus, you can purchase a book now! Tucson Barnes and Noble stores have copies too! Bring your copy to the Tucson Festival of Books U of A Alumni Author's tent at 12:30 pm on March 13, hear me talk about the book, and I'll sign your copy.

Also, I just spoke with someone from the University of Arizona Alumni Association, and copies of Five Times Five Is Not Ten will be available for sale on March 13 at the Tucson Festival of Books in the U A Alumni Author's tent during my time to speak.

There will also be a few copies of the addition and subtraction book, Two Plus Two Is Not Five: Easy Methods to Learn Addition and Subtraction available for purchase.

I am donating 100% of the sales of my two books to the University of Arizona Alumni Association during my scheduled time in the University of Arizona's Alumni Author's tent: March 13, 12:30 - 1:30 PM. Limited to books on hand.

Buy both books to help your children learn addition, subtraction, and multiplication facts!

If you have questions about the books, the Tucson Festival of Books, or my talk on Five Times Five Is Not Ten, go to www.TwoPlusTwoIsNotFive.com and inquire by email.

16th Review on Amazon.com

2011-02-28T14:42:00.005-07:00

Two more reviews of Two Plus Two Is Not Five can be viewed at Amazon.com.

Go to http://amzn.to/hXORzc to see all the reviews, or look below for the three most recent reviews. If you or a friend have used Five Times Five Is Not Ten: Make Multiplication Easy, please post a review at Amazon.com or BarnesandNoble.com.
Thanks!

5.0 out of 5 stars Two Plus Two = YAHOO!, February 23, 2011
By Nancy (West Coast FL) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Two Plus Two is Not Five (Easy Methods to Learn Addition & Subtraction) (Paperback)
GREAT book for my struggling 2nd grader! At long last, after weeks of class-test failures, this is the one that brought the light to her sweet face. The tricks are pretty cool and mostly very helpful. For us, a few tricks were a little cumbersome to use. Nevertheless the arrangement of the lessons and the repetitions and refreshers together made it all WORK!

For those who want to hear the tricks that were hard for my child: Number In The Middle such as 8+6 is the same as Doubles 7+7. While this is useful and needed information, I think conceptually, this was a lot for my 7-yr old to switcheroo. Also a bit hard, Magic Nine, BUT she already had a handle that if she subtracts 10, then adds one back, she'll have it. So here, my girl had her own trick, and one shouldn't mess with what works. Nevertheless, DON'T let these minor criticisms deter you from buying--your child may love these tricks too OR you'll work through them like I did. The point is that IF you run into a difficulty like mine, you can manage it. A great, very well put-together book! I thank you wholeheartedly Susan R. Greenwald! (And shortly, on to the Multiplication book!)

5.0 out of 5 stars very helpful book!, February 12, 2011
By Kristen Lavalley "mom2jandc" (Madison, MS) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Two Plus Two is Not Five (Easy Methods to Learn Addition & Subtraction) (Paperback)
My son has dyslexia and has always had a "block" for memorizing his addition and subtraction facts. We are about half-way through the book and my son is remembering all the "tricks!" It is a very helpful book and even had my son saying, "I love math!" Wow!
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5.0 out of 5 stars Transformed math for my child !, November 3, 2010
By R. Robinson (California, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Two Plus Two is Not Five (Easy Methods to Learn Addition & Subtraction) (Paperback)
I ordered this book because my second grader was struggling in math, failing to remember basic math facts and becoming more and more anxious about math in general. Susan Greenwald's book has been a revelation. I started working with my daughter immediately and now two months later, we have worked through tiers one and two. The book has empowered me to be able to teach her various 'tricks' to structure her math fact learning and has allowed my daughter to build confidence with each practice sheet. We still have a number of sections to work through, but already I can see that math is now fun for my daughter. We enjoy learning new tricks and she is feeling much more confident as her math skills improve each week. We now look forward to math time.

I have used many tools with my daughter - workbooks, computer games, flash cards, board games, DVD's, but this is the first time that there have been any results. I only wish I had found this book earlier. I will definitely start working through it with my Kindergartner and will be ordering Susan's similar title on multiplication in the future.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who has a child struggling with math facts, or if you want to give your child a head start, or plug any gaps that may exist. This book has transformed math in my home and provided us with an answer when we did not know what to do next.

My daughter + math + 2+2 is not 5 = confidence and smiles :)

Thank you Susan for writing this book!

University of Arizona Alumni Authors tent 3.13.10

2011-01-18T15:02:00.002-07:00

Today I received an update from the University of Arizona. The link below tells about the authors, and when they will be speaking. I am very excited about presenting on Five Times Five Is Not Ten. If you will be at the Tucson Festival of Books on Sunday, March 13th, please stop by the UA Alumni Authors Tent at 12:30 PM, and hear me speak.

www.arizonaalumni.com/Bookfest

2011 Tucson Festival of Books

2011-01-05T18:55:00.002-07:00

As noted in an earlier post, my third book, Five Times Five Is Not Ten: Make Multiplication Easy, was selected for participation in the University of Arizona's Alumni Authors tent at the 2011 Tucson Festival of Books. I am scheduled to speak on Sunday, March 13th at 12:30 p.m., and I will be giving a brief presentation on the book, and tell why I wrote it.

For more information about the Tucson Festival of Books, please visit their website: http://tucsonfestivalofbooks.org/

Parent Posted a Review of Two Plus Two Is Not Five on Amazon.com November 3, 2010

2010-12-28T11:06:00.003-07:00

This is the actual review that was posted:

5.0 out of 5 stars
Transformed math for my child ! November 3, 2010
By R. Robinson (California, USA)
This review is from: Two Plus Two Is Not Five (Easy Methods to Learn Addition & Subtraction) (Paperback)
I ordered this book because my second grader was struggling in math, failing to remember basic math facts and becoming more and more anxious about math in general. Susan Greenwald's book has been a revelation. I started working with my daughter immediately and now two months later, we have worked through tiers one and two. The book has empowered me to be able to teach her various 'tricks' to structure her math fact learning and has allowed my daughter to build confidence with each practice sheet. We still have a number of sections to work through, but already I can see that math is now fun for my daughter. We enjoy learning new tricks and she is feeling much more confident as her math skills improve each week. We now look forward to math time.

I have used many tools with my daughter - workbooks, computer games, flash cards, board games, DVD's, but this is the first time that there have been any results. I only wish I had found this book earlier. I will definitely start working through it with my Kindergartner and will be ordering Susan's similar title on multiplication in the future.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who has a child struggling with math facts, or if you want to give your child a head start, or plug any gaps that may exist. This book has transformed math in my home and provided us with an answer when we did not know what to do next.

My daughter + math + 2+2 is not 5 = confidence and smiles :)

Thank you Susan for writing this book!

Five Times Five Is Not Ten Selected for Tucson Festival of Books

2010-12-28T08:46:00.006-07:00

I received word that my third book, Five Times Five Is Not Ten: Make Multiplication Easy was selected for participation in the University of Arizona's Alumni Authors tent at the 2011 Tucson Festival of Books.

The event takes place March 12-13, but I have not been assigned a time yet. I plan to talk about the benefits of Five Times Five Is Not Ten, show how it is different than other multiplication practice books, and explain how both teacher and parents can use it to help children become automatic or fluent with multiplication facts. Students need to memorize math facts to be able to succeed in higher level math.

Five Times Five Is Not Ten introduces the multiplication facts with various strategies, and then the facts are practiced throughout the book. New learners would start at the beginning of the book, and children who already know some of the facts could be placed at an appropriate place for their level. The record-keeping pages show where to start in the book, and can be used to monitor progress as well. This book is perfect for teachers who are using differentiation in their classrooms, and special education teachers can use this material to satisfy IEP goals in math. The strategies and math facts program were originally created to help my learning disabled and cognitively handicapped students learn, but all students benefit from learning techniques to memorize math facts.

There are lots of practice pages to review taught facts. Not all students will need to do all of the pages. Another added feature is that some of the pages have review of some addition and subtraction facts. For example, when 7x8 and 8x7 are introduced, there is a practice section with 8+7, 7+8, 8-7, 8+8, and 7-7 mixed in so that students need to focus on the what the fact sign is, and so that the addition and subtraction facts are practiced while they learn the new multiplication facts.

THANKSGIVING, "THE LIST," and the MATH

2010-11-23T09:27:00.003-07:00

My adult daughter is making the Thanksgiving dinner this year, and I will be helping her. She's expecting to seat 11 people and this includes her boyfriend's family. She created the menu, I supplied a list of ingredients and estimates needed, and sent money to help pay for the items.

Yesterday, she asked me what time I wanted to come over to help on Thanksgiving Day. She plans to have guests over anytime after 1 PM, will serve snack food early, and then dinner at 4:30 or 5:00 PM. (Personally, I think 1 PM is a bit early to have people over, but I DIDN'T say one word about that.)

What amazes me is how much math involved in the preparation for a Thanksgiving dinner party! This would never be something I ever think twice about, but did because of what I wrote yesterday in my blog.

I suggested she decide which definite time she wants to start the buffet, and then to work backwards to figure out when to start preparing certain items, setting tables, etc. including time to get dressed and ready. She also needs to figure out what she wants to have prepared by 1 PM before the company arrives-including putting fresh hand towels for the bathroom, and having ice for the drinks ready. (I reminded her, the frozen turkey needs to have been thawing out already.)

Even though I know my daughter didn't need me to do this for her, I am a mom, and so I gave her suggestions for "THE LIST."

The key to a successful Thanksgiving Dinner is "THE LIST."
This list includes;
Times to start preparation for each menu item
What and how much will be needed
Times to remove items from stovetop or oven
Number of serving bowls, platters, pots, measuring cups, serving utensils needed...
The menu of each item and time it goes on the buffet table.

This "LIST" is also important, so that when the guests are leaving, you don't first discover that the huge bowl of fresh fruit you prepared is still in the refrigerator or you forgot to put out the pickles!

By the time I was done writing up "THE LIST" with suggested time frames, I was exhausted just reading all we have to do, and how much math is involved!

Look at just a few examples of the numbers to consider for a Thanksgiving dinner:

1. When to start preparing the turkey: Number of pounds the turkey weighs multiplied by 15 minutes per pound divided by 60 minutes = actual baking time in hours and minutes. Add on minutes to first wash and season the turkey, and time at the end to carve the turkey. Get total time. Subtract that time from the time you want to serve the turkey, and you get your start time.

2. Estimating the amounts of vegetables to buy. Figure 1/2 cup per person x number of people divided by 2 = number of cup amounts. Or 1/4 pound per person x number of people divided by 4 = number of pounds to buy.

3. How many packages of rolls to buy? Figuring on only 1 roll per person, because there will be so much other food, x 11 people = 11 rolls. Bread rolls might come in packs of 4, 6, 8 or 12. Have to do the math to figure out best packages to buy.

4. Then there's estimating the cost, particularly if someone is on a budget. Need to look at pricing and do some division. If say, and let's use the 11-needed bread rolls example: A package of 6 rolls cost $3.00 on sale, but a package of 12 rolls might be only $5.50. Then the 12-pack would be a better bargain for the same number of rolls. What if an 8-pack was selling for $3.25? This would be an even better price per roll for your money, but you would spend more in the long run to purchase enough rolls. (By the way, I have no idea how much packages of ready-made rolls cost!)

5. Another math problem to consider is logistics. What size is the oven? How much space is in the interior and can both a turkey and a casserole dish fit in at the same time?

(I did email my daughter this question last night. If not, we'll have to figure out how we are going to heat the casserole dish-which will have the stuffing in it- and have it hot enough to eat in time with the rest of the food.)

Not to worry, even if you didn't do the math, you will have a wonderful Thanksgiving meal, because it will be about the enjoying the people you are with, and appreciating what you have!

HOLIDAY TIME AGAIN

2010-11-22T14:39:00.004-07:00

No one ever said to me, "Your books will make a wonderful wrapped birthday or holiday gift to open," and I agree. However, Two Plus Two Is Not Five and Five Times Five Is Not Ten are two books which would be wonderful gifts-the gift of math, the gift of learning math facts so as to be successful and confident in the next levels of math.

Too many children, and even some adults who admit it to me, struggle with math, or are afraid of math. Math does not have to be scary. The entire basis for success in math is understanding what numbers mean, the relationship of numbers to each other, and learning, really learning, the math facts so that answers are automatic.

Learning to memorize all the 81 addition, 81 subtraction, and 81 multiplication facts (excluding zero) may sound overwhelming. If taught systematically, and over a period of time, with strategies to help recall the answers, then, no, it becomes easy! My books include the instructions on how to assess known facts, to record which facts are known, and then where to start in the books. (New learners start at the beginning.)

Parents who homeschool, or those who just want to help their children with math facts, and teachers, will be able to use the worksheets and strategies from the books. Teachers can use the books to differentiate for lessons. Teachers who are working with children who have IEPs will find the record-keeping and pages easy to use.

Each of the math facts are introduced with a strategy and facts will be practiced over and over throughout the book. I suggest both written and oral practice, and then to use the known and recently introduced facts in other math skills. Set up problem-solving questions using known facts, so there's no counting on fingers while processing how to solve a problem. Using known facts when introducing new math skills such as telling time, money, measurement, fractions, decimals...

It is so important to be comfortable with math because everything around us relates back to numbers and mathematics! Can you think of one thing that does not? I can't.

EDUCATIONAL WAREHOUSE IN WHITE PLAINS, NY

2010-09-24T14:43:00.003-06:00

I will be at the Educational Warehouse store in White Plains, NY in the morning on Saturday, October 9, 2010 to talk about my two math workbooks: Two Plus Two Is Not Five: Easy Methods to Learn Addition and Subtraction and Five Times Five Is Not Ten: Make Multiplication Easy.

Stop by and see some of the various strategies and tricks in the books. Children must learn math facts to be successful in higher level math, and timed tests do not teach math facts.

Educational Warehouse
60 S. Broadway
White Plains, New York 10601
Phone: 914.682.ABCD

Visits to Knowledge Bound and School Crossing

2010-07-17T12:44:00.002-06:00

This past week, I visited two educational supply stores. I drove south to School Crossing in Colorado Springs, and finally had a chance to meet Sherrie, owner of the very busy store that was filled that day with lots of teachers and parents. Later in the week, I drove north to Windsor, CO to Knowledge Bound, another successful teacher and parent supply store. This was my third visit to Ginger's store. During past visits, I had given presentations on teaching math facts, and individualizing a math facts program.

I had a chance to talk with many teachers, math coaches, and parents from public, private, charter, and home schools. I always enjoy showing off the strategies and tricks to teach math facts, and signing copies from two of my books, Two Plus Two Is Not Five and Five Times Five Is Not Ten.

Teacher Created Resources, the publisher of my first book, How to Teach Math Facts, was also present for the two stores' customer appreciation days.

The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine Posted A Review for Five Times Five Is Not Ten

2010-06-14T19:29:00.003-06:00

The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine has posted an online review of Five Times Five Is Not Ten. Reviewer Courtney Larson uses the workbook with her own children, and some of her comments are posted below in red.

"After a new strategy is taught, there is plenty of practice. What I like most about this practice is that it incorporates previously taught facts, and then it mixes the multiplication facts with addition and subtraction facts so that the child really has to pay attention and apply what he's learned.

I have been using this book with my 9 and 7-year-old sons. They both understand multiplication but have had trouble remembering the facts without counting or a lot of thought. We are only about a third of the way through the book, and I have already seen a lot of improvement with my sons' multiplication fact recall. It only takes minutes a day, and the payoff at our house has been huge. I highly recommend it to anyone who has a child who is struggling to remember multiplication facts."

Read the complete review at The Old Homeschool's review site. http://bit.ly/9GK9vx

As I have mentioned numerous times before, before using any of the memorization strategies, please be sure that the students can demonstrate what the math facts mean. Children need to understand numbers, and the value of tens and ones. Many of my earlier blog posts give lots of teaching tips for math. Try out sample worksheets from both this book and Two Plus Two Is Not Five. The website has tips, sample pages, and more. www.TwoPlusTwoIsNotFive.com.

These workbooks are different from other practice books because they give children tips and tricks to learn the math facts and offer a lot of written practice as well.

INVOLVE CHILDREN WITH MATH DURING THE SUMMER BREAK

2010-06-08T14:07:00.002-06:00

Just like anything, practice makes perfect. Keep children involved with math during the summer.

If your child already has memorized addition, subtraction, and multiplication facts, and is still in elementary school:

1. Give some written practice a few times a week, and also

use flash cards to keep those facts quickly and correctly answered.

2. Practice with word math in your daily environment. Make up math questions that are applicable to you and your family.

For example:

Have your child keep a running count of how many pages he or she read each day.

Ask questions such as:

It's 1:00 p.m. and swim practice is at 4:30 p.m. How much time before swim practice starts?

We have one hour before we need to be at the baseball field, and it takes 15 minutes to drive there. How many minutes before we need to leave?

My six rose bushes each have five buds. How many buds are there in all?

We are having 18 people over for dinner. There are 12 chairs in the dining room. How many more chairs do we need?

While at the grocery store:

Have your child estimate the cost of a few items. Make it a game. See how close the estimate is to the total bill. Practice rounding to the nearest dollar is an important skill.

Ask your child to estimate the change from the amount paid.

If math facts aren't memorized yet, there are lots of earlier posts in this blog that tell how to teach, and also many strategies to help your child remember the answers.

NEW ADDITION and SUBTRACTION WORKBOOK -Request sample pages

2010-04-28T20:44:00.004-06:00

For the last two weeks, I have been on track working hours and hours on the practice pages for the new addition and subtraction workbook. I don't have a name for it yet, but the catalog number will be LP 250.

This new workbook will provide practice pages for children who are learning to add and subtract two and three columns of math. Regrouping, or exchanging, 10 ones to a 10, or 10 tens to a 100, a 10 to 10 ones, and a 100 to 10 tens will be introduced and reviewed at various points in the book.

This new book does not have to be used with Two Plus Two Is Not Five, but if you are using Two Plus Two, you will appreciate that LP 250 will have six coordinated sections of practice. The first section will provide practice using only facts that are taught by the end of Tier 1. The second section does the same for facts that are taught by the end of Tier 2, and so on. A few word math problem pages will be included in the book, and will also be based on the fact knowledge at that point in the book.

If you are using Two Plus Two, and would like to try out some pages from the new workbook, please email me from the website: www.TwoPlusTwoIsNotFive.com with which page your student or class is currently working on, and I will send you some pages to sample.

Today, I was designing two-column math pages that used all the facts through Tier 5. I spend a lot of time noting how many of each fact is used, so that there aren’t a lot of, for example, 5+5, but only a few of 6+8. However, when a new set of facts are being introduced, there will be more of them at that point.

This afternoon, I asked a 2nd grader I tutor to try out one of the pages. (I always tell the children, if there is a fact they don't know, they do not have to solve it. This is because I know that the page WILL have only facts they know. But, once in awhile, in error, I type a fact that has not been taught yet. The students love to be able to point it out to me, and of course, that is beneficial to me as well.)

Since this student has recently learned all the math facts through Tier 5 in Two Plus Two Is Not Five, he was ready and very able to do the mixed addition and subtraction with and without regrouping on this page. I watched him as he worked, and every so often, when he paused, I asked him if he knew a strategy, and he’d say, “Oh,” and name how to get the answer. (Lots of 4s, Looks Like Middles.) This is a student who used to mix-up addition and subtraction within a problem. Today, 36 problems, and he had 35 correct! I asked him for feedback, what he thought about the page. He said,"It was easy." That's because he didn't have to count to get answers, and he properly learned how to regroup.

Knowing math facts is precisely what gives children ability and confidence to complete higher level math. Not having to count out answers, struggle with number lines, charts, fingers, dots or lines makes a world of difference!

Books Used in School Districts

2010-03-18T19:38:00.003-06:00

During the years that Two Plus Two Is Not Five and Five Times Five Is Not Ten have been available, a number of teachers and school districts around the country have purchased books.

In the fall of 2008, Lee County Schools in North Carolina purchased a book for each of their 1st-3rd grade teachers, and in December, 2009, the district made another purchase of books. I hope to hear from some of those teachers about how they like the books.

Schools or districts can buy directly from www.LongevityPublishing.com , but books are widely available through national school catalogs, many online stores, 100's of school and educational supply stores, and major booksellers. If you want to find a store or book seller near you, please contact me.

Visit www.LongevityPublishing.com to try out free sample pages!

11th REVIEW POSTED for TWO PLUS TWO IS NOT FIVE

2010-03-09T20:48:00.002-07:00

Visit this Amazon.com link, http://bit.ly/bUAzYS or read below to see the latest review of Two Plus Two Is Not Five. By the way, the multiplication book the reviewer mentions, is called, Five Times Five Is Not Ten.

Remember, before expecting students to memorize math facts, make sure they can show you what the math fact means. This can be done by using counters, drawing a picture, or telling a story.

6+8 can be drawn as six dots and eight dots.

The student can tell a story such as: There are six large dogs and eight small dogs. How many dogs in all?

Or, give the student a box of counting cubes or other items to show 6 + 8.

Finally, the student should be able to count the total of items to get 14.

The reviewer who purchased Two Plus Two Is Not Five wrote, "I have ordered so many items from Amazon, but this is the first time I felt strongly enough about the product that I just had to write a review.

I ordered this book last year for my first grader and I'm happy to say that as a second grader he knows his math facts! Your child isn't going to learn them on their own; you have to work with them. So if you're going to hand him/her the book and walk away. You should save your money. However, with your help your child can learn them as easily as mine did. One thing I didn't allow my child to do is count on his fingers or use a number line. There is a trick for every fact or a different way of thinking of it. When my son would bring home his rocket math practice sheets, I would stand over him and say the tricks as he took the practice test. Once he started doing it on his own, if he got stuck, I would ask, what's the trick?

I love, love, love this book and it is the BEST $$ I have ever spent. I'm so proud of my son as he is breezing through his rocket math tests with no problems! Now I'm back looking for that awesome multiplication book."

Thank you to whomever wrote this review!

Homeschool Blogger Posts Recommendation for Two Plus Two Is Not Five

2010-01-28T18:19:00.003-07:00

Another blogger posted a nice review on my book, Two Plus Two Is Not Five, on her Cordova Academy blogsite. This is a homeschooling mom, and she wrote, "Wow! We were sitting here, doing math together at 9:45 P.M. for fun."

I loved reading that. It put a smile on my face.This is why I went to the effort to publish the math workbooks. Children are learning, and enjoying math!

Melissa, who has four children, discovered this book through HelpingWithMath.com. This is a another wonderful website with lots of good information about math.

Check out and see what else Melissa has said about Two Plus Two at her blog: http://bit.ly/aW2FZZ

If you are using, or have used Two Plus Two Is Not Five, would you be interested in a workbook that follows along with the tricks, and gives practice with addition and subtraction in two or three columns. This book would include with and without regrouping into the ten's and hundred's places. I am considering this to be the next book I write, and I would like to have some feedback. Email me with your response: susangreenwald@q.com

New Review on Five Times Five Is Not Ten at Amazon.com

2010-01-25T19:36:00.002-07:00

Number sense and prerequisite skills are so necessary for learning higher level math skills.

Automaticity with addition, subtraction, and multiplication facts is also very important, but before asking children to memorize a math fact, make sure that they can demonstrate what the fact means. Some of my earlier posts address how to do this.

When students are ready for memorization of math facts, there are a lot of tricks and strategies you can use from both Two Plus Two Is Not Five and Five Times Five Is Not Ten. A variety of the strategies are explained in earlier posts.

I often check the Amazon.com pages of my books to see what each is currently ranked. Some days, or even weeks, are better than others. While it is fun to watch the rankings improve, it is hard to watch as they fall down to a higher number. That sounds strange, but a ranking of 1 is best, so as the books fall in rank, the number gets higher.

It is exciting when both Two Plus Two Is Not Five and Five Times Five Is Not Ten are ranked in the low ten-thousands. That means lots of teachers and parents are buying books, so more children will be learning to be fluent with math facts.

Today, when I visited the Five Times Five Is Not Ten Amazon.com webpage: http://bit.ly/1fD2EW, I saw that my book finally received a second review.

The reviewer noted that the math facts are presented both in horizontal and vertical format eliminating the possibility of recognizing questions in only one format. She also mentioned the absence of pictures which works for the kids who are having difficulty with math facts. This prevents them being easily distracted with images they would rather color or play with rather than concentrate on the task at hand.

It does not matter which math curriculum is used, children need to be fluent with math facts so they will have the tools to succeed in higher level math and science. Actually, think about it, everything in life can be tied into numbers or math in one form or another!

Using Known Math Facts to Teach Other Ones

2009-11-12T09:20:00.004-07:00

Once children have memorized them, you use the addition Doubles facts, 1+1, 2+2, 3+3, 4+4, 5+5, 6+6, 7+7, 8+8, and 9+9, to teach other facts.

1. Number in the Middle: 1+3, 3+1, 2+4, 4+2, 3+5, 5+3, 4+6, 6+4, 5+7, 7+5, 6+8, 8+6, 7+9, 9+7

2. Doubles +1: 2+3, 3+2, 3+4, 4+3, 4+5, 5+4, 5+6, 6+5, 6+7, 7+6, 7+8, 8+7, 8+9, 9+8

3. Doubles with multiplication: 2x2, 2x3, 3x2, 2x4, 4x2, 2x5, 5x2, 2x6, 6x2, 2x7, 7x2, 2x8, 8x2, 2x9, 9x2

4. 4 Fingers: 4x3, 3x4, 4x5, 5x4, 4x6, 6x4, 4x7, 7x4, 4x8, 8x4, 4x9, 9x4

Remember to always first make sure your student can show, by using counters or drawing lines or dots, what the math fact means.

Number in the Middle is explained in an earlier post. Basically, ask the student, "What number fits between...?" For example: Once the student automatically knows 7+7 is 14, you can teach 6+8 and 8+6. Ask, "What number fits between 6 and 8?" 6,7,8. 7 fits in the middle. Double 7. 7+7 =14. 6+8 and 8+6 is 14.

Doubles +1 is demonstrated by showing the facts with counters or cubes. For example: After the student already memorized 4+4 is 8, teach 4+5 and 5+4. Line the 4 cubes next to the 5 cubes. Show that 4+4 is 8, and 1 more is 9. By doubling the lesser or smaller number, and then adding 1 more, the student will get the correct answer.
After the student memorized 8+8 is 16, show how 8+9 and 9+8 is 17. Line the 8 cubes next to 9 cubes. 8+8 is 16, 1 more is 17.

Doubles with multiplication is very simple after the addition Doubles are memorized. If you student only knows 2+2, 3+3, 4+4, 5+5, 8+8, then you can teach: 2x2, 3x2, 2x3, 4x2, 2x4, 5x2, 2x5, 8x2, 2x8.
I like to show this with two hands. For example: Have the student show two groups of 8. Ask them to place one group in each hand. Ask them to put their hands together and think about how much they have. 8+8 = 16. Two groups of 8 is the same as 8+8. Later, show that 2x8 is the same as 8 groups of 2, 8x2.

4 Fingers is fun to teach. Once your student memorized the Doubles facts, 3+3= 6, and 6+6 = 12, have your student show 4 groups of 3. Separate two of the groups to the left, and two of the groups to the right. Ask how much is on one side, (3+3 =6) and how much is on the other side, (also 3+3=6.) Then push the two groups together together. 6+6 =12. 4 groups of 3 =12. 4x3=12. Then show that 3 groups of 4 is the same answer.
Another example using 4x7. 4 groups of 7. Students must first know 7+7 is 14, and 14+14=28. 4x7 and 7x4 =28.

To see some sample pages that give written practice for math facts, visit: www.TwoPlusTwoIsNotFive.com

HeartofTheMatterOnline.com posted a Review for Five Times Five Is Not Ten

2009-10-26T13:31:00.004-06:00

A homeschool website, Heart of the Matter, has posted a review about Five Times Five Is Not Ten.

http://heartofthematteronline.com/five-times-five-is-not-ten/#comments

"The key to this workbook is the strategies suggested for each math fact. They are impressive! I wish I had been taught my multiplication facts in this manner when I was a child, I might have actually enjoyed math. Susan Greenwald’s book is compatible with any math curriculum you may be using but should not be used until your child has successfully mastered addition and subtraction. This workbook should be on every homeschool parents shelf. This is a purchase you will not regret. "

Go to the link above to read more about what Review Specialist, Karin Taylor, said about this book.

Math Presentations: October in Denver and December in Monterey

2009-09-29T19:30:00.003-06:00

Upcoming presentations

OCTOBER 2009
Colorado Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Denver, CO
Friday, October 9

1-2 P.M. How to Teach Math Facts 1 on 1

Special education and resource teachers will learn steps to set up and implement individualized plans to teach automaticity of math facts. This session covers assessment, record-keeping, worksheets, and integrating the known facts into math curriculum lessons so that children practice and learn with success.

2:15-3:15 P.M. Two Plus Two Is NOT Five!

Fluency with math facts is essential for learning more advanced math skills. This quick-paced session focuses on the tricks, strategies, and worksheets to teach children how to remember the addition, subtraction, and multiplication facts. Come prepared to learn ways to help your students become automatic with these math facts.

Two Plus Two is Not Five: Easy Methods to Learn Addition and Subtraction, and Five Times Five Is Not Ten: Make Multiplication Easy will be available for purchase following the presentations.

DECEMBER 2009

Asilomar Conference, California Mathematics Council, Pacific Grove
Saturday, December 5

3:30-5 P.M.
TWO PLUS TWO IS NOT FIVE
This quick-paced session focuses on strategies and worksheets to teach children to remember addition, subtraction, and multiplication facts. If you want students to know facts automatically, be ready to learn a lot of tricks. Also included are how to assess your whole class to determine which facts to teach, and integrating known math facts when teaching new math skills so that children practice and learn with success.

BOOK SIGNING
Thursday, December 3, 2008 in Pleasanton, California
Copies of Five Times Five Is Not Ten: Make Multiplication Easy and Two Plus Two Is Not Five: Easy Methods to Learn Addition and Subtraction, will be available, and I will show how the strategies in the books help children learn math facts.
4:30-5:30 PM
Golden Apple Learning Store
4807 Hopyard Road
925.460.5163

Readiness Skills for Teaching Addition and Subtraction

2009-08-26T14:55:00.002-06:00

This post is copied from an older post because, I cannot say this enough times, before we ask children to learn how to add or subtract, we need to make sure they have an understanding of number sense.

1. Children need to be able to count to at least 20.
2. Children need to be able to recognize the the numerals 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9.
3. Children need to be able to count a given number of objects (to at least 20) correctly.
4. Children need to be able to match up the number with those counted. *** represented by a number 3.
5. Using some counters or objects, children need to be able to show what a number means. The number, 6, means six objects.
5. Children need to be able to orally identify a written number. See a 12, and name it as twelve.
6. Children need to be able to write or type the numbers 1-20.

A few years ago, a young teacher told me that her student could show three objects + four objects, and count them correctly to get a total of seven, but she said the child did not know the numerals. The child did not know the number symbol for seven is 7.

So, please make sure your students have prerequisite skills in place before you ask them to do new tasks.

After these prerequisites, or readiness skills, are in place, then teach what addition and subtraction mean. Finally, teach a way to remember the answers to the math facts, and give children plenty of written practice with the facts they learned.

Finally, when teaching lessons with word math or story problems, use math facts that were already taught.

Two Plus Two Is Not Five: Easy Methods to Learn Addition and Subtraction provides record-keeping pages, worksheets to introduce math fact strategies, and lots of practice and review pages. Instructions on how to use the book, answers, and a certificate of mastery are also included. This book is for students of all ages! If you know students who need to memorize math facts, check out the sample pages at the website. http://www.TwoPlusTwoIsNotFive.com

Look also for tips to teach math facts, and some thoughts on what testing math facts in a minute really test. You can also find out about purchasing books from the website. There are some slightly scuffed or bent-edge covers these are selling at a discounted price while the supply lasts.

CRUISE SHIP EXPERIENCE

2009-08-25T21:22:00.002-06:00

Just returned from a wonderful cruise vacation. I had an interesting experience of getting to be up on the stage for the ship's "Love and Marriage" show. This was a spur of the moment decision, yes or no, should we do this?

My spouse and I were one of four couples to be asked embarrassing questions in front of what looked like half of the ship's passengers. Lights were shining on us from all directions, so people I couldn't see were laughing and clapping, and I was worrying if we would be asked something that I could not or would not want to answer. By the way, yes, the latter happened, and for the next few days people were greeting us and smiling, a little more than usual!

The show was recorded and played over and over on the stateroom TV until the last day, just in case someone wanted to watch it over and over. Well, we did, a few times, and we laughed a little more. Laughter is good! We were also given a DVD, just in case we want to give the family a few laughs. Hmm, I am still contemplating on whether we will or not.

The cruise director inquired about names, where we were from, if we had children, and to my surprise, about our occupations. That was the first time I publicly stated in front of a large group that I was an author and publisher, and I didn't mention the educator piece. The best part was after the cruise director asked about the names of my books, a lady in the front row shouted out that she had my book, and there she was sitting with her two young children. So it's nice to know the titles of my books, Two Plus Two Is Not Five and Five Times Five Is Not Ten were heard by people from all around the world.

Sites Posting Information About TWO PLUS TWO and FIVE TIMES FIVE

2009-07-26T11:39:00.008-06:00

These are a few links to sites that have reviews, articles, sample pages, or other information about Two Plus Two Is Not Five or Five Times Five Is Not Ten.

www.resourceroom.net/math/Jones_review_fivetimesfive.asp

http://www.helpingwithmath.com/resources/math_facts/mat_susan_greenwald.htm

http://www.triggermemorysystem.com/Two_Plus_Two.html

http://www.theapple.com/benefits/articles/8218-two-plus-two-is-not-five

http://www.squidoo.com/tipstoteachmultiplicationfacts

http://www.squidoo.com/tipstoteachmath

View article, "Focus on Helping Children Learn Math Facts," at one of these sites:

Education.com

http://bit.ly/2eS2lE

Homeschool Corner,Online Resources

http://bit.ly/ehylL

EDUCATION.COM POSTS AN ARTICLE ON TEACHING MATH FACTS FLUENCY

2009-07-15T21:24:00.003-06:00

I was pleasantly surprised to receive an email from Laura J. Compian, Ph.D. | Child Psychologist - Program Manager, Reference Content at Education.com. She wrote, "We feel like your article will help many parents teach their children math facts fluency. We have decided to publish it!"

There are several posts in my blog that mention teaching math facts, and there is more information at my website, http://www.TwoPlusTwoIsNotFive.com, but if you want a more complete article to read, go to Education.com's link below to read what I wrote.

http://www.education.com/reference/article/helping-children-learn-math-facts/

I always appreciate feedback. If you've found my tricks and strategies helpful, let me know! Better yet, add a line or two under reviews at barnesandnoble.com or amazon.com.

If you haven't tried out the books, check your local school supply store. 100's of stores across the nation, including Hawaii and Alaska, carry them. During this economic slowdown, store owners will really appreciate your business! If you can't find a copy, let me know.

2 LADDER TEACHES ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION FACTS

2009-06-18T10:33:00.005-06:00

IMPORTANT: Before asking children to memorize answers to math facts, be sure that they can demonstrate what the math fact means.

(To see examples of sample workbook pages that introduce math facts using

the 2 Ladder strategy visit:

http://www.longevitypublishing.com/sample.pdf )

Once children can count by 2s to at least ten, teach them these facts:

2+4, 4+2, 6+2, 6+2, 2+8, 8+2

Tell them to think of going up a ladder with two feet. 2, 4, 6, 8, 10.

Show the numbers going up.

Ask, "What is on top of the 2?" 4.

"What is on top of the 4?" 6.

"What is on top of the 6?" 8.

"What is on top of the 8?" 10.

To teach the subtraction 2 Ladder facts, children need to be able to count down by 2s.

Tell them to think of going down a ladder. 10, 8, 6, 4, 2.

10-2, 8-2, 6-2, 4-2

Ask, "What is under the 10?" 8.

"What is under the 8?" 6.

"What is under the 6?" 4.

"What is under the 4?" 2

For more information about using strategies and number sense to teach addition and subtraction facts, visit www.LongevityPublishing.com and view information and sample pages from Two Plus Two Is Not Ten: Easy Methods to Learn Addition and Subtraction.

LOTS of 4s Teaches Addition, Subtraction, and Multiplication Facts

2009-05-30T19:19:00.002-06:00

After students know 4+4, I use Lots of 4s to teach 4+8, 8+4, 12-4, and 12-8.

First, have the students show three groups of 4. They know 4+4 is 8, and then by counting up with the last group of 4, they see that they have 12 total. They will need to recall these facts by remembering 4+4+4 = 12.( 4+8 or 8+4. )

Then, students can show that taking away one of the 4s, leaves them with 8, or taking away the 8, leaves them with 4.

12-4 = 8, 12-8 = 4.

Once students have learned the addition and subtraction facts with Lots of 4s, and they are ready for multiplication, show that three groups of 4, or 3 x 4, is the same as adding 4+4+4. Have the students manipulate those three groups of 4 into four groups of 3, to show that the answer is still 12. 3 x 4 = 12 and 4 x 3 =12.

CURVY NUMBERS: TEACHES ADDITION and SUBTRACTION FACTS

2009-05-28T20:44:00.002-06:00

IMPORTANT: Before asking children to memorize answers to math facts, be sure that they can demonstrate what the math fact means.

Curvy Numbers is a way to help children remember these math facts:

3+5, 5+3, 8-3, 8-5, 8+5, 5+8, 13-5, 13-8

I came up with the Curvy Numbers math strategy during one of my initial years of teaching. I was a special education teacher in the Paradise Valley School District in Arizona, and had a student who could not remember the answer to the facts in the 5-8-13 family, so I looked at the numerals and saw that 3 5 8 looked similar, and I would draw the numbers for them to show that 3 could fit into an 8, and 5 could fit into the 8, with curves. (It is not so obvious with the font in this blog.)

Of course, 5+8 is 13, not 3, but the students were required to first use counters to see that the answer was 13, and they remembered these facts by their Curvy Numbers: 3 5 8

Little by little, over the years, I would "see" different tricks to help my students succeed with learning math facts. Knowing facts automatically gives children confidence and ability to be able to do higher level math.

Check out other strategies in earlier posts of this blog.

Also, www.TwoPlusTwoIsNotFive.com has tips for teaching math, and numerous free sample pages with strategies for addition, subtraction, and multiplication facts. Please print them, and try them with your students!

All of the tricks and strategies are in two reproducible workbooks: Two Plus Two Is Not Five and Five Times Five Is Not Ten. When you are at the website, check to see if there is a sale going on. Occasionally there are discounts on one or both of the books because some book covers have scuff marks or a damaged edge. The insides of the books are perfect. This is a great way to save money, and all purchases include a free sheet of reward stickers!

Email from that site and request your free tips to individualize a math facts program.

Right Next to Each Other with SUBTRACTION

2009-05-12T15:33:00.002-06:00

Teach these facts with Right Next to Each Other:

10-9
9-8
8-7
7-6
6-5
5-4
4-3
3-2

In each of the above subtraction facts, the answer is 1.

When numbers are right next to each other in subtraction, the answer is 1!

First, student must understand that 10 is next to 9, 9 is next to 8, etc.
Also, be sure that the student can show what the subtraction fact means, before teaching the strategy. (You have ten items and take away nine items. One item is left.)

Two Plus Two Is Not Five: Easy Methods to Learn Addition and Subtraction teaches this strategy, and has lots of practice and review pages so that students will remember the answers!

Once students use Right Next to Each Other to remember that 10-9 = 1, and don't have to count anymore to get the answer, think of how easy it will be to teach subtraction with regrouping!

50
- 9

80
- 9

Two column subtraction using the fact: 10-9.
60
-19

Three column subtraction using the fact: 10-9
409
-91

There are more tips for teaching addition, subtraction, and multiplication facts in this blog, and at http://www.twoplustwoisnotfive.com.

NUMBER IN THE MIDDLE, an ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION STRATEGY

2009-05-05T19:19:00.002-06:00

NUMBER IN THE MIDDLE teaches the addition facts: 2+4, 3+5, 4+6, 5+7, 6+8, 7+9, and 4+2, 5+3, 6+4, 7+5, 8+6, and 9+7.

Students must first know the Doubles addition facts: 3+3, 4+4, 5+5, 6+6, 7+7, 8+8.

Be sure to use counters to show why these facts work with Number in the Middle!

Only one number fits in the middle between the numerals in these facts. (Students need to be able to tell which number comes between, or in the middle.)

2+4 3+5 4+6 5+7 6+8 7+9

2 3 4 3 4 5 4 5 6 5 6 7 6 7 8 7 8 9

If your student knows 3+3, then teach 2+4 and 4+2.

Ask, what comes between the numbers: 2 ____ 4, and 4____2.

Why? Show the math fact with counters. Take one off the 4 and put it on the 2. There are two groups of 3, and 3+3=6. What number fits between 2 and 6, or between 4 and 2? Double it.

If your student knows 5+5, then teach 6+4 and 4+6.

Ask, what comes between the numbers: 4 ____ 6, and 6____4.

Why? Show the math fact with counters. Take one off the 6 and put it on the 4. There are two groups of 5, and 5+5=10.

What number fits between 4 and 6, or between 6 and 4? Double it.

If your student knows 6+6, then teach 5+7 and 7+5. What number fits between 5 and 7, or between 7 and 5? Double it.

If your student knows 4+4, then teach 3+5 or 5+3. What number fits between 3 and 5, or between 5 and 3? Double it.

MULTIPLICATION TIP TO TEACH THE 9s

2009-05-02T16:45:00.004-06:00

Teach the nines in multiplication with a fun and easy strategy.

* Before asking students to memorize an answer, they need to show understanding of what the fact means.

For example:

4x9 means four groups of 9. (Four rows of nine trees = 36 trees.)

9x4 means nine groups of 4. ( Nine plates with four cupcakes on each plate = 36 cupcakes.)

To show students the strategy to remember the answers to nines in multiplication, I ask them to pretend to add with 9.

In order to use this strategy, students must first know the addition facts of 9 plus a number:

3+9, 9+3, 4+9, 9+4, 5+9, 9+5, 6+9, 9+6, 7+9, 9+7, 8+9, 9+8, 9+9

and the fact families to 9

2+7, 7+2, 9-2, 9-7, 3+6, 6+3, 9-6, 9-3, 4+5, 5+4, 9-4, 9-5

See a few examples of Pretend to Add With 9.

9x8 and 8x9. Pretend to add 9+8. Get the sound seven (from seventeen) 7 plus 2 = 9. 9 x 8 = 72

6x9 and 9x6. Pretend to add 6+9. Get the sound fif (from fifteen) and 5 plus 4 = 9. 6 x 9 = 54

9x4 and 4x9. Pretend to add 9+4. Get the sound thir (from thirteen) and 3 plus 6 = 9. 4 x 9 = 36

This strategy works for: 9x9, 9x8, 8x9, 7x9, 9x7, 6x9, 9x6, 5x9, 9x5, 4x9, 9x4, 3x9, 9x3

Try this with your student!

Borders Bookstore in Longmont

2009-04-20T16:18:00.002-06:00

On April 25, I will be at the Borders store in Longmont, CO from 1-3 pm to talk about and sign my books, Two Plus Two Is Not Five: Easy Methods to Learn Addition and Subtraction and Five Times Five Is Not Ten: Make Multiplication Easy. If you are a parent or teacher, please stop by to learn how you can help children become fluent with addition, subtraction, and multiplication!

Reminder: RSVPs are needed to attend the Focus on Teaching Math Facts workshop at Maestro's Teaching Tools on April 26 at 11 am. Call 303 447 1600 to reserve your spot!

More information on teaching math facts:
http://twoplustwoisnotfive.blogspot.com/
http://www.squidoo.com/tipstoteachmath
http://www.squidoo.com/tipstoteachmultiplicationfacts
http://www.LongevityPublishing.com

FOCUS ON MATH FACTS

2009-03-26T19:37:00.002-06:00

Have you always wanted to know what you could do to help your child memorize math facts? Once you get started, you and your child will see that it does not take up a lot of time, and it is easy, and even fun to learn math facts. You will learn how to assess what your child knows, keep good records, use practice worksheets, and learn some strategies and tricks to teach new facts.

I will be giving an informal workshop at Maestro's Teaching Tools on Sunday, April 26 at 11 a.m. The location is in Boulder, CO. Call Maestro's to reserve your spot! 303.447.1600

www.TwoPlusTwoIsNotFive.com has tips to teach math, and you can print out sample pages from Two Plus Two Is Not Five: Easy Methods to Learn Addition and Subtraction and Five Times Five Is Not Ten: Make Multiplication Easy.

Readiness Skills for Teaching Addition and Subtraction

2009-03-24T18:49:00.002-06:00

I cannot say this enough times, before we ask children to learn how to add or subtract, we need to make sure they have an understanding of number sense.

1. Children need to be able to count to at least 20.
2. Children need to be able to recognize the the numerals 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9.
3. Children need to be able to count a given number of objects (to at least 20) correctly.
4. Children need to be able to match up the number with those counted. *** represented by a number 3.
5. Using some counters or objects, children need to be able to show what a number means. The number, 6, means six objects.
5. Children need to be able to orally identify a written number. See a 12, and name it as twelve.
6. Children need to be able to write or type the numbers 1-20.

A few years ago, a young teacher told me that her student could show three objects and four objects and count them correctly to get seven, but the child did not know the numerals. He did not know the number symbol for seven is 7.

So, please make sure your students have prerequisite skills in place before you ask them to do new tasks.

After these prerequisites, or readiness skills, are in place, then teach what addition means.

Two Plus Two Is Not Five

2009-03-03T22:34:00.003-07:00

After being printed in Michigan, the third printing of Two Plus Two Is Not Five: Easy Methods to Learn Addition and Subtraction is on a truck on the way to Colorado. The books should arrive some time tomorrow during our record-breaking 70+degree weather! Yay, no snow.

Both Two Plus Two Is Not Five: Easy Methods to Learn Addition and Subtractionand Five Times Five Is Not Ten: Make Multiplication Easy provide record-keeping pages, worksheets to introduce math fact strategies, and lots of practice and review pages. Instructions on how to use the book, answers, and a certificate of mastery are also included. These books are for students of all ages! If you know students who need to memorize math facts, check out the sample pages at our website. http://www.longevitypublishing.com/

Look also for tips to teach math facts, and some thoughts on what testing math facts in a minute really test. You can also find out about purchasing books from the website. There are some slightly scuffed or bent-edge covers of Five Times Five, and we are selling these at a discounted price while the supply lasts.

Twittering and Teaching Math

2009-02-23T10:17:00.004-07:00

When friends suggested joining the Twitter network, I had no idea what I was doing, but after some tweets here and there, I found other people who are as passionate about teaching math as I am, and parents who homeschool their children.

Evelyn Saenz is another educator who has a math site worth visiting. She has lots of creative ideas posted at www.squidoo.com/counting. Look also for what she had to say about my books!

Workshop for Parents

2009-02-22T16:53:00.004-07:00

Met Mark, the owner of Maestro's Teaching Tools in Boulder. I will be presenting a workshop for parents on March 15 at 11 am. For more information, please look under EVENTS at www.TwoPlusTwoIsNotFive.com.

The workshop will include some strategies to help children remember multiplication, addition, and subtraction facts. I will also cover the important things to check for before asking children to memorize math facts. Some prerequisites for example include:

Can the child count to at least 20 for addition and subtraction?
Is the child able to identify what the numeral is, and what it means? (4 means four items-4 dogs, 4 children, 4 dots)
To add: Can the child show with counters or a drawing on paper that 5+3 means five objects and three objects is a total of eight items?
To subtract: Can the student show the 11-4 means there are eleven items and four are taken away to leave seven?
To multiply: Can the student show that 4x6 means that there are four groups and each group has six items in it for a total of 24?

I will also show parents how they can determine which math facts their child already knows, meaning, answered without having to count to get an answer, and how to set up a routine to teach them new facts and reviewing the known facts periodically.

Discount Prices on Multiplication Workbooks

2009-02-16T21:26:00.002-07:00

I forgot to mention that I have discounted the price on some copies of Five Times Five Is Not Ten: Make Multiplication Easy. Some of the books have bent or scuffed covers from transit and handling, but the inside pages are perfect. So, if you would like a wonderful workbook that teaches children multiplication facts, you can save money by purchasing from my website http://www.twoplustwoisnotfive.com/.
The books are also sold at 100s of educational and school supply stores and Barnes and Noble book stores.

Also at the website, you can read what other people have said about the books, see lots of good tips for teaching math facts, and print out and try sample pages.

Back to Work

2009-02-16T16:01:00.003-07:00

After nine days visiting with the new baby, and really not doing much in the way of getting new information out about teaching math, I am back at work. During my time away, few people emailed me asking for my tips to teach their students, and I am always happy to respond. One teacher requested a new product: transparencies to introduce the fact strategies. A very good idea!

I recently emailed people who bought Two Plus Two Is Not Five or Five Times Five Is Not Ten to ask for feedback. I hope that teachers and parents who have used the book with their students will let me know how it is working out. Occasionally I get Google Alerts from others using my book-they have posted positive comments in their blogs or feature my book on their website. Even though I know the workbook pages and strategies are effective, it's always refreshing to hear it from total strangers too!

Cool Compliment

2009-01-28T21:19:00.001-07:00

An educational store called to ask about more copies of my books. She said a customer had just come in to buy the multiplication book because it worked so well for her granddaughter. The woman got on the phone and told me about the child's progress and improvement on timed math tests, all because she had learned some tricks in the addition and subtraction book. Learning the math facts is what gives children the confidence and ability to do well in math!

First Grandchild is Born!

2009-01-11T17:57:00.002-07:00

This is an amazing and wonderful happening. My son and his wife become parents, and I am so excited for them! Their daughter was born this afternoon and all are doing well. Living on the opposite end of the country is going to be difficult. For now, I have to be content with having heard her, by phone, test her lungs, and I will be eagerly awaiting for more and more pictures to be uploaded on a regular basis. Maybe once they are home, they will use a video camera so I can watch my first grandchild online, that is until the time I fly to visit and get to hold her.
And so now, one plus one is now three.

Five Times Five Is Not Ten: Make Multiplication Easy received its first Amazon.com review.

2009-01-10T09:56:00.003-07:00

The first review of Five Times Five Is Not Ten was just posted at Amazon.com. The reviewer captured so many of the points of why the book works.

Yes, children have to memorize the multiplication facts.
Yes, there are strategies to help learn the facts.
The book has plenty of practice pages.
The facts are not taught in a sequence of 1s,2s,3s, etc.
Go at the student's pace.

My math books are available around the country in so many school supply stores, Barnes and Noble stores, Borders, and lots of online stores too. If you can't find a copy, email me or buy it on my website. www.FiveTimesFiveIsNotTen.com.

I also have TIPS to teach the math facts. Email me for your free copy, and let me know if you are a teacher or a parent.

Five Times Five Is Not Ten Listed as a Resource for Successful Teaching in Learning Magazine

2008-12-31T10:49:00.004-07:00

My third book, Five Times Five Is Not Ten, is mentioned in the January 2009 issue of Learning Magazine. On page 36 in the Resources for Successful Teaching section is a picture of and a blurb about my book.

Link to HelpingWithMath.com has information about Two Plus Two Is Not Five

2008-12-20T10:15:00.003-07:00

One website, HelpingWithMath.com, posts information about my book, Two Plus Two Is Not Five, and there are bunch of sample pages that can be tried with students if someone is not sure about whether or not to purchase the book.

Several different tricks and strategies from the beginning of Two Plus Two Is Not Five are available. I agreed to allow these pages to be posted because these practice pages do help children learn math facts.

The workbook problems in my books are not random; the problems are structured to give children good practice and review with math facts as they learn them, and to review what they already know.

Link to HelpingWithMath.com:
http://www.helpingwithmath.com/resources/math_facts.htm

NEW TIP POSTED on www.TwoPlusTwoIsNotFive.com

2008-12-19T21:06:00.004-07:00

There is a new update added onto my TIPS TO HELP CHILDREN LEARN webpage.

You can see more information on how to teach math facts, and request a free copy of a more detailed program which is perfect if you are working with your own child, or if you are a teacher who is able to work one-on-one with students, or in small groups.

Children need to learn the math facts, and no one is ever too old to start.

The program is well worth the time, and does not take more than 10-20 minutes a day! Just follow the simple instructions, be sure to practice the math facts daily, and give some written practice too.

Visit www.longevitypublishing.com, www.FiveTimesFiveIsNotTen.com, www.SusanGreenwald.com, or www.TwoPlusTwoIsNotFive.com to see the simple steps and to email for details. The website also offers workbooks for purchase.

School Vacation? Great Time to Focus on Helping Children Catch Up in Math!

2008-12-15T20:03:00.004-07:00

Schools will soon be closed for a two-week break. Many of the after school activities that children are involved in will also be suspended for this time period. Without the pressure of not-enough-time-in-a-day, you can start to help your child focus on learning math facts.

Once you get going, you and your child will see that it does not take up a lot of time, and it is easy, even fun to learn math facts.

First, determine which math facts are "known," meaning the fact is answered automatically and correctly, without counting to get the answer. Record these facts. If you are using Two Plus Two Is Not Five or Five Times Five Is Not Ten, there are record-keeping pages in the books. Use 3" by 5" cards to make a practice card for each known fact. Review these with your child daily. Remember, your child knows them, so they will be easy to answer and your child will feel good about knowing the answers quickly!

Next, teach a few new facts each day, and add these new facts to the stack of known facts. Try to give written practice and review as well. Two Plus Two Is Not Five and Five Times Five Is Not Ten both have a lot of reproducible practice pages. www.TwoPlusTwoIsNotFive.com shows lots of sample pages from both books.

Gradually, over a period of 2-3 months, all the 81 addition, 81 subtraction, and 81 multiplication facts will be mastered, and your child will not have to count out answers when working on more advanced math skills. You can also work on division facts, but the practice pages are not yet available.

Resource Room Posted a Review on Five Times Five Is Not Ten: Make Multiplication Easy

2008-11-10T12:36:00.005-07:00

Susan Jones's website, www.resourceroom.net/math , has posted a review of my multiplication book. We agree on the philosophy that people do need to memorize the multiplication table, and know the multiplication facts automatically.

I am glad that she mentioned the beginning of the book-I discuss the importance of making sure students understand what the the multiplication fact means before expecting them to memorize answers. Also, I show how to introduce the different strategies.

Number lines, charts, counters, and calculators are all great tools to introduce multiplication with, but the bottom line is that fluency, or speed and knowing the correct answers to the multiplication facts is essential! Calculators can be used when students are working on higher level math-only after the math facts are learned, and after students can demonstrate on paper what the calculator does for them.

For example, be able to solve the long division for 367 divided by 71. In order to complete this calculation, a student needs to be able to divide, multiply, and subtract!

Another example of the importance of understanding the calculation before depending on a calculator: Can a student multiply 4.11 by .9 correctly and understand why the answer is less than 4 and not about 36?

We also agree that as the facts are being taught, they need to be practiced within the rest of the curriculum, not just in isolation to learn rotely. For example, after a student knows 2x8 and 8x7, the student can work on math problems, including word math or story problems, that have the problem:

72
x 8

Also, the student should see that this is different than

72
- 8

and

72
+ 8

I have more tips to teach math facts on my website: www.FiveTimesFiveIsNotTen.com

News about Five Times Five Is Not Ten

2008-11-03T18:05:00.002-07:00

Just last week, I received notice that Five Times Five Is Not Ten: Make Multiplication Easy is an Award-Winning Finalist in the Children's Educational category of the National Best Books 2008 Awards, sponsored by USA Book News. This is posted online at: www.usabooknews.com/bestbooksawards2008.html

Where to Buy Two Plus Two Is Not Five and Five Times Five Is Not Ten

2008-10-08T13:17:00.003-06:00

People often email me to ask about where to buy Two Plus Two Is Not Five: Easy Methods to Learn Addition and Subtraction and Five Times Five Is Not Ten: Make Multiplication Easy. The books are sold nationwide, even in Alaska and Hawaii! More than 200 school supply or educational stores carry them, and if you email me, I will let you know which stores in your state stock the books. Barnes and Noble stores stock the book in their stores. If you type in your zip code at their website, you can see the stores closest to you that have stock. Some Borders stores sell it too. Call first to check. There are various online and homeschool stores that also sell both books. Email me for a list.

While the books are also available through my website, www.TwoPlusTwoIsNotFive.com, I strongly encourage customers to shop at their local stores or favorite online stores.

2008-10-06T19:10:00.002-06:00

In addition to writing math books, I also like to speak to people, both parents and teachers, about the importance of math facts mastery. At the end of September, I spoke at the Colorado Council of Teachers of Mathematics. One session was just about strategies to help children memorize addition, subtraction, and multiplication facts. The other, structured for special education or math resource teachers, was on how to set up and individualize a math facts program. This past week, during Borders' Educator Appreciation Weekend, I was a guest author at three of their stores, and signed copies of my books, Two Plus Two Is Not Five and Five Times Five Is Not Ten. I am looking forward to traveling to California in December when I will be speaking again at the California Mathematics Council at Asilimar on Friday, December 5. The session is titled, Teach Fluency of Math Facts 1:1. Also, I will do a book signing and talk about my books at the Sand City Borders store near Monterey, and at the Golden Apple Store in Pleasanton. Both of these stores hosted me last year as well, and I am glad to have the opportunity to return this year.

Educator Appreciation Weekend

2008-09-14T21:01:00.002-06:00

Borders stores are having their annual Educator Appreciation Weekend, and I am looking forward to being at their Broomfield store at the Flatirons Mall on October 3, and at the Littleton Borders near the Southwest Plaza Mall on October 4. Once again, I will be signing copies of Two Plus Two Is Not Five and Five Times Five Is Not Ten, and showing some of the strategies that help children learn the basic math facts. Some sample pages from these books are posted at my website, www.TwoPlusTwoIsNotFive.com. There are tips on teaching math facts, too.

Two Plus Two is Not Five-the book

2008-08-25T16:45:00.002-06:00

The second printing of Two Plus Two Is Not Five: Easy Methods to Learn Addition and Subtraction reflects advice from various educational supply store owners. I was told that the top third of the front cover is important, so I added the words, Addition and Subtraction, to the top left on the front cover. I also added our new logo which is a cute crane pointing its wing. Based on other feedback, I am considering a change for the third printing to make record-keeping easier. The Record-Keeping Grid, which some people found confusing to work with, will be replaced with a Record-Keeping Checklist. I appreciate it when people share ways to improve the math books!

Book Signing at Mardel

2008-07-18T19:07:00.003-06:00

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to talk about my math books at Mardel in Littleton, CO. I enjoyed meeting lots of homeschool moms and their children, and showing them some fun tricks and strategies that help with learning math facts. Some classroom teachers also stopped by to hear about the books-some were allowed to purchase supplemental math material, others said they could not. It is a shame that some schools restrict teachers in what they may use because sometimes the adopted curriculum does not provide enough lessons and practice that is needed to teach children mastery of addition, subtraction, and multiplication facts . Automaticity of math facts is crucial if we want children to be able to advance in math skills.

Posting a Blog for the First Time

2008-07-16T14:18:00.003-06:00

I have not ever tried to set up a blog because I am a bit clueless on what I need to do, and I probably do not have the time that it takes to do it right. Wondering also, should it be about me, my family, my books, teaching others about how to teach math facts, or a combination of lots of things?

I am a member of the Colorado Independent Publishers Association, and I constantly hear that blogging is important, that is, if I want to let others know about the math books I have written. My daughter-in-law, son, and ?their dog started a blog, and from that site, I was motivated to set up my own.

On this first day of blogging, I am posting a picture of my third book. It follows Two Plus Two Is Not Five and How to Teach Math Facts. The latter was published by Teacher Created Resources. Life is very different than it was before the second and third books - very much in the way life changes before and after a baby.