Math Stories that ignite the standards and help educators and learners visualize and talk about math

"Finally an educational guide to demystify the common core standards! As an after school program coordinator I am always looking for tools to help our staff build upon the lessons the children are learning in the classroom. This book has a fun story to use as a starting point and breaks down the learning standards so even our non proffesional staffers and parents can feel confident in their ability to promote the common core! Definitely a great tool for all classrooms. Now we just need Ms. Brennan to guide us though the other core subjects!"

Review posted on Amazon, July 2015

Miss Penny Says Prove It!

"the book helps teachers see the ease of using students’ knowledge and interest to lead into a lesson. The detail and analysis that comes from the lesson helps educators understand how the Common Core learning standards can be readily accessed through an activity-driven teaching style rather than a lecture. The contents are directed at educators of the youngest students in formal schooling situations, but the depth of the discussion can be useful for all educators".

NCTM: Teaching Children Mathematics Magazine • March 2017

Miss Penny Says Prove It!

"Miss Penny says Prove It! is a wonderful mathematical story of thinking and curiosity. The story describes students who are fortunate to have a teacher who provides rich mathematical experiences. The instructional guide offers lessons for teaching and learning connected to so many math skills and concepts. With one story, the math instructional possibilities are infinite! The "Miss Penny" series is the ultimate math teacher resource!"

Miss Penny Says Prove It!

"This delightful story about Miss Penny and her students along with the vivid illustrations will have your child or class grasping essential math foundational skills in a fun and engaging way. I absolutely recommend this book to parents and to educators working with young children to give them the gift of a solid math foundation."

Charlie in Fraction City

"Charlie in Fraction City is written for teachers as an instructional tool for elementary-school-age students in kindergarten (when concepts are first introduced) through grade 5 (review of fraction concepts).This book is pertinent to the topic benefiting students in learning and reinforcing an overview of fractions. This book would be a good addition to any classroom library, as it could be used in lessons or for students to read for enjoyment".

NCTM: Teaching Children Mathematics Magazine • April, 2017

Miss Penny Says Prove It!

"As a Teaching Assistant and math tutor, I am always looking for Common Core Math material to compliment my lessons. "Miss Penny Says Prove It' not only helps students build a strong foundation for math concepts, but also enables parents to understand why and how the Common Core math standards are being used to educate their children. 'Miss Penny Says Prove It' is a must have for all elementary educators, students and parents."

Miss Penny Says Prove It!

​"Just finished Miss Penny Says Prove It!!! Excellent, light reading, fun story with Miss Penny, Bobby and the kids as an introduction to better understanding the questions I had to better understand common core and the expectations of the beginning steps to the learning process! Just what was needed!!! Thank you!!!!" 

On My Way to Grandma's House

"On My Way to Grandma's House is a sweet story of neighborhood friends that any child can identify with. It brings math into a real life scenario where a child can apply their knowledge and visualize a number line on a street of houses. It makes rounding and estimating simple and fun. I look forward to sharing this series of books with my students! Teachers, students, parents and grandparents will love it!"

Lynda Brennan’s ‘Charlie in Fraction City’ (2016) follows Charlie, a rectangular-shaped president of one of the ‘whole’ clubs in Fraction City, in his attempt to find new members to join his club. There are a few catches: those who wish to join Charlie’s club have to come in a team; team members have to be identical and they must be able to perfectly fit into the club’s shape. While there are many story-picture books in the market on fractions, ‘Charlie in Fraction City’ is one of the few that focuses specifically on explaining what unit fractions are and their properties – visually. Moreover, the story also provides opportunities for discussion on equivalent fractions. The story cleverly uses common misconceptions to show, for example, why even when different shapes can perfectly fit into a rectangle, they are still not considered as unit fractions. The book’s companion website also provides useful downloadable resources (e.g. a storyboard template, a ‘talking points’ guide for teachers and parents) http://www.mathsthroughstories.org/interview_lynda_brennan.html

Thank you, Lynda! Teachers were inspired and the year 4 children loved On My Way to Grandma’s House, especially as we’ve been rounding numbers last week and today! Totally clicked when they heard the story @MissDlln Penn Wood School, UK