Math Curse

Reviewed by Vanessa Singh

Author:  Jon Scieszka                  Illustrator:   Lane Smith

  

                                    

Recommended Grade Level:  3^rd to 6^th Grade

Common Core Content Standards:

CCSS.Math.Content.4.OA.A.2
Multiply or divide to solve word problems involving multiplicative comparison, e.g., by using drawings and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem, distinguishing multiplicative comparison from additive comparison.¹

CSS.Math.Content.4.OA.A.3
Solve multistep word problems posed with whole numbers and having whole-number answers using the four operations, including problems in which remainders must be interpreted.

CSS.Math.Content.4.MD.A.2
Use the four operations to solve word problems involving distances, intervals of time, liquid volumes, masses of objects, and money, including problems involving simple fractions or decimals, and problems that require expressing measurements given in a larger unit in terms of a smaller unit. Represent measurement quantities using diagrams such as number line diagrams that feature a measurement scale.

Common Core Standards for Mathematical Practice:

CCSS.Math.Practice.MP1 Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.

1.  Mathematically proficient students start by explaining to themselves the meaning of a

     problem and looking for entry points to its solution.

2.  Mathematically proficient students can explain correspondences between equations, verbal

     descriptions, tables, and graphs or draw diagrams of important features and relationships,

     graph data, and search for regularity or trends.

3.  Mathematically proficient students check their answers to problems using a different method,

     and they continually ask themselves, "Does this make sense?"

CCSS.Math.Practice.MP4 Model with mathematics.

1.  Mathematically proficient students can apply the mathematics they know to solve problems

     arising in everyday life, society, and the workplace.

CCSS.Math.Practice.MP6 Attend to precision.

1.  Mathematically proficient students try to communicate precisely to others. They try to use

     clear definitions in discussion with others and in their own reasoning.  They are careful about

     specifying units of measure, and labeling axes to clarify the correspondence with quantities in

     a problem.

Summary:   “Math Curse” is about a girl who took her teacher, Mrs. Fibonacci literally when she told the class, “You know, you can think of almost everything as a math problem.” The goal of the teacher was to let her students know that math is part of their everyday life.  The next morning the little girl realized that everything in her life was turning into a math problem.  Her life was taken over by the math curse.  She started the morning with the first problem of the day, how much time will it take to get dress and get to the bus on time.  That problem was followed by an algebraic problem, how many shirts did she owned, and how many will remain if she got rid of the ugly plaid shirt her Uncle Zeno had sent her. Her breakfast time was spent on measurements.  On the school bus she was faced with more math. Throughout the day she continued to encounter math problems that dealt with charts, probabilities, addition, and subtraction.  A class cupcake treat was turned into a fraction problem. By the end of the day, she had turned into a math zombie.  On her way home, she decided to purchase her favorite candy bar to help break the math curse.  That too turned into a money math problem.  She wondered if the curse would continue the rest of the year and if she would turn into a raving math lunatic.  Dinner and getting ready for bed brought no relief.  Math continued to take over her thoughts and dreams. She dreamed that she was trapped in a blackboard room covered in math problems.  With a piece of chalk in her hand, she had to figure out how she was going to get out of the room.  She broke the chalk in half.  Two halves make up a whole.  She drew the hole on the wall and jumped out the chalkboard room into her room.  She was free from the math curse.  She woke up the next day feeling confident enough to solve any math problem.  Just as she thought, she had broken the math curse, her science teacher, Mr. Newton said. “You know you can think of almost everything as a science experiment.”

Rating:

5 Stars

                       

        Every teacher should have a copy of this book in their classroom library.  The author gives students the opportunity to learn math content without fear or anxiety.  Its corky and vivid illustrations will keep students captivated in the plot.  It includes so many topics that will challenge, strengthen, or build on prior knowledge in math. The problems in the book are relatable, which will help students realize how much math play an important part of their everyday lives.

Class Room Ideas:

1.  This book can be used to introduce many math concepts: fractions, measurements,

      multiplications, divisions, graphing/charts, and word problems.

2.  Graphing/Charts:  Make connections by using graphs and charts to visually

      communicate data that have been collected. (page 8)

3.  This book is a great resource to reinforce concept on money.  After reading page 19, I

      would have students give different combinations of coins that value a set amount.  For

      example how many combinations of coins equal fifty cents.  This page can also help

      introduce percentage.  Finding the sale price of an object using real life examples.

4.  Have students illustrate and create their own math problem using events in their daily 

     lives. 

5.  Page 23 fractions.  Students can use blocks to represent parts that makes up a whole. 

     For example, ½, ¼, ¾ etc.