Every page asks the same question, and every answer can be correct.
-Christopher Danielson
I recently had the good fortune of pulling two Christopher Danielson books off the shelf at my local library. I have to admit I didn’t realize the books were by the same author until we were nestled into our reading chair and well into the second book.
These clever texts are a treasure trove for math enthusiasts: parents, teachers and others. If you haven’t seen them then I strongly urge you to pick them up from a library or bookstore.
Each page shows a real image of one or more things, then asks the reader “How many?”
Now the fun part. Danielson guides the reader, saying that the book won’t tell you what to count, instead you decide. For example, the egg carton with one egg might naturally lead you to say “1 egg,” but another viewer may count “12 cups in the egg carton,” or “4 holes in the top.”
What makes this open-ended adventure in counting even more fun is when you read with another person and talk about what they counted and why.
So many possibilities for open-ended questions, conversation and counting!
Each page shows four shapes and asks, “Which one doesn’t belong?” The question encourages the reader to think deeply. There is no “right” answer. The real question is then “Why?” Explain your thinking.
Conversation comes naturally as you move through the book. I was blown away by the unique and surprising answers my own children gave as we explored the pages.
Not only that, by reading the book together and sharing our ideas we were developing those great 21st century skills of communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity.
These books are so much fun. I know we will read them again and again.
Check out more from Dr. Christopher Danielson
https://talkingmathwithkids.com
Visit him at the Minnesota State Fair