Math Doesn't Suck

[Zoraida]

Does anyone use Math Doesn't Suck by Danica McKellar as a light hearted supplement to their math program. I saw an interview with her on World News Tonight a couple of months ago. I noticed on this weeks Children's New York Times bestseller list she now has a new book out covering Pre Algebra called Kiss My Math. I was wondering if your children enjoyed this type of books and if it would be worth using as a supplement. The only thing I don't like is that the books are being promoted mainly to girls and not boys.

Blessings

Zoraida

[Dana in OR]

I have seen the book on display at B&N and frankly, I am put off by the title. I'm no prude, it's just that title combined with the marketing skewed toward girls just makes me have no interest in it. Sort of the same way I feel about "Barbie" early reader books.

We use Life of Fred math books as entertaining supplements instead.

[dragons in the flower bed]

Does anyone use Math Doesn't Suck by Danica McKellar as a light hearted supplement to their math program. I saw an interview with her on World News Tonight a couple of months ago. I noticed on this weeks Children's New York Times bestseller list she now has a new book out covering Pre Algebra called Kiss My Math. I was wondering if your children enjoyed this type of books and if it would be worth using as a supplement.\


Um . . . WHAT? Those titles are so inappropriate! We like supplementary, fun math books, but you can do much better than these. Try Life of Fred, Marilyn Burns' I Hate Math, or the suggestions at LivingMath.net.

[nestof3]

Off topic, but the title is a little lacking. :tongue_smilie:

[In The Great White North]

:iagree: I wouldn't buy them because I don't want to hear that language from my dd's.

Inside could be the most wonderful program in the world, but we're not going there.

[MtnTeaching]

Well, I have a bit of a different take. My 11yo son came home to hs last year after spending 4th in ps. He's pretty good at math, but after a couple of months of using a very boring, "do the next thing" math program, I picked this book up at a book store as a supplement after looking at tons of books. Believe me - the title is a HUGE mistake for this book. I guess she was trying to be "hip" and "speak the language", but I think she did herself a total disservice. I would have loved to of had a book like this when I was in school. No one could seem to explain middle school math, relate it to real life and make it fun like this book does. (Granted I hadn't found Life of Fred yet, either).

Anyway, we had a blast with this book and soon dumped the other curriculum except for the problems. We would sit and laugh, work problems and go "Wow, what a great way to work this or remember that." She really is a great math teacher and he blew the Iowa basic Skills test away in math.

The book is definitely geared toward girls, but this was half the fun. Along with opening a few doors as to why some girls, or people in general, may think some things are important that really aren't (can you say "shallow?"), it also led to many belly laughs as we decided to "change" the entire book to a male's perspective. High heels became combat boots, makeup became Native American war paint, poodles were Dobermans, lattes were huge root beer floats, etc.

All in all, I have to say we had a blast and both learned a lot! We are moving onto Chalkdust and Life of Fred this year, but the book (if you can get past the title) really did give a great foundation. She has a very unique and straight forward way of explaining math, how it relates to real life situations and most importantly - how one thing you learn will have a correlation to something else you learn later on. It's a very concise and cohesive book.

I for one can recommend this book - if you are willing to also discuss a few "trendy" things like lattes, cell phones, clothes shopping, the inappropriateness of the title, and the occasional boyfriend reference. I personally would rather use a lighthearted opportunity like this to openly discuss a few "worldly" vices in a controlled environment, than to have them be discussed with friends without my view being heard first.

Again, I think the title was a huge mistake and really detracts from the overall math content, but I also didn't like Marilyn Burn's title, "I Hate Math".

[Mari]

The actress who played Winnie Cooper on The Wonder Years is the author of this book. Many don't know that after the series ended she went on to some Ivy League school and eventually earned a Ph.D in math and, I think, physics.

Her book is purposely marketed at middle and high school girls who traditionally lose interest in math or are victims of poor teaching instruction. I watched a TV interview when her first book came out and she rattled off some statistic about how girls' mathmatic abilities seriously decline at around the fourth and fifth grades. Sadly, this is the normal time when traditionally schooled girls begin to lose their self-esteem and self-confidence. Her goal has been to re-introduce the joy of learning math to girls who would rather talk about fashion, boys, relationships, etc.

I know many are put off by the titles of her books but I would seriously consider that that most of the girls in the intended age range have probably heard or (yikes!) said worse. Please don't be offended by that last statement...I'm really only trying to express that these books really shouldn't be judged by their covers.

--Mari

[Lizzie in Ma]

But I don't want that mouth on my 12 year old. I like Danica, I loved the Wonder Years but what is everyday ok for some doesn't work for me. And don't get me wrong, there are days when I have a mouth like a trucker but....

Sticking with Life of Fred.

[Sebastian (a lady)]

Does anyone use Math Doesn't Suck by Danica McKellar as a light hearted supplement to their math program. I saw an interview with her on World News Tonight a couple of months ago. I noticed on this weeks Children's New York Times bestseller list she now has a new book out covering Pre Algebra called Kiss My Math. I was wondering if your children enjoyed this type of books and if it would be worth using as a supplement. The only thing I don't like is that the books are being promoted mainly to girls and not boys.

Blessings

Zoraida

I've read the book and thought it was well done. I probably wouldn't hand it to my boys, but not over concerns with the title. Many of the examples are related to tv culture. We seldom watch so the examples would require as much explaining as the original concept.
But I do like the book as a secret book for the homeschooling mom. It is a good math refresher or clarifier of concepts you never really understood. She also uses many of the methods for solving problems that are taught in schools these days (for example the birthday cake method of prime factorization or grid methods of multiplying). I find some of them more complicated than just learning the older algarithms, but since they are much in vogue in schools, there is some value to knowing the terms and techniques.
Is the title crass? Yeah. Is the math inside well thought out. Yeah.
My library had it and it was worth my checking it out.

[Academy of Jedi Arts]

I thought I was going to hate it (part of me still hates it)....and then dd wanted it...

...and it's cool. Dd is a girly girl and it fits her personality. Yes I would love for dd to be a feminist type who sees fingernail polish as a total waste of her time, but that's not the kid I got. So anything that reinforces that you can be pretty and popular AND good at math (etc) is all good in my book!

I did not the author had a new book out. I will have to check it out.

Oh, and dd will not use the word "suck" even though she has read that and much worse, plus has heard me use it. She doesn't even like to say darn or hell in a Biblical sense of the word.

[funschooler5]

Does anyone know what topics are covered? My 11 yr old *hates* math, but I'm wondering if it might be too hard for her, as she is behind in some concepts (multiplication especially).

Andrea

[Mabelen]

Does anyone use Math Doesn't Suck by Danica McKellar as a light hearted supplement to their math program. I saw an interview with her on World News Tonight a couple of months ago. I noticed on this weeks Children's New York Times bestseller list she now has a new book out covering Pre Algebra called Kiss My Math. I was wondering if your children enjoyed this type of books and if it would be worth using as a supplement. The only thing I don't like is that the books are being promoted mainly to girls and not boys.

Blessings

Zoraida


My 11 yo dd is using it as a suplement and she enjoys it a lot. I also have a subscription to Aleks for summer review and she alternates both. My dd has always shown mathematical aptitude in tests, but she never was really interested in it as a subject. This book has helped to make her enjoy math and to be more open to not being scared of showing her abilities.

I have not seen the Life of Alfred books, so I can't compare. I am willing to try those once she is finished with this one though!

[nmoira]

Um . . . WHAT? Those titles are so inappropriate!Maybe it's a regional thing? Where I'm from, most people wouldn't blink twice (nor assign any connotations other than displeasure) to "That sucks!" However, since I've moved to the PNW, I've encountered several people who don't understand it in that context.

[dragons in the flower bed]

Maybe it's a regional thing? Where I'm from, most people wouldn't blink twice (nor assign any connotations other than displeasure) to "That sucks!"

Um, well, maybe I have a dirty mind, but the expression brings to mind oral s-x. Seeing as how girls often begin their, shall we say, romantic careers, with oral s-x, in junior high no less, it seemed particularly icky knowing this was marketed to girls of that age. As in, math sucks, and you suck, so it's a natural combination! :::shudder:::