I’ve tried a few times over the years to express my philosophy of teaching math. Back when I first started doing workshops for homeschooling parents, I told them: “Instead of drudgery, mathematics should be a game of discovery. It should give children the same ‘Eureka!’ thrill that sent Archimedes running through town in his birthday suit. I call this the ‘Aha!’ factor, the delight in solving a challenging puzzle.” Years later, as the internet developed and much of life moved online, I started a blog about playing with math. And since all good blogs need an “About Me” page, I had another cha ..read more

I’ve just launched the Denise Gaskins’ Playful Math Store! The Grand Opening Sale runs through April 20 — add the discount code GRAND_20 at checkout to save 20% on your first order. We have plenty of fun mathy goodness on hand, so I hope you’ll take some time to browse our collections. Don’t miss the math art collection, or the journaling resources, or my classic Math You Can Play series. And of course, there’s the merch. Even better, we have both digital and print books, which is something my previous store couldn’t handle. So many ways to celebrate the joy of mathematics. May your family alw ..read more

This game builds mental math skills in young students, and is fun for all ages. Many parents remember struggling to learn math. We hope to provide a better experience for our children. And one of the best ways for children to enjoy learning is through hands-on play. So what are you waiting for? Let’s play some math! Shut the Box (Cards) Math Concepts: addition, number bonds up to nine. Players: two to four. Equipment: one deck of playing cards, two six-sided dice. How to Play Each player lays out the ace through ten of one suit, face up. On your turn, roll the dice and add the numbers togeth ..read more

Doodling to Learn Math: When students learn to visualize shapes, designs, and patterns, it makes them better at math. Do you want your children to develop the ability to reason creatively and figure out things on their own? Help kids practice slowing down and taking the time to fully comprehend a math topic or problem-solving situation with these classic tools of learning: Notice. Wonder. Create. Notice: Look carefully at the details of the numbers, shapes, or patterns you see. What are their attributes? How do they relate to each other? Also notice the details of your own mathematical think ..read more

This is your final notice for the Tabletop Math Games Collection Kickstarter. Thank you so much to everyone who has backed these fun books. Your encouragement and support keep me going! For procrastinators, get thee to the Kickstarter: Order Your Books Now ❯ Regular Bookstores Won’t Carry These Books Most of my books eventually show up in the regular online bookstores, making it easy to delay purchasing because you know you can find it later. But these are not typical paperback or hardcover books. Instead, they’re designed to lay flat so players can use the gameboards or easily refer to rules ..read more

This game gives students a fun reason to think about calculating with exponents. Many parents remember struggling to learn math. We hope to provide a better experience for our children. And one of the best ways for children to enjoy learning is through hands-on play. So what are you waiting for? Let’s play some math! Power Up Math Concepts: powers (exponents). Players: only two. Equipment: one printed character sheet for each player, two six-sided dice, pencils or markers. Calculator optional. The FREE 68-page printable (pdf) Prealgebra & Geometry Printables file features hundred charts ..read more

Writing to Learn Math: Math journal explanations avoid the formality that turns so many students away from geometry proofs. Do you want your children to develop the ability to reason creatively and figure out things on their own? Help kids practice slowing down and taking the time to fully comprehend a math topic or problem-solving situation with these classic tools of learning: Notice. Wonder. Create. Notice: Look carefully at the details of the numbers, shapes, or patterns you see. What are their attributes? How do they relate to each other? Also notice the details of your own mathematical ..read more

Did you know that, with our recent stretch goals, the Tabletop Math Games Kickstarter now features more than 90 amazing ways to play math with your kids? And every pledge pushes us closer to the next new bonus, which means more new games and playful math goodies for every backer. Don’t miss out on the excitement. Order your copy today: Visit the Math Games Kickstarter ❱ How Are These Books Different? I love how the challenge of a well-fought math game pushes players of all ages to think more creatively and build fluency. So my Tabletop Math Games Collection is designed to make it easier than e ..read more

This game builds number sense and a playful approach to math. Many parents remember struggling to learn math. We hope to provide a better experience for our children. And one of the best ways for children to enjoy learning is through hands-on play. So what are you waiting for? Let’s play some math! Next-Door Neighbors Math Concepts: number properties, numbers within 100. Players: two players, child and adult. Equipment: printed hundred chart. Set-Up The free 50-page PDF Hundred Charts Galore! file offers many variations of hundred charts. Choose your favorite, or change it up each time you p ..read more

There’s a new math journaling prompt this week. Have your kids tried it yet? This week’s prompt features one of my favorite quotations to get kids thinking (and writing) about the value of mistakes in learning. Or you might prefer last week’s prompt, featuring a classic math brainteaser and encouraging students to create their own related puzzles. Or, if you’re reading this post later and missed those, there’s another great new prompt this week for you to explore. Check it out: Visit Thinking Thursday Why Does the Prompt Disappear? For over a year now, I’ve posted a new math journaling prompt ..read more