The Story Behind Storytelling Math (2023)
Description
Learn about Storytelling Math, a set of English/Spanish board books and picture books that combine authentic cultural diversity, emotionally resonant stories, and deep mathematical ideas. Storytelling Math is a collaboration among Charlesbridge Publishing, Marlene Kliman of TERC, and a host of authors and illustrators from varied cultural backgrounds.
See https://www.charlesbridge.com/pages/storytelling-math-series for books and other resources, and https://www.terc.edu/storytelling-math/ for project rationale.
Award: The Heising-Simons Foundation, with substantial in-kind contribution from Charlesbridge Publishing
Discussion
This discussion took place during the TERC Video Showcase Event Nov. 14-21, 2023. Discussion is now closed.Presenters
Lead Presenter
Marlene Kliman
TERC
TERC
Co-Presenters
Grace Lin
Author
Author
Alyssa Mito Pusey
Charlesbridge
Charlesbridge
Learn more at: https://www.charlesbridge.com/pages/storytelling-math-series
Glad you like the books! Currently, we have eight board books in English and eight in Spanish/English. The board books address spatial sense, patterns, sorting and classifying, measurement, geometry, sharing/dividing equally—all developmentally-appropriate for ages up to 3. We’re starting to work on more and will be including additional topics. We have ten picture books so far in English (with ten in Spanish/English and one in Cherokee), addressing similar topics at but for ages 3-6. as well as more on data, volume/capacity/area, division/fractions, and proportional thinking. We also have a mapping book coming out in 2024, and a logic book coming soon after, as well as more in the works for future years. If there are particular math topics anyone is particularly interested in seeing in the books, please don’t hesitate to let us know as we continue developing books.
Thank you for the meaningful work!
Thanks for commenting on the video! Math anxiety is rampant and can start at a very young age as children absorb messages about math from caregivers, media, and society at large. We offer more positive visions by portraying children of color as strong mathematical thinkers in emotionally resonant stories that we hope children will want to hear again and again and again.
https://www.charlesbridge.com/products/yumbo-gumbo
At present, we have four picture books for ages 3-6 that deal with spatial relationships. They are all available in English and in Spanish/English bilingual, and the first, below, is also available in Cherokee/English bilingual:
• https://www.charlesbridge.com/products/look-grandma-ni-elisi (area, volume, perimeter)
• https://www.charlesbridge.com/products/lia-and-luis-puzzled (math of assembling jigsaw puzzles)
• https://www.charlesbridge.com/products/usha-and-the-big-digger (orientation and rotation)
• https://www.charlesbridge.com/products/again-essie (3-D geometry)
We have a Storytelling Math book that addresses the math of translating 3D reality into 2D maps coming out next fall (Teresa is contributing to this book, as she did to Again, Essie). Lots of public libraries carry the books, so you should be able to find them readily. If you have questions once you’ve had a chance to look them over, don’t hesitate to e-mail me.