“Reading one of Gaskins’ books is like going to a really great teacher workshop — part philosophy, part practical ideas, and all excellent. She just oozes expertise and enthusiasm.”
—Amy at Hope Is the Word
Buy at a Discount on Kickstarter
Update: In honor of my newest math games book, I’ve put a bunch of my playful math books on discount through the Math You Can Play Kickstarter Campaign.
The campaign includes four free sample games you can download and play today, plus a lot of cool rewards for backers!
Quicklinks
- New to playful math? Start with the Sampler
- Or go directly to Let’s Play Math
- Then explore the Math You Can Play series
- Or play with Dot Grid Journals for children and adults
- Denise’s newest books, the Playful Math Singles series
“Denise Gaskins is that sound voice of reason that comes into my head when I get agitated teaching. This isn’t performance — this is play. My kids aren’t on trial, they are learning to learn.”
—Sonya Post, online reader review
New to Playful Math? Start Here
Do you want your children to enjoy learning math? Teach them how to play!
In this time of pandemic crisis, it’s even more important for families to play together. So we’ve made the ebook version of Let’s Play Math Sampler: 10 Family-Favorite Games for Learning Math Through Play free for the duration.
With excerpts taken from author Denise Gaskins’s most popular books, the Let’s Play Math Sampler features ten kid-tested games covering math concepts from counting to prealgebra.
Pick up a copy today, and make math a playful family adventure.
Ebook available FREE at most bookstores:
and other online retailers.
Or you can order the paperback by special request at your favorite local bookshop.
“Math is so many things — beauty, structure, problem solving, communication, language, creativity — but here’s what I’ve learned as I’ve tried to help my children develop positive relationships with math: It All Begins With Play. Anything by Denise Gaskins is a fantastic place to start. These books are filled with the perfect combination of perspective and practicality.”
—Michele Johnson, Instagram post
Transform Your Child’s Experience of Math
Filled with stories and illustrations, Let’s Play Math: How Families Can Learn Math Together and Enjoy It features activities for preschool to high school students. It’s a treasure trove of helpful tips for all families, whether your children are homeschooling, unschooling, or attending a traditional classroom.
Even if you struggled with math in school, you can help your kids practice mental math skills, master the basic facts, and ask the kind of questions that encourage deeper thought.
Don’t let your kids suffer from the epidemic of math anxiety. Grab a copy of Let’s Play Math, and start enjoying math today.
Buy now:
… and other online retailers, or by special request at your favorite local bookshop.
“This is the math helper I wish I’d had years ago.”
—Anne White, author of Minds More Awake
Math Your Kids WANT to Do
You’ll love these math games because they give your child a strong foundation for mathematical success.
By playing these games, you strengthen your child’s intuitive understanding of numbers and build problem-solving strategies. Mastering a math game can be hard work. But kids do it willingly because it’s fun.
Each book in the Math You Can Play series features twenty or more kid-tested math games, offering a variety of challenges for all ages.
- Read detailed descriptions and reviews.
- Download the Math Game Printables Packs companion files.
Buy now at:
Amazon.com (and Amazon UK, Amazon CA, Amazon AU, Amazon IN, and other Amazon stores worldwide)
…or by special request at your favorite local bookstore.
“It revolutionized our homeschool this year.”
—Caitlin Fitzpatrick Curley, author of My Little Poppies
Dot Grid Journals for Children and Adults
Learning is a great adventure for elementary and middle-school students.
And for their parents, too!
These Dot Grid Journals provide a great place for children and adults to keep track of our discoveries.
The roomy pages offer plenty of space to record memories, plan projects, and keep track of tasks. Your children can solve challenge problems, write explanations, or design their own puzzles. Brainstorm for reports, jot down ideas, work out homework, copy your favorite quotations, or doodle to your heart’s content.
Perfect for use as a commonplace book or to help your child master Bullet Journaling. The paperback binding provides strength without adding weight. Tough enough to withstand a crowded purse or schoolbag.
Order a Dot Grid Journal today, and launch your child (or yourself!) on a voyage of educational exploration.
For more information:
- Read the story behind the journals.
- Try these math journaling prompts.
- Get ideas for mathematical doodling.
Buy now at:
Amazon.com (and Amazon UK, Amazon IN, and other Amazon stores worldwide)
…or by special request at your favorite local bookseller.
“It’s a crime, really, that school makes math so boring, when there are so many ways to do the opposite, for anyone who wants to. Denise Gaskins’s book is full of ideas.”
—Sasha Alyson, Online reader review
Under construction: the Playful Math Singles series
The Playful Math Singles from Tabletop Academy Press are short, topical books featuring clear explanations and ready-to-play activities. More titles coming soon…
Word Problems from Literature: An Introduction to Bar Model Diagrams
You can help prevent math anxiety by giving your children the mental tools they need to conquer the toughest story problems.
The main book is a teacher’s guide with explanations and answers. You may also want the companion student workbook featuring just the word problems (with extra room for children to create their own puzzles).
Available online, or by special request at your favorite local bookshop.
70+ Things To Do with a Hundred Chart: Number, Shape, and Logic Activities from Preschool to Middle School
We love easy activities that require minimal preparation so we can pull something out and play when we’re having one of those no-energy days.
Take your child on a mathematical adventure with these playful, practical activities. Who knew math could be so much fun?
Available online, or by special request at your favorite local bookseller.
Let’s Play Math Sampler: 10 Family-Favorite Games for Learning Math Through Play
Do you want your children to enjoy learning math? Teach them how to play!
In excerpts from author Denise Gaskins’s most popular books, the Let’s Play Math Sampler features ten kid-tested games covering math concepts from counting to prealgebra.
Pick up a copy of the Let’s Play Math Sampler today, and make math a playful family adventure.
Available online, or by special request at your favorite local bookstore.
Shop for the Playful Math Singles in Paperback
Amazon.com (and Amazon UK, Amazon CA, Amazon IN, and in the other Amazons worldwide)
…or by special request at your favorite local bookshop.
“I feel like I’ve been ambling in the woods — enjoying the journey but a bit anxious about where we’re going to end up and whether we’re going to reach our ‘destination’ ‘on time’ (whatever that means!).
“I knew the well-travelled road (maths curricula) wasn’t for us, but I lacked confidence in my ability to guide my children through uncharted territory. Let’s Play Math is the map and the guidebook I’ve been looking for. With it in my hand I can’t wait to take my children by the hand and head off to explore the wonderful world of maths.”
—Lucinda Leo, Navigating by Joy
when will the books be available? I hope soon, my 13 yr old daughter is struggling badly with doing adding, subtracting, multiply of fractions and other pre algebra work and so am I, we really need some help! 2 people tried to tutor her but the next day she would forget what she learned, I hope this book can help her.
Hi, Cindy, and thank you for dropping by! I hope to get the Multiplication & Fractions book out next year, in 2016, but I’m sure you want something sooner than that for helping your daughter.
James Tanton has an interestingly different approach to learning fractions — perhaps it will click with her.
And John Golden recently collected a nice set of free algebra resources that you can try (scroll down to the bullet-point list).
Finally, please check out Jo Boaler’s YouCubed website for inspiration and advice on learning math. And sign up for her free How to Learn Math course for students and parents.