Happiness is a new math book

One of my favorite things about starting school each year was writing my name and the year in the front cover of the text books.  I grew up in a small school so I usually knew all the names listed above mine.  Sometimes we would trade books so we could have the same one as an older sibling.  Then we would get to look through the entire book, looking for doodles or other marks. There was something exciting about seeing all the things I would learn and knowing that even if the problems on the last page made no sense to me now by the end of the year it would be easy.

When I went off to college my excitement grew as I realized that I could keep my books, sure they cost a pretty penny but they were mine forever.  If I ever need to know something I was suppose to have learned I can look it up.

As a homeschool mom this love of text books has gone up exponentially.  Not only do I get to keep the books and use them year after year but I get to pick which ones to use.

Math was the hardest subject for me to pick a text book.  My kids are young enough that most of what they need came be found in workbooks, and workbooks can be found anywhere.  But I will need text books eventually and different companies arrange things differently.  I wanted a math program that built on itself each year.  I wanted it to be easy to follow, no big jumps in concepts.  Most importantly I wanted it to be interesting for me, the teacher.  I wanted something I would read thoroughly, not just glance over. I wanted something that made me think.

I feared I might be asking the impossible but then I heard about Fred.  Fred is a fictional five year old who teaches math at a fictional university.  You learn about math as he uses it throughout his little adventures.  Math is more than concepts, there are reasons to learn each aspect.  The author started by writing high-school/college level books but has been writing for younger and younger students.  I was thrilled when I heard about his Elementary books.  The first four were released this summer and there are eight more coming.

I'll admit I was a little nervous when I opened my mail today and saw book one, "Life of Fred: Apples."  What if it isn't as wonderful I I want it to be.  But my nerves faded and my excitement grew as I read thru each chapter, the artwork and the humor flowed seamlessly with the math and teaching.  Merry and I read the first few pages together then I let Charry work on it independently (I stopped her after two chapters, I don't want her to finish it too quickly.)  It was great to hear them telling their dad all about it.  They seem almost as excited as I am.

If you are looking for a math program that is just a little different than most or if you are just curious about Fred you should check out this web site http://www.stanleyschmidt.com/FredGauss/index2.html  If you go to common questions "who is Fred?" is at the bottom.  You can also read the fist chapter of each book in the sample section.

http://www.stanleyschmidt.com/FredGauss/index2.html