This page provides reviews I have completed of two books. The books are two examples of the many pieces of mathematical literature available. Look for these books at your local library if you are interested. Your child can also find them in our school library.
Forget textbooks- reading about math can be fun!
Forget textbooks- reading about math can be fun!
Tiger Math: Learning to Graph from a Baby Tiger
Reading Level
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According to the publisher's website, Macmillan, this book is for grades second through fifth and for ages seven to ten. I conducted my own readability test using the Fry Readability strategy (see link below the reviews for information on this leveling technique). After calculating the average number of sentences and syllables within three 100 word passages, I used the Fry Readability graph to arrive at the readability level of seventh grade. Large words increased the number of syllables per sentence and therefore increased the grade level. I still recommend this book for your third grader. If you think the vocabulary is too difficult this book would make a great book to read together so that your child can understand the content without struggling with words.
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Mathematics
Content Accuracy Visuals Vocabulary |
This book focuses on graphing information about a growing tiger. The graphs include line graphs, bar graphs, picture graphs, and a pie chart. The data for the graphs include T.J. the tiger's weight and amount of food over certain periods of time. Out of the book's 29 pages there are 11 graphs. The graphs are on the left hand pages and include background information on reading the graph and what type of graph it is. I found no issues with the accuracy of this book.
The story line, following T.J.'s life from when his mother died to when he grew up to live in another zoo, is on the right hand pages. The graphs on the left pages correspond with the part of the story on the right. The graphs are large and colorful. Each right hand page includes text and at least one picture of T.J. and/or the zoo staff. The math vocabulary in the story include the following plus many more: graphs (picture graph, circle graphs, bar graphs, and line graphs), compare, amount, and subtracting. There is no glossary or index. |
Literacy
Writing Style Storyline Presentation Vocabulary |
The story of T.J. follows a sequential order and covers his birth, his mother's death, his time being raised by the staff, and his move to another zoo. The book is written in past tense and uses relatively short sentences. While many adjectives are used, the story is very much to the point. It is a nonfiction text but the interesting content of the story allows it to be read for entertainment much like a work of fiction. The story on the right hand pages is written in paragraphs on the bottom half of the page while the photos of T.J. are above. This book contains additional pictures of T.J. on the inside front and back covers. Vocabulary words that may be new or challenging to your child (orally or in text form) include: Siberian, nuzzling, veterinarian, snarl, wriggling, exhibit, and nursery.
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Suggestions for Instruction
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This book does a great job of explaining the importance of collecting and representing data in context of caring for T.J. One activity that you and your child can partake in is to chart and graph the various aspects of caring for a plant. Ideas for graphing can include plant height, number of blooms, and number of leaves. If you look under the Parent/Child Activities page of this website this activity is explained in more detail. If you have a pet, perhaps you can choose data about your pet to graph, too!
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Graphing in the Desert
Reading Level
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According to the publisher's website, Marshall Cavendish, this book is for grades second and up. For a second opinion, I did the same readability test on this book as I did for Tiger Math. My results landed in the third grade area on the Fry Readability graph. Your child should be able to read this book independently, but perhaps you will want to read it with him to help him pronounce the names of desert plants and animals.
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Mathematics
Content Accuracy Visuals Vocabulary |
This book shows real life application of using graphs to represent data about the desert. The authors use picture graphs (called pictographs in this book), bar graphs, line graphs, and pie charts (called circle graphs in this book) to represent data like lengths of desert snakes and speeds of desert creatures. I think that the graphs are explained well and are represented accurately. Pictures of desert scenes and animals are large and attractive and add interest to the content of the story. This book includes eight graphs over its 31 pages. In the back of the book is a glossary that defines math vocabulary and other vocabulary. Math vocabulary includes bar graph, circle graph, icon, key, line graph, and pictograph. There are references for two books about the desert and there are links to websites on graphing and on different American deserts if you and your child are interested in more information. There is also an index to locate information in the text.
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Literacy
Writing Style Storyline Presentation Vocabulary |
While both Tiger Math and this book are nonfiction, this book reads a lot more like nonfiction than Tiger Math which reads more like a story about the tiger. This book is written in a more simplistic manner and explains concepts very well. There is not a story so to say; it starts introducing the topic of deserts and then explains the graphs in context of different animals and plants. There is just as much information on desert life as there is about graphing! Vocabulary terms that are not math related that may be new or interesting to your child include: agave, creosote bushes, and crawly. Most new vocabulary will probably be the names of desert vegetation and animals.
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Suggestions for Instruction
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I followed the link under one of the websites listed in the back of this book to the Kids' Zone page shown below to create a graph. With your child, you can create a bar graph of different heights of plants found in your yard or at a local park. If you prefer you can make graphs by hand using paper and other materials. This activity will not only practice measuring, comparing, and graphing but also will encourage your child to mix in science as he learns about plants in his environment. Discuss with your child how these plants compare to plants in other environments like the desert.
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As described in the Reading Level section for Tiger Math, the Fry Readability technique takes the average number of words and syllables from three 100 word passages. Once the two averages are found, you find where they meet on the Fry Readability graph and see what grade range the point falls on. The button to the left will take you to a website that explains the process in more detail and provides an image of the graph.
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Resources
Macmillan (2013). Tiger math. Books by the Author. Retrieved March 27, 2013 from <http://us.macmillan.com/tigermath/AnnNagda>.
Marshall Cavendish (2013). Math all around. Marshall Cavendish Benchmark. Retrieved April 13, 2013 from <http://www.marshallcavendish.us/marshallcavendish-us/benchmark/catalog/maths/math_all_around/index.xml>.
My Byline Media (n.d.). The fry readability formula. Readability Formulas. Retrieved April 13, 2013 from <http://www.readabilityformulas.com/fry-graph-readability-formula.php>.
Nagda, A.W. & Bickel, C. (2000). Tiger math: Learning to graph from a baby tiger. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company.
National Center for Education Statistics (n.d.). Create a graph. Kids' Zone. Retrieved April 13, 2013 from <http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraph/default.aspx>.
Roy, J.R. & Roy, G. (2007). Graphing in the desert. Tarrytown, NY: Marshall Cavendish Benchmark.
Image links
Banner: http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lueug64XAO1qzb8dfo1_1280.jpg
Tiger cover: http://www.jmeacham.com/images/math/tiger.math.jpg
Tiger inside pages (2): http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0805062483/qid=1055192040/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-2861270-7815201?v=glance&s=books
Desert cover: http://images.angusrobertson.com.au/images/ar/97807614/9780761422624/0/0/plain/graphing-in-the-desert.jpg
Desert inside pages (2): personal images taken of book
Marshall Cavendish (2013). Math all around. Marshall Cavendish Benchmark. Retrieved April 13, 2013 from <http://www.marshallcavendish.us/marshallcavendish-us/benchmark/catalog/maths/math_all_around/index.xml>.
My Byline Media (n.d.). The fry readability formula. Readability Formulas. Retrieved April 13, 2013 from <http://www.readabilityformulas.com/fry-graph-readability-formula.php>.
Nagda, A.W. & Bickel, C. (2000). Tiger math: Learning to graph from a baby tiger. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company.
National Center for Education Statistics (n.d.). Create a graph. Kids' Zone. Retrieved April 13, 2013 from <http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraph/default.aspx>.
Roy, J.R. & Roy, G. (2007). Graphing in the desert. Tarrytown, NY: Marshall Cavendish Benchmark.
Image links
Banner: http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lueug64XAO1qzb8dfo1_1280.jpg
Tiger cover: http://www.jmeacham.com/images/math/tiger.math.jpg
Tiger inside pages (2): http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0805062483/qid=1055192040/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-2861270-7815201?v=glance&s=books
Desert cover: http://images.angusrobertson.com.au/images/ar/97807614/9780761422624/0/0/plain/graphing-in-the-desert.jpg
Desert inside pages (2): personal images taken of book