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Owens has firsthand experience with the saying "necessity is the mother of invention." As a young mother, she used to wish she could find an easy-to-use math book that would show her concepts and techniques for teaching them while also providing hands-on materials to cement the knowledge learned into the minds of her children. As a math teacher she also faced frustrations from her students who frequently struggled with a basic understanding of whole numbers and fractions. So, refusing to back away from the clear needs she saw both personally and professionally, she began to create her own hands-on approaches to the teaching of math. The result of her efforts is a useful book of practical ideas and activities that helps parents and teachers teach naturally and put the fun back into learning.
At the heart of Owens' book is the belief that using a variety of manipulatives and employing visual and spatial reinforcement can make the comprehension of math concepts more intuitive and less threatening. Much of the teaching can occur in the course of daily life through what Owens calls "Reinforcers." For example, divvying up pieces of a pie at dinner can be a way to show how fractions work. When building a birdhouse together a parent can teach the child how to measure the boards and learn geometric principles. Even games such as checkers can subtly instruct a son or daughter in logic and problem solving. Of course, sometimes a more direct approach is needed to get certain ideas across, and Owens offers up a wide range of these such as "Shoebox" activities that usually require craft materials to accomplish, "Quickies" that are basically math-based brainteasers, story problems, and "Arithmebuildity" projects. Owens' book is innovative, creative, and chock-full of great ideas. It should prove especially useful to homeschooling parents.
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