"How Many"

Danielson, 2018

The Reading Public Schools Learning & Teaching Team selected "How Many" as our November book of the month.  Although the title appears deceivingly simple, the book is an outside the box (or egg carton) way of thinking and talking about counting.  Author Christopher Danielson uses rich photographs to engage discussions about 'how many' you see in the picture.  This counting book breaks the mold (or avocado skin) by;

• Not progressing in predictable manners (i.e. pages do not go 1, 2, 3...)
• Having MANY possible correct answers
• Providing complicated items to count (pizzas with different toppings, avocado halves, etc.)
• Not having an answer key - because really, it's all about the discussion!

Danielson, 2018

When reading this book and children give an answer to the question "how many?" parents should prompt them to share... how many of what?  Open up the possibility for seeing things differently (and even better than that - counting things differently!)  Do you see ONE pair of shoes?  Does your child see TWO shoes?  Both are correct and lead towards great conversations that build student understanding of unitizing.

Danielson's book is engaging enough that even older children can discuss their thinking (fractional pieces of pizza?  Arrays of avocado halves?)

Caution - you may find that using this book leads to lots of "How Many" conversations - in the car, at the dinner table, while folding laundry...the possibilities are endless!

Enjoy!

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Heather Leonard, STEM Curriculum Coordinator, Reading Public Schools

Twitter: @STEMReading

https://readingstem.blogspot.com/