Hi, I’m Justine.
It’s nice to meet you.
I am an elementary school educator and love helping kids learn to be confident, mathematical problem solvers. And, I value being a trusted partner in the parent’s journey throughout the learning process of their children.
Welcome Parents, Let's Get your Kids Excited About Math
I want to help you find teaching tools that will put your child on a path to success.
As a parent, you want to do what is best for your kid. Maybe you have noticed them falling behind, frustrated with the material, or bored and without challenges in class. You want to help, but you’re unsure where to start and what to try.
There are plenty of websites with worksheets or online games, but you're looking for more than something to just put in front of them-- you want to offer interactive experiences that enable you to be a part of your child's journey. You want to be able to motivate and inspire them while monitoring and celebrating their progress.
Whether your child loves a good story, enjoys strategy and competition, wants to see math in the real world, or simply needs a chance to learn through playing, there is much on this site to challenge and enrich his or her understanding. And, you will feel rewarded for their accomplishments!
View My List of Resources
Take a look at my collection of recommended books, toys, games, and activities for grades Pre-K to 6. Start from the full list or search each category individually and filter by topic and/or grade level.
Read My Blog
Learn more about math education and supporting young students by referring to articles that cover teaching philosophy, tips and advice, and how to find math everywhere.
Join the Community
Become a part of a group of parents (and teachers) who all want to help their kids just like you. Connect to ask questions, offer insight, or share what’s worked for you. And, be sure to recommend this site to others!
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you choose your book recommendations?
I have actually read each and every one of the books on the recommended books list. This meant scouring public libraries, teacher collections, school libraries, as well as my own school’s math resources library of great math books. And, now I stay on the look out for new books as they are released.
My list is not all encompassing—I purposely select the ones I feel are most effective for teaching math concepts and sparking kids’ interest. Some features of an effective mathematical book include:
- Interesting format
- Appropriate type size
- Text and illustrations that communicate excitement in exploring math ideas
- Accuracy/ mathematically correct
- Material simplified appropriately and presented clearly to intended audience
- Carefully organized with concepts presented from simple to complex, and specifics to generalizations in a logical sequence
There are also a number of questions I ask myself when considering a book to add to the list:
- How does the story support the development of mathematical ideas?
- What is the purpose of the mathematical content within the story?
- Is it of high quality from a literary perspective?
- Does it present content that is mathematically sound and grade-level appropriate?
- Is it effective for helping childrenlearn to think and reason mathematically?
How do you choose which toys, games, and activities to recommend?
Like the books, these are resources I have taken a look at myself and, in certain cases, developed myself. Some I have used in my own classroom, while others were recommended to me by other teachers. This way, I know these resources actually engage kids and support their learning.
What’s not to like about other activities like online games and worksheets?
I have found interactive learning that encourages communication and engagement with others to be most effective in developing a child’s understanding. While online games and worksheets are great for practice, they are not the best realm for learning new concepts.
Fellow educators, here’s a collection of resources you’ll love!
I want to help you find teaching tools that will put your students on a path to success.
As a teacher, you want to be able to reach every kid in your class. But, the curriculum you are tasked with implementing isn’t always enough, or even the approach that each kid needs. You have some kids who need a challenge, others who need extra support, and still others who are perhaps math averse and need some encouragement. You want to meet each kid where they are, but how do you do that with so many different little personalities in your class?
There are plenty of websites with worksheets or online games, but you're looking for more than something to just put in front of them-- you want to offer interactive experiences so you can motivate and inspire them while monitoring their progress.
Whether your students love a good story, enjoy strategy and competition, want to see math in the real world, or simply need a chance to learn through playing, there is much on this site to challenge and enrich their understanding. And, you will feel rewarded for their accomplishments!
View My List of Resources
Take a look at my collection of recommended books, toys, games, and activities for grades Pre-K to 6. Start from the full list or search each category individually and filter by topic and/or grade level.
Read My Blog
Learn more about math education and supporting young students by referring to articles that cover teaching philosophy, tips and advice, and how to find math everywhere.
Join the Community
Become a part of a group of parents (and teachers) who all want to help their kids just like you. Connect to ask questions, offer insight, or share what’s worked for you. And, be sure to recommend this site to others!
Want me to Lead a Workshop?
I lead professional development clinics to engage your faculty about alternative ways to teach math. Reach out to learn about a program that’s right for your school.
Connect with parents and teachers motivated to inspire kids through math
I help parents and teachers find the resources that will put kids on a path to success. Imagine how your brand can benefit through association and placement.
You have put effort, time, and money into creating something great. And, you’re looking to connect your books, toys, or games with an interested audience that will appreciate your products. But, it can be hard to find the right way to get the word out. Your products have math themes suitable for young students, so you think it would be natural to approach parents and teachers that are looking for unique ways to engage their kids. But, not enough math sites build a community that you can reach. You want to find your following, yet there is no single platform that seems to put your work in front of the right groups.
Through this site, you will be happy to find a plugged-in and motivated community that is committed to building young students' math understanding with engaging teaching resources.
Whether students love a good story, enjoy strategy and competition, want to see math in the real world, or simply need a chance to learn through playing, there is much on this site to challenge and enrich their understanding. And, your products or services can be a part of their progress! Discover how you can make sure they get exposure:
Submit products for review
I maintain a list of recommended products for the BookSmart Math audience which tunes in to find the latest and best resources for kids. I eagerly accept submissions for review!
Share With the Community
By participating in social channels and helping others know more about you and your work, you will gain authentic reach. I love to interview contributors in the education field.
Advertise Here
I would be excited to partner with interested parties to promote your educational products or services. If you think you’d be a good match, let’s get in touch.
“She seems challenged and has learned so much, and she has gained self-confidence. I am so glad she is excited about math!”
–Charis R., parent
“Thank you for helping me with math. I improved A LOT!”
–Kara, student
“I was looking for new ways to challenge my daughter with math. Everything I have found on this site has helped me make learning fun and interesting for her."
–David K., parent
"This site's list of resources has helped me find books, games, toys, and activities to share with students. I love recommending it to parents so they can try new ways to engage their kids with math outside of school."
–Emily M., teacher
Contact Us
If you have further questions or just want to reach out, please feel free to write me a message. I would love to hear from you. Let me know your ideas, suggestions, concerns—anything at all!
Copyright © BookSmart Math