Did
you ever have a big idea? Something so ambitious and challenging
that you don't even admit it to yourself? I have one that
I've been kicking around in my head for quite some time.
It's an idea so impossible and improbable that I would only
take it out and look at it on long drives or walks, or late
at night when everyone is asleep.
My
big idea involves learning math. Let me tell you right away
that I'm no math whiz. When I was in first grade, my first
arithmetic workbook had color pictures of cowboys, candy,
puppies and toys. I decided that this numbers thing was
very cool and I couldn't wait for more. The next math book
didn't have pictures at all and I remember feeling pretty
much cheated. In second grade I got in trouble for illuminating
the margins of my math homework. My love affair with numbers
waned after that.
But
I got to thinking that I could figure out a way to make
toys and games that would take the boring repetition out
of practicing times tables and adding numbers. I started
penciling notes in my idea book and came up with a list.
Then people started coming out of the woodwork offering
to help. My good friend Dr. Marcia Popp has offered to be
the curriculum advisor.
I
want to design an eBook of ten paper games that make reviewing
math facts amusing. I'm going to take the entire month of
August to do it and I've started a Kickstarter campaign
to help pay for it.
I
had a delightful time making up the rewards for supporters.
One of them is an opportunity for you or some child you
know to be a toy tester and receive a new toy each week
to try out. It would be a great way to spend the summer
and be a math genius when school starts. (I've limited it
to thirty people.) I also have a stash of books and art
prints that you might like.
So
thank you for your support. If you could spread the word
it would be a grand favor.
Help
me make math fun for kids. Let's get counting!
