The Math Curse book is a popular children's book written by Jon Scieszka and illustrated by Lane Smith. The book follows a young child who wakes up one day to find that everything around them has become a math problem or has some connection to math. The child's teacher, Mrs. Fibonacci, assigns them a project to find the "Math Curse" that seems to have afflicted the entire school. Throughout the book, various math concepts and problems are introduced in a fun and engaging way. The child encounters a wide range of math-related situations, from measuring angles to calculating speed and distance.
The child encounters a wide range of math-related situations, from measuring angles to calculating speed and distance. The book not only teaches mathematical concepts but also encourages problem-solving skills and critical thinking. The Math Curse book not only appeals to children but also to adults who enjoy math.
New Stanford class examines the literary origins of fantastical creatures
In a new class, called Medieval Fantasy Literature, students examined the origins of dragons, witches and other fantastical creatures by reading a series of ancient works.
By Alex ShashkevichOver summer quarter, a group of students visited a fantasy world of trolls, ogres, dragons, witches and fairies in a new Stanford humanities course.
Stanford English doctoral candidate Max Ashton teaches a summer quarter class on the role of dragons, ogres and other creatures in medieval literature. (Image credit: L.A. Cicero)
Fantastical creatures inhabit many of today’s popular novels, films and TV series, but their origins date to texts over 1,000 years old. These ancient works of art, whose original authors are mostly unknown, were the focus of the Medieval Fantasy Literature course taught by Stanford English doctoral candidate Max Ashton.
“Today, fantasy is often seen as low culture meant to entertain, not to enlighten – to distract, not to engage,” Ashton said. “Medieval people, on the other hand, saw the fantastic and the marvelous as natural subjects of the most dignified literature.”
During the eight-week course, students read some of the oldest European medieval fantasy stories, including 10th-century Old English epic poem Beowulf as well as old Celtic and Norse texts like The Mabinogion and The Elder Edda. They also read modern works for comparison, including The Lord of the Rings, first published in 1954.
It presents math as an integral part of everyday life and shows how math can be relevant and interesting. The illustrations by Lane Smith complement the humorous and imaginative text, creating a visually appealing book. One of the strengths of the Math Curse book is its ability to make math accessible and enjoyable for children. It breaks down complex concepts into relatable examples and shows how math can be applied in various real-life scenarios. The book also emphasizes the importance of asking questions and finding creative solutions to problems. Overall, the Math Curse book is a clever and entertaining way to introduce children to mathematical concepts. It combines humor, storytelling, and illustrations to make math engaging and relatable. Whether read in the classroom or at home, the book can inspire a love for math and encourage children to view math as an exciting adventure rather than a curse..
Reviews for "Breaking the Math Curse: A Journey through the Book's Lessons"
1. Claire - 2/5 - I found "Math Curse" to be quite confusing and hard to follow. The book seemed to jump from one math concept to another without much explanation or connection. As someone who struggles with math, I was hoping this book would help make it more accessible and engaging, but unfortunately, it only added to my confusion. Additionally, the illustrations were lackluster and didn't enhance the story. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun and educational read on math.
2. Max - 1/5 - I was really disappointed with "Math Curse". The book came off as condescending and made me feel dumb for not understanding math concepts. Instead of breaking down complex ideas in a simple and relatable way, it seemed to mock those who struggled with math. The humor fell flat, and I found myself getting frustrated and annoyed rather than entertained. I definitely wouldn't recommend this book to anyone, especially those who already have a negative relationship with math.
3. Sarah - 2/5 - "Math Curse" was supposed to help demystify math and make it more enjoyable, but it missed the mark for me. The story felt disjointed and lacked a clear plotline. While it tried to incorporate math concepts, it did so in a way that was overwhelming and hard to grasp. The illustrations were also uninspiring and didn't add much to the overall experience. I was hoping this book would make me see math in a new light, but unfortunately, it only reinforced my dislike for the subject. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for an engaging and educational book on math.
4. James - 1/5 - I found "Math Curse" to be a complete waste of time. The book lacked a coherent structure and felt like a mishmash of random, unrelated math problems. The attempts at humor were forced and fell flat, making it hard to stay engaged. Rather than making math fun and accessible, it made me feel even more alienated from the subject. The illustrations were okay, but they didn't salvage the overall poor quality of the book. I would advise anyone looking for a good math resource to look elsewhere, as this certainly isn't it.