Beyond Counting Sheep: Why math is the hot new bedtime reading
TimeFebruary 25, 2013
p. 52
Forty-three year old Laura Bilodeau
Overdeck is a Princeton-trained astrophysicist turned stay-at-home mom;
she is the founder of the nonprofit Bedtime Math.
Overdeck wants kids to fall in love with numbers.
As part of that mission, she wants to change the way parents put their kids to bed; Overdeck wants parents to add a math problem to the nighttime routine.
As part of that mission, she wants to change the way parents put their kids to bed; Overdeck wants parents to add a math problem to the nighttime routine.
In 2012 Overdeck launched the Bedtime Math website.
An app and book also are on the way.
An app and book also are on the way.
She is reaching out to libraries to host
Bedtime Math pajama parties, and is exploring partnerships with
organizations such as the Girl Scouts in Chicago.
Overdeck also is hoping to reach out to science museums.
Overdeck also is hoping to reach out to science museums.
"Everyone knows they should read a book to their kids before bed, but nobody knows they should be doing math, too."
The core of Bedtime Math is simple: a free
daily math problem, geared to one of three levels of
difficulty--prekindergarten, kindergarten to grade 2, and second grade
and up.
The subjects are designed to appeal to children.
For example, candy.
For example, candy.
M&Ms last thirteen months, but Lifesavers only last nine months.
How many more months do M&Ms last?
How many more months do M&Ms last?
Another problem asks children to calculate how far a skunk can spray its scent.
Overdeck hopes these topics can be a remedy for math anxiety.
Research shows that early math skills are a better predictor of academic success than reading ability.
American students rank 25th of 34 industrialized nations in math.
Everyone from the Girl Scouts to the television program Sesame Street has launched efforts to reverse the trend.
Part of the problem is cultural.
People do not brag they cannot read, but they do say they don't do numbers.
The aim is to create a cultural shift to make students come to school comfortable with math.
Math should be warm and fuzzy, which isn't to say it should be easy.
Because of demand, Bedtime Math is rolling out problems for older children targeted at tweens, teens, and adults.
Here is the link to Bedtime Math
Here is the link to the Museum of Mathematics