Read alouds are not just for reading and writing! This post will share math read alouds that are perfect for back to school (or anytime really) with ideas for using them in the classroom and free activities.
This post contains affiliate links for your convenience (as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases- which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link, I will earn a small commission but it won’t cost you any extra). Click here for more information about my disclosure policy.
I’m Trying to Love Math
In this book, the narrator is on a quest to find something that will make math interesting, however, nothing resonated more than when 3-eyed purple aliens came into play! They rebuffed all of her arguments and she soon learned that math has many applications, like cooking, navigation, and music. Click here to check it out on Amazon.
Free printables for the activities shown above in the section titled Free Math Read Aloud Printables.
Counting on Katherine
Counting on Katherine tells the story of Katherine Johnson, an African-American mathematician who worked for NASA during the space race. The story tells about how a young Katherine loved to count and calculate everything from how many steps there were on the road, to how many dishes she had washed. This passion and interest led her to becoming an expert mathematician at NASA! Katherine was definitely an unsung hero of the Space Race.
The Boy Who Loved Math
Want another story about a real person who loved math? The Boy Who Loved Math tells the story of eccentric mathematician Paul Erdos. Math is not usually known for its humor, but the story of Paul Erdos makes it an exception. From being taught at home during WWI to becoming well-known as The Magician from Budapest, his life was fascinating from start to finish.
Math Curse
Days where everything seems like a problem can be very frustrating. But it doesn’t have to be this way! After her teacher tells the class, “You know, almost everything in life can be considered a math problem,” the narrator is convinced she is suffering from a math curse. This is a story about one girl becomes a “math zombie” and then learns to break the curse. Click here to see it on Amazon.
Free Math Read Aloud Printables
Any of the math read alouds included in this blog post lead into a perfect lesson on how the students currently view or feel about math. You can use this opportunity to have students complete a math survey with their feelings about math or to introduce the idea of having a math growth mindset.
Click the animated image below and then enter your email address in the pop-up. You’ll be able to download the resource immediately and it will also be sent to your inbox.
Love this idea! Helping build a positive math identity in students is so important!