Unlock the Power of Math & Literature: Inspiring Learning Through Stories

I have a confession to make.

When it comes to academic interests, Math is not my first love.

Literature is!

Bed time story — I have been an avid reader for as long as I can remember. I was lucky to grow up in a house full of books and readers. Some of my earliest memories are of my mother reading us a bedtime story. And I’m proud to say I have passed that love of reading and learning on to my children.

My mom, Gini Pettigrew, reading a bed time story to my brother Scott and me 1968.

That is why I was surprised, when I started teaching, that there were kids who didn’t love reading or books! In an effort to share my love of reading while keeping in line with the middle school math standards I was to be teaching, I began searching for stories on relevant math topics. My middle school students loved being read to and I loved the great discussions about math that ensued.

Twenty-five years ago, finding math-focused stories was a difficult endeavor. Now, thanks to the internet and an ever-growing selection, finding a story about a specific math topic is relatively easy! Before I share some of my favorite math stories, let me explain why this link between literature and math is so important:

Books introduce math concepts in a non-threatening way and build interest.
Good stories make math come alive and children start to see that math is exciting and accessible.
Mathematics within stories provides context that illuminates the meaning of otherwise abstract concepts. This is especially helpful for struggling learners.
Oftentimes, literature connects math to real life. This gives meaning to “why” math is important.
Books build connections to math for linguistic learners who tend to think in words rather than symbols.
Books offer another way for kids to “get” the topic we are trying to master.
A good story can help students remember specific vocabulary or mathematical ideas.
If we connect math and reading early on and frequently, maybe the dreaded story problem won’t seem so scary or out of place.

Here are some of my favorite Math & Literature books.

In my next post, I will share my favorite math and literature finds especially for middle school.

Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission on qualified purchases at no additional cost to you.