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Math Doesn't Suck: How to Survive Middle-School Math Without Losing Your Mind or Breaking a Nail |  | Author: Danica McKellar
Publisher: Hudson Street Press
List Price: $23.95
Buy New: $8.00
as of 3/20/2010 09:40 CDT details
You Save: $15.95 (67%)
New (11) Used (9) from $6.85
Rating:  128 reviews
Sales Rank: 1444
Format: Bargain Price
Media: Hardcover
Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Pages: 320
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6.2 x 1.2
Dewey Decimal Number: 510
ASIN: B002BWQ4UK
Publication Date: August 2, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
From a well-known actress and math geniusa groundbreaking guide to mathematics for middle school girls, their parents, and educators
As the math education crisis in this country continues to make headlines, research continues to prove that it is in middle school when math scores begin to dropespecially for girlsin large part due to the relentless social conditioning that tells girls they cant do math, and that math is uncool. Young girls today need strong female role models to embrace the idea that its okay to be smartin fact, its sexy to be smart!
Its Danica McKellars mission to be this role model, and demonstrate on a large scale that math doesnt suck. In this fun and accessible guide, McKellardubbed a math superstar by The New York Timesgives girls and their parents the tools they need to master the math concepts that confuse middle-schoolers most, including fractions, percentages, pre-algebra, and more. The book features hip, real-world examples, step-by-step instruction, and engaging stories of Danicas own childhood struggles in math (and stardom). In addition, borrowing from the style of todays teen magazines, it even includes a Math Horoscope section, Math Personality Quizzes, and Real-Life Testimonialsultimately revealing why math is easier and cooler than readers think.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 128
 For the first time my 12 year old daughter smiled after a math session March 10, 2010
T. Baichan (Corona, NY USA)
I understand some of the negative reviews, but my only concern is that for the first time in her life my 12 year old smiled after doing a math lesson. She has struggled with math from the very start of pre-school, just as I did. She excels in every other subject, even being placed in honors ap english. She's had tutoring in math and yet she still struggles with understanding the concepts beyond basic addition, subtraction and multiplication. It's as if her brain shuts down at the very mention of math or numbers. I searched every website on the internet to find help, knowing that there had to be a better way to understand math beyond the standard school teaching. After seeing a commercial on the Brainetics program I almost purchased it but decided to search further. I then came across recommendations for the book "Super Math-E-Magics" but the only copies available were selling for $175, which I was hesitant to pay for a book I had never seen. I finally settled on this book because like it or not, most 12 year old girls are interested in boys, makeup, hair and all the other nonsense that Danica mentions in her book. The beauty of the book is that Danica also makes sure to reinforce on nearly every page that being intelligent is much more important than being pretty, that intelligence can never be taken away while being pretty doesn't last, and most important to many 12 year old girls--boys like intelligent girls.
We received the book yesterday and my daughter's first reaction was the usual rolling of the eyes and dread that she always exhibits when math is mentioned. I began reading out loug the introduction titled "Math Used to Totally Suck" to convince her to at least give the book a try. As I read the introduction she became interested and settled down to read the book herself. She skipped the first part, chapters 1, 2 and 3, which deal with factors and multiples and went to fractions, something she's been struggling with. After reading for about 2 minutes she got up and said she needed to get something and came back with paper and pencil. Yeah! She worked a few problems on improper fractions and multiplying fractions and got the answers right. The smile on my daughter's face was worth all the money in the world. After all the tutoring, math lessons and school work, this was the first time she ever smiled after doing math. It was as if a closed door had finally opened for her and she's eager to get home from school to learn more math.
Some people gave negative reviews and yes, there is a lot of silly stuff in the book that has nothing to do with math, but my daughter skipped through all of that and went right to the important topic that she needed help with.
Great book!
Wish I could buy one for every junior high student February 13, 2010
Game Lady Lisa
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Danica McKellar didn't just play a smart girl on The Wonder Years; she is one. A certified math genius with her own theorem and everything. In Math Doesn't Suck, she shares that knowledge and her own early struggles with math. She emphasizes that being math-smart isn't dorky; it's cool. She then proves it by teaching troublesome topics (such as decimals) in a breezy style, as if she's writing a teen magazine instead of a math book. I gave this to one of my tutoring students, and the girl actually enjoyed doing her homework! If I could, I would buy this book for every student in sixth through ninth grades. I am now reading her pre-algebra sequel, Kiss My Math; so far it is every bit as good as the first. I look forward to her books on algebra, geometry, trig, and on up through calculus. Thank you, DM. Keep up the valuable work!
Tested out of 2 Math College classes with this book December 15, 2009
Y. Plymale (Jackson, OH)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I am a 38-year old mother of 5 who recently decided to go back to school. I took my placement test and tested into the lowest class available which was Basic Math. I was told that I could retake the test so I went to the library and checked out a bunch of math books to study and get prepared. I found Danica's book "Math Doesn't Suck" I read it first and read the entire book in one night. I loved it and everything began to make sense. I studied it for 2 weeks then went back and took my test again and tested into Intro to Algebra! I essentially skipped Basic Math and Pre-Algebra! This achievement has brought me renewed confidence in myself at a time when I need it most! It has saved me money and time that is so valuable to me. I live in Southern Ohio and am attending Hocking College! I am excited to read "Kiss my Math". Also I was told that she is writing a 3rd book in an email from her company. Thanks for writing a book that actually makes sense!
Excellent! December 15, 2009
Lissy (Florida)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I absolutely love this book. It has been an amazing tool to use when I am tutoring my middle school students in math. Danica McKellar did a superb job in this book. It surprised me to see some of my own tactics in the book. I can honestly say that I read this book in a matter of a couple of days and am reading it again and taking notes down.
By the way, I bought this book because a student had recommended it to me.
Excellent Math Tutor November 16, 2009
Bruce Bain (Englewood, CO United States)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
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Danica McKellar is for me, one of the true heroines in the modern world. She obtained her degree in mathematics, and for that I respect her.
She is a tireless advocate who encourages girls to excel in mathematics, and there is no reason why they should not. This book is an excellent guide for students who get discouraged by incompetent math instruction or boring and badly authored math textbooks. (I've seen my share of those.)
Without question, this is a five star book.
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 128
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