Hard Math for Elementary School

I bought this book for a second to third grader who wasn't being challenged enough by math at school. This book is excellent and covers topics that wouldn't be covered at school (either ever or until much later). I actually like the title, because it just challenges the kids and gives them real joy when they're able to figure it out while not disappointing them if they're not able to.That has all been said by other reviewers but the reason why I felt compelled to write a review was my experience with the chapter on "base 8" arithmetic. I have some background in computer science and am very familiar with a binary system (base 2). I (and possibly the kid as well) absolutely loved the chapter - both from a mathematical as well as a sociological perspective (different people can talk and think differently based on their unique cultural experiences). However, there was one unintended consequence. The chapter uses Simpsons as an example of a society that might use a base 8. At which I felt obligated (encouraged by endless stream of "pleases") to introduce my kid to the Simpsons show. Not a wise parenting decision :-). I hadn't watched much of the show myself and even shows I watched before feel very different to me now as a parent. Simpsons is not an appropriate show for an 8 year old (or even a 10 year old for that matter). So, if you are in a similar situation I would recommend you to skip that chapter until the end of the book. Even from a complexity of concept perspective, I think it belongs much later in the book.Having said that I must say that I truly am grateful for Glenn Ellison to have taken the time to put this book together. Chances are that any money he's making from this book is not commensurate with the value of his time. However, Glenn you do have a bunch of indebted parents.

My husband and I are professionals (engineer and attorney) and did not feel like our daughter was being challenged enough in math at school. She was tested for gifted, however, the teachers were still not supplementing her enough. She is currently in 3rd grade. We bought this series to work at home in addition to school work and it is EXCELLENT. She is very proud to show her friends her "Hard Math". Parents and teachers who have seen the textbook think it is too "hard", but that is exactly why we like it. We only spend 1 to 2 hours a week on the book and we are going at a nice pace. Highly recommend it if you want something more to work on with your kids.

I am currently using this book and the associated workbook with my 7 y.o. daughter.It’s very good overall - I would just offer the following minor editorial advice.References to “the Simpsons” in the base 8 section really dates this book. Many children these days do not even have access to TV in general, let alone the Simpsons. My daughter has never seen an episode.Rather strangely, the author includes a long chapter on “long multiplication”. I find this chapter is just … irrelevant.But overall, yes, I appreciate this nice little math book for elementary school kids.

I teach a a small group of highly gifted third grade math students for one hour a week using this set of books. I use the main book for my lessons and other book for student problem solving. The point is that a teacher can use this set. I wish Glenn Ellison would publish a similar three book format for upper elementary. I really need one for my 5th/6th graders. Most other challenge math books are written for independent study. I have to do all sorts of cutting gluing and copying to make these books work in the gifted elementary classroom.

The title "Fun hard math" would be less forbidding and yet completely true. I give the workbook pages to the kids, let them struggle with the problems a bit (most of the problems we've run into so far are brute-foreceable), then see how the problems are easier and more fun with a little bit of mathematical thinking by introducing them to the text. It's a bit backwards, but the kids seem to be enjoying themselves.

Being a professional mathematician and also working with kids, I am sually suspicious about such books, but this one is really good!

Main problems of this book: poor choice of topics, very few examples, lack of exercises. It is boring.

What a great new way to really learn math and understand how it works. We use it a supplement and it really is easy to follow, makes my kids think and is so worth the investment of time and money. No splashy pictures just really good math teaching!So worth it.

Too much wordy, not attractive for kids, poorly written, bad organized. I can’t understand how this can get even a star!

This book is a must buy for many people. It is not for everybody but every elementary math teacher should have this book or a book like this. We are not doing well enough in teaching mathematical ideas and giving enough thinking material for talented kids. If you have a kid who is talented or you are a math educator you should have a good look at this book and see how kids can be given a platform to advance their mathematical aptitude and creativity. This book does help understanding numbers and help kids with operations on numbers. I feel that creativity is not provoked enough in this book. Schools should have math circles (clubs) even in elementary level and follow a book like this and supplement with more creative sessions. Kids who enjoy can continue in these clubs. This also prompted me to keep a daily log of ideas and problems that I am giving to my kid. NCERT is a great text book for classroom teaching. It does not address the kids who are in the top 10 or 20 percent (also in the bottom 10 percent). This book is to challenge the top 10 percent. I wish that in every school in every broad subject area there should be clubs to set stage for the next generations of great writers, scientists, mathematicians, thinkers etc.I also got the workbook and I felt that the workbook is not required. One can generate their own worksheets based on the topics in this book. Also the presentation of various topics is not the way i would like to do. It is a matter of personal preference. This book and two other books gave me an understanding of what I can do and how. Note that it is a supplement of the ncert book and not a replacement. This is not suitable for self study in my opinion. This book has selected topics. You may need to add more topics. Overall great job by the author and it is great that he took time to create this book for everyone.

This is a good book where the author tries to explain difficult concepts in a licod manner.

Not recommended