As parents, we realize that kids (and adults) don’t all learn in the same way. But for the kids who are struggling in school, it can be difficult to understand why things come easier to their peers. The Adventures of Everyday Geniuses series aims to break down the barriers and explain why it’s normal to be different.
There are 4 books in the series, each focusing on a different aspect of learning difficulties and disabilities. They are aimed at second and third graders, and scenes from some of the books can be seen in others. While reading one of the books my son jumped up, grabbed another book, and pointed to the scene that was common among the two books.
In If you’re so Smart, How Come You Can’t Spell Mississippi, Katie discovers that her dad, a prominent lawyer, is dyslexic. This book hits home for us because my husband also has dyslexia, so it helped explain to my kids why it is that Daddy has trouble reading aloud to them.
Elementary school kids are known to be squirmy and fidgety, so Mrs. Gorski, I Think I Have the Wiggle Fidgets will ring true for any child who can’t sit still. David’s teacher encourages him to come up with solutions to his case of the wiggle fidgets, and he implements a stress ball and note cards to help keep him on task.
I’ve been watching my own third-grader struggle with practicing his cursive letters, so Stacy Coolidge’s Fancy-Smancy Cursive Handwriting couldn’t have come at a better time. In this book Carolyn is envious of Stacy’s perfect cursive letters until her teacher encourages her by tell her that ideas and emotions are more important than slants and curves.
Last to Finish – A Story about the Smartest Boy in Math Class is the story of Max, a third-grader who is unable to finish timed multiplication tests. It turns out Max is unable to memorize the math facts, but he understands the fundamentals of how numbers works, and has actually been doing his older brother’s algebra work.
The illustrations in the book convey the emotions felt by the children as they’re struggling, and the text explains why they’re struggling in a context kids can understand. These are good books for a parent or educator to read together with kids, and those that can identify with the characters will better comprehend how they learn and come up with solutions to problems they may be having. Each book has parent and educator resources in the back.
- The winner of Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool Self is #12 Christina.
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Nancy could use a book like this geared at adults that explains this new math stuff. She writes about her 2 boys, books and life in Colorado at Life With My Boys and Books.
Without a doubt it would be the wiggle-fidget one. My oldest absolutely cannot sit still when he is processing ideas. We were going over some memory work last night and he was pacing, climbing up and down the stairs and literally hanging off the railing. He truly makes me dizzy sometimes he paces so fast. I CAN actually relate, because I found that working in a profession that required me to sit most of the day drove me nuts, I much prefer being able to pop up and down and walk around. Even though he is in 4th grade now I think he would still really like this book.
Have to go with If You’re So Smart, How Come You Can’t Spell Mississippi, as I realized that, in a recent email, I misspelled Massachusetts–thereby condemning myself to eternal uncertainty as to the correct spelling.
Oh my goodness, my son definitely has the Wiggle Fidgets!!
My son definitely had the wiggle fidgets.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
What a great find… thanks for introducing them to me! I think the math one fits the best for us – my son has recall issues and we’ve been told timed tests will be challenging for him once he starts taking them. Thanks, Maureen (jnomaxx at hotmail dot com)
I Have the Wiggle Fidgets holds true my daughter. Shew!
Thanks for the chance!
pricousins at aol dot com
I would love the wiggle fidgets- I like that it gives them ways to help them sit still
My son would definitely identify with the handwriting book. He has struggled so much, and was so discouraged when his teacher wrote “be neat” on every single paper last year.
Staci, you won! Please reply to this email with your information.
I think the book Last to Finish – A Story about the Smartest Boy in Math Class would be a favorite in my household.
Perfect for the little one’s.
my nbephew would liek the wiggle fidgets 🙂
i like the wiggle fidgets
nannypanpan at gmail.com
Math, that is the largest struggle in our home, but they all sounds amazing!
kasuranna at yahoo dot com
Spelling has been a hurdle here. We use Spelling City a lot, but the whole set?! Great!
terilhack at gmail dot com
We’re constantly dealing with the wiggle-fidgets in my very bright 7-year-old daughter. These books look fun and helpful!
Last to Finish because my 9 year old granddaughter has trouble with math.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
My daughter and I both have a form of dyslexia. We are both are avid readers with off the charts vocabulary and yet can’t spell worth a fiddlers damn…lol Thanks goodness for spell checker!