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Children’s book explores whimsy of doing away with subject
For current or former students who remember feeling mounting anxiety when presented with long division problems, the Pythagorean theorem, or maybe differential equations in calculus class, the thought of No Math At All has some real appeal.
A recently published children’s book with that title by Benjamin Logan Elementary School teacher Donna Miller explores this notion of what might happen if the world was void of math concepts for an entire week.
“This is a book that has been in my head for a long time, and it was so fun to write,” the third-grade teacher said from her elementary school classroom. “This book came as a response to my actual students.
“They complained about doing math and learning math facts. I kept thinking that if they only knew how important math was to our everyday lives, maybe they wouldn’t complain so much.”
A 31-year employee of the district, Ms. Miller also enlisted the help of her former student, Joshua Hardman, to illustrate the book. He graduated from Benjamin Logan High School in 2015, and now is a student at the University of Cincinnati studying graphic communication and design.
She contacted the BLHS art department last year to inquire about students that could assist with illustrations for the piece. When the art teacher first mentioned Mr. Hardman’s name, Ms. Miller knew right away she wanted the chance to work with him.
“I remember Josh as one of the most polite students I ever had. He was a second-grade student in my class,” said the Rushsylvania resident, who also is a National Board Certified teacher. “We worked on the illustrations over the summer, and it was so much fun to collaborate on this book with him.”
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ABOVE: Benjamin Logan Elementary School third-grade teacher Donna Miller holds a copy of her recently published children’s book, No Math At All. TOP: Characters in the No Math At All children’s book study a pancake disaster that results from the inability to measure ingredients during their math-free week. (EXAMINER PHOTOS | MANDY LOEHR) |
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