Math Picture Books

Research has found that shared-story interventions using math picture books have positive effects on math abilities of students with disabilities. A recent study by Green, Gallagher, and Hart (2018) found that preschool students with disabilities, including developmental delay and autism, made significant gains on global measures of early mathematics (i.e., TEMA-3) as well as measures of quantity comparison, one-to-one correspondence counting, and oral counting following the interactive math story reading intervention. While reading the math picture books, students were asked comprehension questions related to the math concepts and vocabulary and they participated in follow up activities related to the math story and targeted concepts.

Courtade, Lingo, Karp, and Whitney (2013) recommend the following steps to use shared story reading to teach mathematics skills:

1. Select a book that relates to a significant math concept

2. Adapt the book to meet the students’ individual needs

3. Use concrete examples and systematic instruction

4. Incorporate assessments to inform instructional decisions

These recommendations can be applied to students of any age or grade, as math picture books such as Spaghetti and Meatballs for All, Anno's Mysterious Multiplying Jar, and the Sir Cumference series can provide students with concrete examples of complex math concepts such as multiplication, factorials, and geometry.

Check out this link to a list of math picture books and the math skills they address to get started!