Sometimes the best way to understand a book is to hear directly from the person who wrote it. At least I believe that and its how I can get Charlie to sit down and actually read a book without fighting me which they do a lot of times.

Recently, Greatful Moments introduced our readers to 16-year-old author Elie Tirman and his book, Math Doesn’t Bite. In that first feature, we shared more about Elie and his journey as a young author who wanted to help children and families look at math a little differently.

If you missed our original feature, you can read it here:
Greatful Moments Meet 16-Year-Old Author Elie Tirman and His New Book, Math Doesn’t Bite

We had the opportunity to ask Elie a few more questions about math anxiety, encouraging young readers, and what he hopes families take away from Math Doesn’t Bite. Here is what he shared with us. IU hope you enjoyed getting to know the Author and that you will take the time to check out his book.

What inspired you to write Math Doesn’t Bite?– I kept hearing “I’m bad at math” everywhere. Nobody says “I can’t read” that way.

I started researching math anxiety and learned that it can begin in the first years of school and can also be picked up at home. I ran workshops for parents, and the book grew out of those workshops. The biggest takeaway I want parents to have is that they don’t need to be good at math. They just need to notice math in daily life and play with it.

What would you say to a young reader who thinks they are “not good at math”?– It’s usually a story, not a fact.

“Not good at math” often means “not fast at math.” Math rewards staying with a problem. Slow can be right. That is such an important reminder for young readers. Being the fastest person in the room doesn’t necessarily mean you understand something better. Sometimes taking your time, trying again, and staying with a problem is exactly what learning looks like.

What might surprise readers about Math Doesn’t Bite?- There are no worksheets.

Math is everywhere: a road sign, the grocery store, splitting ice pops, a bathtub duck race. Each chapter is a small mission with a little blue monster. Parents may realize they’ve been doing math with their kids all along.

That idea makes math feel much less intimidating. Instead of thinking of math as something that only happens at a desk with a pencil and worksheet, families can begin noticing the math that is already part of everyday life.

What advice would you give a student who is struggling with math?– Add “yet” to “I don’t get it.”

Ask for another explanation. Often the issue is not inability but not having heard the right version yet. That little word — yet — can change the way a child talks to themselves about learning. “I don’t understand this yet” leaves room for another explanation, another attempt, and another opportunity to learn.

Looking at Math a Little Differently– One of the things we appreciate about Elie’s answers is the reminder that learning doesn’t always have to look the way we expect it to.

For parents, grandparents, teachers, and homeschool families, there are opportunities to find math in ordinary moments — while shopping, cooking, playing, reading signs, sharing snacks, or simply asking questions together.

And for a young person who has decided they are “bad at math,” perhaps the most important thing to remember is that slow doesn’t mean unable. Sometimes you just haven’t found the right explanation yet.

My family enjoyed getting to know more about Elie and hearing his thoughts about helping children and families develop a different relationship with math. And we’re not finished with Math Doesn’t Bite just yet!

Greatful Moments will also be sharing our own book review of Math Doesn’t Bite soon, so be sure to check back with us for our thoughts after spending more time with the book.

Until then, if you haven’t already, take a moment to read our original Greatful Moments feature on 16-year-old author Elie Tirman and Math Doesn’t Bite linked above. Good books, good conversations, and Greatful Moments is what keeps us Grateful, Thankful and Blessed

Grateful, Thankful, and Blessed.
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✝️ Glenda • 🐸 David • 🎮 Charlie • 🦋 Suzanne