How To Use Interactive Books To Target Math Skills

When you think of interactive or adapted books, math might not be the first thing you think of. When we think of these books we often think of all of the language opportunities, but these books are great for teaching and reinforcing math skills too. Through interactive books we can teach numbers, sequencing, counting, coins and more! Here are some of the ways I use interactive books to support my math units.

Interactive books are perfect for teaching math skills to students who needs hands on opportunities to learn and master skills. These ideas are perfect for students with autism, special education classrooms, life skills programs and preschool classes.

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Counting & Making Sets

When we practice counting and making sets with our interactive books, I like to add a sensory component. Here is an example of what one of the books look like. This book is from our weather interactive book set.

Students have to move the number of pictures listed on the page to complete the page. Normally, the pieces are at the bottom of the book attached with Velcro. For this activity, I take all of the movable pieces and hide them in the sensory bucket. My kiddos LOVE it… even the ones that really don’t like working on sets. TIP: Don’t bind the pages in sequential order!

Sequencing

We work a lot on sequencing numbers in my classroom, so I am always looking for ways to make it a little different or more exciting to keep my kiddos engaged. That’s what brought me to this sequencing set: These books have been have been great for task boxes and centers to reinforce direct instruction. My class is seriously in love with adapted books!!

Coins

It is so important that our kiddos are able to quickly and correctly identify coins and be able to add it up. Many of my students have a very hard time learning to quickly distinguish between the silver coins, so these money interactive books gives them another opportunity to practice it. Since my students love how hands on these interactive books are, they are better focused.

This set includes 4 books total to practice time and money. I use the When Will We Do It? book to work on time awareness with students. Many of my students come to me not being able to identify the time of day an activity happens. For example, we eat dinner at night.

Ordinal Numbers

Another concept my class struggles with is ordinal position. The only positions they learn easily is first and last…. because they all want to be first and no one wants to be last!!! We started using these ordinal position flip books during work centers, task bins and for direct instruction and they have really been helpful.