Building Family Rituals, Math and Literature

Rituals and routines are important in family life. How do we build these rituals – these daily anchors that can tie us together?  Answers might well include discussions at mealtimes, consuming media together, and, of course, bed time stories. Today, Rachel talks to Julie Nelson, who teaches Children’s Literature and Applied Parenting at Utah Valley University, about what we can do to foster these rituals and a culture of literacy in our families. Nelson is the author of two books: Parenting with Spiritual Power and Keep It Real and Grab a Plunger: 25 tips for surviving parenthood. She has a dual degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education and a master's degree in Marriage, Family, and Human Development. Julie Nelson has been featured in media such as The Wall Street Journal, Parents.com, and The Matt Townsend Show on BYU Radio.

Next, Dr. Eula Monroe, a long-time professor of Mathematics Education at BYU, talks about taking the fear out of math.  Many of us may have it, children included. Monroe discusses how connecting math with literature just might do the trick. We’ll also be getting a few book recommendations from her: Working Cotton by Shirley Ann Williams; and Shoda and the Star Quilt by Margaret Bateson-Hill. Eula Monroe earned her doctorate from George Peabody College of Teachers at Vanderbilt University. Her research includes the areas of problem solving, using children's literature in teaching mathematics, and mathematical language. She is the author of Mathematics Dictionary: The Easy, Simple, Fun Guide to Help Math Phobics Become Math Lovers! and Math Dictionary for Young People; and has another book in progress designed to help math instructors as they work to reduce math anxiety in children

We finish up the show today with Zack Ireland, a Sound Editor at BYU Radio and a Bio-Chemistry student. I asked Zack where he developed his love for literature.” NOTE: Zack grew up in Ontario, Canada. Here are some of the Canadian reading programs he participated in: Ontario Library Association. Click on tabs “Forest of Reading” and “Festival of Trees” to learn more about these programs.