Q&A WITH AUTHOR ​DR. SHIRLEY DISSELER

Dr. Shirley Disseler

1. What subjects are covered in the Brick Math program?

DR. SHIRLEY DISSELER: Brick Math covers the six key math subjects taught in elementary school: Counting and Cardinality, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division, and Fractions. There are teaching guides (Teaching books) and student editions (Learning books) for all these subjects. 

2. Where are the books available?

The books can be purchased direct from the publisher in paperback and PDF versions. Paperback versions are available on Amazon and Kindle versions are available on Amazon Kindle. Paperback and PDF versions are available on the website Teachers Pay Teachers. For schools ordering in quantity, discounts and free shipping are available by ordering direct from the publisher: www.brickmathseries.com/schools.

3. What grade levels apply to the Brick Math program?

The Counting, Addition, and Subtraction books are geared for students in grades K – 2.  The Multiplication, Division, and Fractions books are generally for grades 3 – 5. The books start at the beginning of each math concept and build on students’ understanding.  Of course, lessons in all the books can be used in different grade levels depending on the ability of your students.

4. Do I need special training to teach with the Brick Math program?

No. The methods can be used by teachers and parents without any special training. The Teaching books guide the teacher through the lessons clearly and in sequence. The Learning books give each student a convenient place to work with the teacher and include additional problems, activities, and an assessment for each chapter. Although no special training is required, professional development is available for those who would like to learn how to use the materials. Contact us if you are interested in arranging for professional development.

5. Is Brick Math appropriate for homeschooling?

Yes, the program works very well as part of a homeschooling curriculum. Parents can also use Brick Math with their children for enrichment, or to help their children who may be struggling with math concepts.

6. Will the LEGO® bricks I already own work with Brick Math activities?

Your own bricks will probably work for learning with the activities in the Brick Math Series. It’s easy to check if you have enough bricks. Every chapter has a “Suggested Bricks” list for the bricks that will be used in that chapter. The list covers enough bricks for two students to use. Each book includes a total brick inventory that lists all the bricks suggested for the program for every two students. We recommend that each student have a baseplate on which to build brick models to keep the models from shifting.

7. Can I buy brick sets for the series?

Yes. Brick sets designed for Brick Math are available direct from the publisher. Quantity discounts are also available for brick sets: www.brickmathseries.com/schools.

8. Where can I get more information about Brick Math?

The Facebook page for Brick Math gives more information about the program and offers opportunities for the community of users to ask questions about the program. Find it at www.facebook.com/brickmathseries or by searching on Facebook for “Teaching Math Using LEGO Bricks.”