Title – A Chair for My Mother

Author- Vera B. Williams

Illustrator- Vera B. Williams

Recommended Level- Pre-Kindergarten - 3rd Grade

CCSSM Content Standards-

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.CC.A.1
Count to 100 by ones and by tens.

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.1.NBT.B.2
Understand that the two digits of a two-digit number represent amounts of tens and ones. Understand the following as special cases:

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.1.NBT.B.2.A
10 can be thought of as a bundle of ten ones — called a "ten."

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.2.MD.C.8
Solve word problems involving dollar bills, quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies, using $ and ¢ symbols appropriately. Example: If you have 2 dimes and 3 pennies, how many cents do you have?

CCSSM Standard for Mathematical Practice-

CCSS.MATH.PRACTICE.MP4 Model with mathematics

Summary- This story is told from the daughter/granddaughter’s point of view. A mother, daughter, and grandmother lose their house and belongings due to a fire. They stay with an aunt and uncle until they have saved enough to move to an apartment. When they move, the neighbors gather and are very generous and helpful by donating to them with house supplies and some furniture. They get a table, and table chairs among other things. The mother works long hours at a diner, she is always tired when she gets home and her feet hurt. The family starts filling a jar with coins, in the hopes of one day being able to afford the perfect comfortable chair.

Rating- 4 out of 5: I rate this book a 4 out of five because it has a great and realistic story line. It demonstrates how saving coins can add up over time and become more money. However, it does not really discuss real number amounts. The book just mentions that quarters, dimes, and nickels were exchanged to dollar bills at the bank, once the jar is full.

Classroom Ideas/ Lesson Ideas –

This book can be used when introducing the value of coins. The coins can be used as manipulatives for word problems that include money. The class can also use the coins to determine how many of each of the cents (quarters, nickels, dimes, pennies) ae equivalent to $1.00 or more. Students can also start a jar of their own in their classroom and see how much money they can save over a certain period of time, and use the savings for something for the class (a pizza party, a classroom pet, etc.).