Written by Charlene Zastrow and Rebecca Stark

The usage of mathematics brings our everyday experiences to life; not a day passes when we fail to encounter a skill in mathematics. The Math Clues Series is an extensive resource that provides a clear understanding of basic mathematical concepts. Developing the understanding of the relationship of one concept to another is demonstrated throughout the series. The language of mathematics is precise and the skill of each concept is fully developed with lessons, practice, and motivating story problems. 


In Book 1 of the series, Whole-Number Operations, students will explore the place-value structure of our base-ten number system. They will learn to perform the four basic operations. Students will also come to understand the meanings of these operations and how they relate to one another. Through the mastery of traditional whole-number computation skills, other mathematical skills of problem-solving and creative thinking are discovered. 


Whole-Number Operations is divided into three sections: 



Introduction and Review of Concepts

The lessons in this section present important mathematical concepts and teach students important computation skills. Step-by-step directions and easy-to-understand definitions clearly explain each concept and procedure. This section will serve as a useful reference guide for the lessons in the last two sections. 


Skill-Building Word Problems

Creative story problems use mystery and humor to hold students’ interest. Each lesson in this section deals with a particular skill and students are aware of the skill being practiced in each.



Challenge Word Problems

These pages add an additional challenge for students who understand all of the concepts and have mastered the computational skills covered in this resource. The same type of problems that were presented in the second section are presented in this section with one important exception—students are not told which skills are involved. 


Grades 3–5. 



The lessons and activities in this book align with the following Common Core State Standards*:
CCSS.Math.Content.3.NBT.A 
CCSS.Math.Content.4.NBT.A,B 
CCSS.Math.Content.5.NBT.A,B 

Use place value understanding and properties of operations to perform multi-digit arithmetic. 
Generalize place value understanding for multi-digit whole numbers. 
Perform operations with multi-digit whole numbers and with decimals to hundredths. 
Add, subtract, multiply, and divide decimals to hundredths, using concrete models or drawings and strategies based on place value, properties of operations, and/or the relationship between addition and subtraction; relate the strategy to a written method and explain the reasoning used. 
Recognize that in a multi-digit number, a digit in one place represents 10 times as much as it represents in the place to its right and 1/10 of what it represents in the place to its left. 
Fluently multiply multi-digit whole numbers using the standard algorithm. 
Find whole-number quotients of whole numbers with up to four-digit dividends and two-digit divisors, using strategies based on place value, the properties of operations, and/or the relationship between multiplication and division. 

*Authors: National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, Council of Chief State School Officers 
Title: Common Core State Standards English Language Arts 
Publisher: National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, Council of Chief State School Officers, Washington, D.C. 
Copyright Date: 2010