Our ‘Why’
We have seen that when kids connect with us and with each other as they learn, they thrive. We are passionate about bringing laughter and play into math learning and want to see all children grow into adults who see math and its uses all around them. Children should feel confident with math and become curious about learning more. When math is visual, and when we play while learning, we are involved in a community of math learners and thinkers.
Wild Side Number Sense Cards grew from our own experience over many years of teaching and parenting. When we introduced math card games, kids were excited to play. As we played and watched, we saw limitations in using regular playing cards. Typical card decks had a limited range of numbers, confusing graphics (for example, a 7 of hearts has 9 hearts!), and many face cards in a deck. We wanted to develop a deck that could be used more widely and more flexibly to add play and challenge to math. We wanted visual supports so that learners could see quantities and relationships between numbers, building number sense and confidence.
In using these cards ourselves with learners and hearing from other teachers and parents, we have been thrilled to see how much they enhance learning and play. We love math, and we hope these cards can help us all to bring more joy and confidence into math every day in the hands of learners.
About Mary and Linda
Mary Christensen B.Ed., M.Ed., Ed.S.
Mary is a teacher based in Spokane, Washington, with over 30 years of experience. She loves kids of all ages. She has dedicated her professional life to helping kids who are striving to build their academic skills. She has a passion for finding and developing the strategies and tools that can successfully help each student to learn and thrive. Mary is also a mom to three grown boys. She has a lifelong love of art and the beauty of nature.
Linda Christensen, B.Ed., M.Ed
Linda is a teacher who has spent 33 years working with students who needed specialized instruction in order to flourish academically, developing programs to support students, and building professional development for teachers. You’ll often hear her say that kids are her favorite people, and she loves the challenge of discovering the best ways to help each child learn and grow. She is a mom to one teenage son. Linda is located in the Seattle area, where you will find her outside on a hike or in a kayak whenever possible, taking advantage of the forests and lakes of the Pacific Northwest.
We are sisters and longtime educators. We share a passion for helping kids, and we love to connect with other educators and parents. Contact us at hello@jumpfoxgames.com.