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MathStart: Level 3 #1
Betcha! Estimating
“Kids, young and old, fall in love with math when they see how real-life and effortless it becomes thanks to these books.” —Kimberly D. Mueller, Ed.D., First Grade Teacher, Ashbrook School, Lumberton NJ Betcha! is perfect for teaching estimating to second, third, and fourth graders. What do cars, toys, people, and jelly beans have in common? They can all be estimated. Two friends try out their estimating skills and find out that estimating can have real rewards––especially when there’s a contest to enter! Kids will love the story and the illustrations by S.D. Schindler. Parents and educators will love how the story and pictures make understanding the math concepts a breeze—as well as the concrete examples of how math works. The book contains activities for adults to do with kids to extend math into their own lives. Math skills are life skills, and the MathStart series supports success! MathStart's unique combination of stories, illustrations, and visual models helps teachers and parents in the teaching of math and provides all children with the opportunity to succeed. The math concepts taught in MathStart books conform to state and national standards. Level 1 is Pre-K–Kindergarten; Level 2 is Grades 1–3; Level 3 is Grades 2–4. The series follows math topics across grades so there is a foundational path to learning that runs through the levels. Help kids with their math skills plus their reading skills with the engaging and fun MathStart series!
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
1 person is currently reading
107 people want to read
About the author
Stuart J. Murphy
195 books60 followersPICTURES & WORDS, STORIES & BOOKS
MathStart http://www.mathstart.net
I See I Learn http://www.iseeilearn.com
I was one of those kids who talked all the time in class. I loved telling stories. One day in the 4th Grade, my teacher said, “You tell such good stories, maybe you should try writing some of them down.” “Wow,” I thought. “She thinks my stories are good.” That’s when I started to really enjoy writing.
I was also the class artist. When I wasn’t talking,I was drawing. When I was older, I studied art at the Rhode Island School
of Design. That’s where I became interested in visual learning—how we decode and acquire information from graphs, charts, diagrams, models, illustrations and other images.
I became especially interested in educational publishing and have worked on the development of over a dozen major textbook programs, championing visual learning strategies from Pre-K through high school in every major curriculum area.
MATHSTART
The inspiration to write math stories for children was sparked by my work on a high school mathematics program. Visual learning strategies helped teens—who had been characterized as “reluctant learners’—understand difficult math concepts. Putting math in the context of stories based on their experiences made them feel more comfortable with abstract concepts. They actually became eager to apply math to real-life problems.
If this approach worked for older students, I began to wonder what might happen if younger children were introduced to math this way!

Even before children can read—or speak many words—they can interpret visual information with ease. The MathStart books use simple stories coupled with diagrams, graphs and other visual models to teach everything from probability and pattern recognition to area, capacity and negative numbers.
The Best Bug Parade, (comparing sizes) was my very first published book. It was absolutely thrilling to see my name in print! I never expected that one day there would 63 MathStart books, split over three levels for ages Pre-K to Grade 4.
Each book includes two pages of review and activities designed to help teachers and parents extend learning beyond the story, along with suggestions of related books by other authors. After all, if a child enjoys learning math through stories, then let’s have more stories!
(Pictures, Words & Math: An interview with Stuart J. Murphy )
THE MAIN STREET KIDS' CLUB: A MATHSTART MUSICAL
Now get out your dancing shoes—there is a musical based on six of the MathStart books! The Main Street Kids’ Club was workshopped at Northwestern University and adapted by Scott Ferguson, who also created the perennially popular production of Schoolhouse Rock Live!
The songs are terrific. The math is spot on. And the club motto makes my heart sing: “Math Skills are Life Skills!”
STUART J. MURPHY'S I SEE I LEARN
My latest series of books is focused on young children—Preschool and Kindergarten age.
I See I Learn books teach social, emotional, health and safety, and cognitive skills, such as how to make friends, build confidence, play safely, work together, manage emotions, and make plans. These skills are important for school readiness and for living happy, healthy, productive lives.

The stories “star” a wonderful bunch of friends who live in See-and-Learn City and attend Ready Set Pre-K. The cast includes Freda, Percy, Emma, Ajay, Camille, and Carlos. And, of course, Pickle, the green bull dog—who happens to have a soft-spot for butterflies—and Miss Cathy, their teacher.
I See I Learn stories are modeled on real-life situations and, just as in real-life, often involve more than one skill. For example, Freda Plans a Picnic is about sequencing, a cognitive skill, but the picnic itself is a social event. Percy Plays It Safe focuses on playground safety skills, but playing successfully in a group also requires self-regulation, an emotional skill.
Each book is reviewed by a tea
MathStart http://www.mathstart.net
I See I Learn http://www.iseeilearn.com
I was one of those kids who talked all the time in class. I loved telling stories. One day in the 4th Grade, my teacher said, “You tell such good stories, maybe you should try writing some of them down.” “Wow,” I thought. “She thinks my stories are good.” That’s when I started to really enjoy writing.
I was also the class artist. When I wasn’t talking,I was drawing. When I was older, I studied art at the Rhode Island School
of Design. That’s where I became interested in visual learning—how we decode and acquire information from graphs, charts, diagrams, models, illustrations and other images.
I became especially interested in educational publishing and have worked on the development of over a dozen major textbook programs, championing visual learning strategies from Pre-K through high school in every major curriculum area.
MATHSTART
The inspiration to write math stories for children was sparked by my work on a high school mathematics program. Visual learning strategies helped teens—who had been characterized as “reluctant learners’—understand difficult math concepts. Putting math in the context of stories based on their experiences made them feel more comfortable with abstract concepts. They actually became eager to apply math to real-life problems.
If this approach worked for older students, I began to wonder what might happen if younger children were introduced to math this way!

Even before children can read—or speak many words—they can interpret visual information with ease. The MathStart books use simple stories coupled with diagrams, graphs and other visual models to teach everything from probability and pattern recognition to area, capacity and negative numbers.
The Best Bug Parade, (comparing sizes) was my very first published book. It was absolutely thrilling to see my name in print! I never expected that one day there would 63 MathStart books, split over three levels for ages Pre-K to Grade 4.
Each book includes two pages of review and activities designed to help teachers and parents extend learning beyond the story, along with suggestions of related books by other authors. After all, if a child enjoys learning math through stories, then let’s have more stories!
(Pictures, Words & Math: An interview with Stuart J. Murphy )
THE MAIN STREET KIDS' CLUB: A MATHSTART MUSICAL
Now get out your dancing shoes—there is a musical based on six of the MathStart books! The Main Street Kids’ Club was workshopped at Northwestern University and adapted by Scott Ferguson, who also created the perennially popular production of Schoolhouse Rock Live!
The songs are terrific. The math is spot on. And the club motto makes my heart sing: “Math Skills are Life Skills!”
STUART J. MURPHY'S I SEE I LEARN
My latest series of books is focused on young children—Preschool and Kindergarten age.
I See I Learn books teach social, emotional, health and safety, and cognitive skills, such as how to make friends, build confidence, play safely, work together, manage emotions, and make plans. These skills are important for school readiness and for living happy, healthy, productive lives.

The stories “star” a wonderful bunch of friends who live in See-and-Learn City and attend Ready Set Pre-K. The cast includes Freda, Percy, Emma, Ajay, Camille, and Carlos. And, of course, Pickle, the green bull dog—who happens to have a soft-spot for butterflies—and Miss Cathy, their teacher.
I See I Learn stories are modeled on real-life situations and, just as in real-life, often involve more than one skill. For example, Freda Plans a Picnic is about sequencing, a cognitive skill, but the picnic itself is a social event. Percy Plays It Safe focuses on playground safety skills, but playing successfully in a group also requires self-regulation, an emotional skill.
Each book is reviewed by a tea
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
June 23, 2011
This book is a GREAT way of showing estimation skills and real life application of estimation. I am definitely going to use this in my classroom as a center for my students. I'd like to have different estimation skills and applications in the center. My students would estimate different amounts and then check their work using either a calculator or a partner. This would be a center that I would keep long-term so that my students would become more skilled at estimation as time passes. My students would also be able to track their improvement at estimation.
June 24, 2011
This is a great book for children who know how to estimate and for those who are just learning. My students didn't quite grasp the concept of estimating when i taught it last year which makes me think that i need to change my approach to it. Although in kindergarten they don't have to estimate to the nearest ten, they do have to be able to say if a number is closer to the five benchmark or the ten benchmark. This book does a great job at making connections to money and purchasing things at a store. I will read it to my students to help them understand this concept better.
October 11, 2017
A book about friendship and counting. Good book to read to students to teach them about friendship.
July 31, 2018
Uses a dialogue between friends, one who estimates, one who counts precisely, to show estimation at work in everyday life.
February 11, 2019
I loved using this book for teaching estimating in my class, as it presents the topic in a fun & accessible way.
December 5, 2017
This is a good book for children to learn about estimating in a fun and interactive way.
October 20, 2020
Bethcha! is an engaging informational text with a fun energy. Murphy excelled at creating a book that models how to use estimation skills. One of the characters makes multiple estimations using a variety of mathematical concept skills. The math concepts of grouping, addition, subtraction, rounding, multiplication, and, of course, estimation are demonstrated in the book. The story shows how these concepts connect to one another and how they can be used in conjunction to estimate. A great aspect of this book is that Murphy never explicitly states or defines any of the mathematical concepts represented. Accordingly, this would be a great book to encourage student inquiry.
Lexile, Scholastic, and Fountas and Pinnell recommend this book for children in first or second grade. Scholastic reports that it could even be read before then.
I would actually use this book as a mentor text in a third grade classroom relating to North Carolina's math standards:
NC.3.OA.1: For products of whole numbers with two factors up to and including 10:
● Interpret the factors as representing the number of equal groups and the number of objects in
each group
● Illustrate and explain strategies in including arrays, repeated addition, decomposing a factor,
and applying the commutative and associative properties
NC.3.OA.2: For whole-number quotients of whole numbers with a one-digit divisor and a one-digit quotient:
● Interpret the divisor and quotient in a division equation as representing the number of equal
groups and the number of objects in each group.
● Illustrate and explain strategies including arrays, repeated addition or subtraction, and
decomposing a factor.
NC.3.OA.3: Represent, interpret, and solve one-step problems involving multiplication and division.
● Solve multiplication word problems with factors up to and including 10. Represent the problem
using arrays, pictures, and/or equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent
the problem.
● Solve division word problems with a divisor and quotient up to and including 10. Represent the
problem using arrays, pictures, repeated subtraction and/or equations with a symbol for the
unknown number to represent the problem.
NC.3.OA.9: Explore patterns of numbers
NC.3.NBT.2: Add and subtract whole numbers up to and including 1000.
● Use estimation strategies to assess reasonableness of answers
● Model and explain how the relationship between addition and subtraction can be applied to
solve addition and subtraction problems.
● Use expanded form to decompose numbers and then find sums and differences.
The reason I would use Betcha! in a third grade classroom is so they could develop multiplication and division skills first. Then, I would use the book in an interactive read aloud and get them thinking about the math strategies the boys in the story use. I would tell the students "I betcha you can do what the boys in the story did, too". I would show them visuals of objects that they would have a certain time to estimate how many objects are in the visual to discourage counting each object one by one. A discussion would follow to talk about the different strategies they used. I would be listening for the use of math terms like group, add, subtract, multiply, divide, and times in their explanations. I would then give instruction on the concept of estimation and we would walk through some more visuals together in a whole-group setting. This activity would engage the students in an inquiry activity to connect the math concepts they have learned thus far. They would discover the ways math concepts can be used together for a more efficient strategy to find a solution.
Lexile, Scholastic, and Fountas and Pinnell recommend this book for children in first or second grade. Scholastic reports that it could even be read before then.
I would actually use this book as a mentor text in a third grade classroom relating to North Carolina's math standards:
NC.3.OA.1: For products of whole numbers with two factors up to and including 10:
● Interpret the factors as representing the number of equal groups and the number of objects in
each group
● Illustrate and explain strategies in including arrays, repeated addition, decomposing a factor,
and applying the commutative and associative properties
NC.3.OA.2: For whole-number quotients of whole numbers with a one-digit divisor and a one-digit quotient:
● Interpret the divisor and quotient in a division equation as representing the number of equal
groups and the number of objects in each group.
● Illustrate and explain strategies including arrays, repeated addition or subtraction, and
decomposing a factor.
NC.3.OA.3: Represent, interpret, and solve one-step problems involving multiplication and division.
● Solve multiplication word problems with factors up to and including 10. Represent the problem
using arrays, pictures, and/or equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent
the problem.
● Solve division word problems with a divisor and quotient up to and including 10. Represent the
problem using arrays, pictures, repeated subtraction and/or equations with a symbol for the
unknown number to represent the problem.
NC.3.OA.9: Explore patterns of numbers
NC.3.NBT.2: Add and subtract whole numbers up to and including 1000.
● Use estimation strategies to assess reasonableness of answers
● Model and explain how the relationship between addition and subtraction can be applied to
solve addition and subtraction problems.
● Use expanded form to decompose numbers and then find sums and differences.
The reason I would use Betcha! in a third grade classroom is so they could develop multiplication and division skills first. Then, I would use the book in an interactive read aloud and get them thinking about the math strategies the boys in the story use. I would tell the students "I betcha you can do what the boys in the story did, too". I would show them visuals of objects that they would have a certain time to estimate how many objects are in the visual to discourage counting each object one by one. A discussion would follow to talk about the different strategies they used. I would be listening for the use of math terms like group, add, subtract, multiply, divide, and times in their explanations. I would then give instruction on the concept of estimation and we would walk through some more visuals together in a whole-group setting. This activity would engage the students in an inquiry activity to connect the math concepts they have learned thus far. They would discover the ways math concepts can be used together for a more efficient strategy to find a solution.
July 19, 2012
I would use this book for an estimation lesson. I would read this story to the class and as we go along in the story, I would ask the class to describe what is going on in each picture. I would ask question such as, "What would you do to estimate how many people are on a bus?" or "How would you estimate the number of cars in a traffic jam?" After reading the story, we would then discuss real life situations that would require estimation. These examples could include how much spaghetti we would need to cook for the whole family or how much pizza we would need to order for the whole class or how many errands we could do before basketball practice.
April 7, 2012
Betcha! is a good story for children who are working on their estimating skills. Two friends are on their way to the store to guess how many jellybeans are in a jar. On their way there they find themselves guessing how many people there are on the bus, how many cars on the street etc. This story can lead to a great discussion with your children on the different techniques one can use to estimate. As an extension/activity, the children can take a trip around their school and make estimations like: how many children are there in the school?, how many buses are there?
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February 9, 2016I hate math; and yet, I really liked this book about math! This is a terrific approach to teach math principles. Two friends are talking and daring each other to guess how many cars there are on a street, about how much several items will cost, and how many jelly beans are in a jar. One of the characters in the book knows how to estimate. He explains how he calculates his best guess in each case. He always challenges his friend by saying, Betcha! This same approach should be used to teach other aspects of math like algebra, geometry, and statistics.
February 5, 2012
This is a fun story that teaches children how to estimate. Two boys are on their way to the local toy store to guess how many jelly beans are in a jar. On the way they practice their estimation skills. The story is interesting and the narrative is simple enough for elementary school-age children. the illustrations are colorful and complement the story nicely. We enjoyed reading this story together.
April 23, 2012
This is a wonderful book to read to first graders on the concept of estimating. I can use this book in the classroom to lead my students in an estimating lesson. I would give my students various items such as buttons, counting chips, m&m's, etc., to estimate and record their estimation on a recording sheet. It is an engaging book. You can prep the book and allow the students to estimate the item within the book.
February 17, 2011
This is a fun book about two boys estimating all sorts of things around them. I have seen my teacher use this as a read-aloud for a math lesson. It talks about different strategies one can use to make a good estimate. I would recommend this for any elementary grade level that introduces estimation.
July 8, 2012
This book explores with students about estimating. Two friends explore about and start incorporating estimation into everyday life after they enter a contest. I think this book would be great to use in a read aloud before a math lesson to warm the students up to understanding tat you can use estimation in real world applications.
July 19, 2012
This would be a great lesson on estimating and playing with numbers. The book could be read as a whole group read-aloud then the children could set off on a scavenger hunt of sorts to recreate the different kinds of guessing that are presented in the book. I think this would be great for grade 2 and maybe early on in the year to build rapport and group dynamics.
July 20, 2012
Betcha is a good story to use to teach children about estimation. A teaher could incorporate the lessons in this story during a class activity that gives students practice using estimation. A teacher could provide different groups with scenarios in which they must use estimation to solve a problem or guess the amount of a given item in a container.
March 16, 2013
Are you a good guesser? In "Betcha!"you'll get to see how one can go about to being an excellent guesser.
"Betcha!" can teach older children about estimates. The Story is centered around the banter of two friends.
S.D. Schindler's illustrations aid in the problem solving many have trouble with.
"Betcha!" is written by Stuart J. Murphy
"Betcha!" can teach older children about estimates. The Story is centered around the banter of two friends.
S.D. Schindler's illustrations aid in the problem solving many have trouble with.
"Betcha!" is written by Stuart J. Murphy
March 17, 2011
Two friends put their estimation skills to the test. On the way to guess jelly beans to win tickets to a game they practice their skills on several things. A good book about estimation with great dialogue of how they do it.
January 31, 2012
Im not too fond of this book. While it does a great job showing how to find area, it's SUCH a bland story! There are a lot of great ideas for math lessons though, such as going out and estimating areas without counting. You can do this in the courtyard with anything.
March 6, 2012
Within a math station, have an estimation bin. Have students guess various items in jars of different shapes and sizes. This would be a good book to have in this bin so students can explore (jars) and engage/elaborate (book).
March 21, 2012
A fantastic book on teaching estimating. We read this book and then estimate the amount of jelly beans in a container. The winner who estimates the closest to the actual amount gets to win the container of jelly beans!
November 28, 2012
This book enhances students' estimating skills and helps those who are just learning about estimation. Throughout the book the two friends estimate different objects, which I liked. The pictures are also very nice!
April 27, 2015
I absolutely loved this book! I definitely want to have a copy of my own for my classroom library. I really liked how this book incorporated math. The author did this in a way that makes it fun, like a game. Children will then understand the quick and easy strategy for estimation.
February 5, 2010
This story is great aid in teaching estimation. It has great examples of real life scenarios and how it can help you figure things out in a short amount of time.
November 5, 2010
It is a really good book to use for estimating and counting money. Use it in 3rd grade.
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March 14, 2012estimation
June 30, 2012
Great children's book on the basics of estimating. It has a fun story that young children can enjoy with tricks about estimating that older children can learn from.
June 11, 2013
Good book to illustrate estimation when working with a set of data.
6th Grade Common Core Standards:
Statistics and Probability
6.SP.2
*Available at Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Libraries*
6th Grade Common Core Standards:
Statistics and Probability
6.SP.2
*Available at Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Libraries*
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December 27, 2013AR Quiz No. 119659 EN Nonfiction
Accelerated Reader Quiz Information IL: LG - BL: 1.4 - AR Pts: 0.5
Accelerated Reader Quiz Type Information AR Quiz Types: RP
Accelerated Reader Quiz Information IL: LG - BL: 1.4 - AR Pts: 0.5
Accelerated Reader Quiz Type Information AR Quiz Types: RP
August 20, 2014
Gives kids a good understanding of estimating vs. guessing, plus ways estimating us useful in everyday life.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews