The King Joe Series is the first-ever, comprehensive, 6-unit math storybook series connecting reading and math. It is designed to introduce, explain and reinforce a complete list of approximately 800 math words and phrases from 13 popular nationwide textbooks. Each unit comes with accompanying flashcards that further reinforce learning. Each flashcard has the math vocabulary word or phrase on one side and a pictorial representation of the word on the other side, all in full color.

With The King Joe Series, learning math is enjoyable, making difficult mathematical vocabulary recognizable and understandable. Children love the exciting and comical stories that revolve around King Joe and his friends! King Joe Educational Enterprises’ goal is to provide you with easy-to-use materials that facilitate children’s educational success.

By providing your children with exposure to challenging math vocabulary through an entertaining, friendly and high quality storybook format, The King Joe Series enables you to feel comfortable helping your children master mathematics. This unique series is designed to help children in the following areas:

There will also be a bonus book called “King Joe’s Violin Lesson” which is an engaging story that delivers cultural awareness and a presentation of the fine arts, including musical vocabulary and an introduction to the violin, composers and classical music.

This series was initially created for 2nd grade because 2nd grade is the first year in which students are required to take state standardized tests and are responsible for recognizing and applying high-level mathematical words, phrases and concepts. We are also finding great success in grades Pre-K through 6th grade because of the wide range of learning abilities of students.

Each unit in The King Joe Series is divided by math subject matter. These subjects were derived from the California and National Math Standards (such as problem solving, number sense and operations, etc.). Below is a chart showing each of the King Joe Units, related standards and specific skill topics.

Unit 1: King Joe’s Birthday Celebration

Length Calendar Capacity and Liquid Measurement Time Weight Money Temperature Abbreviations and Phrases*

* Bonus Flashcards

Unit 2: King Joe’s Garden

Colors Estimation Types of Data Representation Maps Probability

Unit 3: King Joe’s Birthday Library

Recognition Parts of a Whole and Group

Unit 4: King Joe Goes to the Fair

2-Dimensional Objects Spatial Relationships 3-Dimensional Objects Line Segments Transformations Symmetry

Unit 5: King Joe Gets in Shape

Addition Numbers and Counting Subtraction Ordinal Numbers Multiplication Number Words Division Patterns Place Value More Number Words Properties

Unit 6: King Joe’s Trip to the Beach

Relationships Direction Words Strategies and Processes

Each time one of the vocabulary words is used in the story, including plurals and tenses, it is bolded in order to draw the reader’s eye to the word. This reinforces visual learning. A listing of all presented math vocabulary appears in each unit’s index, including the page(s) on which each word is found, as well as a corresponding flashcard number in red. You may view sample storybook pages and flashcards in the “Downloads” section of our web site.

The accompanying flashcards offer visual representations and explanations of all the bolded mathematical vocabulary found throughout each unit. Flashcards may be utilized for:

The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics has set specific standards, the National Math Standards, which are guidelines to help students become confident in their mathematical abilities and perform at a proficient level. These specific standards include the ability to communicate mathematically and problem-solving skills which are highly emphasized throughout The King Joe Series. These vital skills are the keys to helping students perform better academically, as well as apply mathematic principals in their daily lives and in later careers. The King Joe Series was also developed in response to Department of Education priorities that were declared as a result of low math achievement levels in our country.

Addison-Wesley
Alpha Omega Publications
CSL Associates
Harcourt/Harcourt Brace*
Houghton Mifflin
McGraw Hill*
Modern Curriculum Press
Sadlier-Oxford
Saxon Publishers
Scott Foresman
SRA/McGraw-Hill
Silver Burdett Ginn
* More than one of this publisher’s books were used.

The words taken from the above sources not only consist of standard math vocabulary, but also include math-related vocabulary such as short phrases, strategy words and direction words that are necessary in understanding word problems and standardized math tests. For example, the word favorite doesn’t seem like a math vocabulary word, but on standardized tests, as well as throughout all the above math book series, it is heavily used when asking students to read and interpret graphs. “According to the graph, which is Kim’s favorite food?” If children are not familiar with this frequently used word, they will be unable to successfully interpret the graph.

State standardized tests come and go. One year it is the Stanford 9 and another year it is the STAR, and different states take different standardized tests. Therefore, the author intentionally created the nearly 800-word database from the most commonly used textbook series nationwide. Throughout our country, children are basically responsible for learning the same second grade skills such as regrouping, fraction recognition, telling time, money, etc. Because The King Joe Series was based on stable textbook series instead of standardized tests, it is applicable in all 50 states. Even if your particular textbook series is not on the afore mentioned list, you may be assured that the words and phrases presented in The King Joe Series are nearly the same as your series. The author found vast similarities and word repetitions from series to series.

The King Joe Series was developed by Dr. Linda Rodgers, President and CEO of King Joe Educational Enterprises, who possesses over 20 years of experience in children’s education and is committed to improving the educational levels of today’s youth. Her professional endeavors include holding the position of Director of Education for a music/math research institute and 12 years of teaching grades 1-6 in the public schools, including 7 years in South Central Los Angeles. She has authored 2 complete 2nd and 3rd grade math curricula and a math reader that are currently used nationwide, as well as conducted teacher training seminars for innovative educational programs, receiving an Outstanding Educator Award for these contributions. As Keynote Speaker for numerous functions, Dr. Rodgers is a well-known educator, holding a Doctorate of Education in Institutional Management and an Early Childhood Specialist Certificate. Her credentials further include a Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education and a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies. She has been invited to present her doctoral dissertation results at several universities and has been featured in numerous publications and news broadcasts for her contributions and dedication to children’s education. Dr. Rodgers is also a professional violinist with a multi-faceted solo, orchestral and teaching career.

Each unit takes at least 4 months from beginning to end to develop, write, illustrate, print and package. Unit 5 (Number Sense & Operations) is in its final stages of illustrating and has an anticipated release date of September 1, 2004. Subsequent units will follow in a similar time frame.

We are looking into having King Joe dolls, King Joe chocolates, King Joe bookmarks and any other opportunities that may present themselves. Currently our top priority is to finish all 6 units of The King Joe Series before releasing other products.

Yes. We give presentations at staff meetings, parent meetings, PTA meetings, Open Houses, etc. We would be more than happy to meet with your principal one-on-one, as we have several sales reps throughout the country. We will also coordinate an author and/or illustrator book signing at an event and donate a percentage to your school, store or function. King Joe can also make special appearances (see picture below). Please call toll free (702) 423-2314 to schedule your presentation or one-on-one meeting. There is no fee for a presentation.

You may sign up for our newsletter on our website or call toll free (702) 423-2314. The free educational newsletter is packed with useful websites, educational facts, statistics and tips for teachers and parents.

Many of our customers do not have children, but have purchased numerous copies of the units. They have donated them to their former elementary schools or their neighborhood’s elementary schools. Other customers have donated them to churches, children’s hospitals and tutoring centers. Donations are tax-deductible.

The accompanying flashcards offer visual representations and explanations of all the mathematical vocabulary found throughout each unit. Flashcards may be utilized for:

The flashcards may be used in a whole class directed lesson plan or as extra time activities for individual students. When used in a directed lesson, have your children sit around you in a circle on a carpet. If you do not have a carpet in your classroom you can have your students bring their chairs and sit in a circle around you, making sure all students can easily see you holding the flashcards. Using this classroom setting, there are numerous activities you can engage in, all with your students close at hand. Such activities include:

• As a whole group, have the students say the word, spell the word and clap the syllables in each word. This activity can then be repeated with their eyes closed.
• Go around the circle and have each student use one of the math vocabulary words in a sentence or just explain and give you an example of the word.
• Play Around the World with the flashcards. Children LOVE this game and it can be used to teach nearly everything including math facts, states and capitals, etc. If you are not familiar with Around the World , here is the basic concept: Children are in the same circle around you. One student is selected to stand behind the student next to him/her. You then show them a flashcard. The student who reads the word first (or gives the correct answer to the math problem, state or capital, etc.) is the winner and gets to move on to the next seated student. If the standing student is first he/she moves on to the next seated student. If the seated student is first, he/she stands and moves on to the next student while the original standing student sits in their place. The object of the game is to get Around the World, i.e. gets to stand behind all the students in the circle and answer correctly before having to sit down. Seated students need to be reminded that they should be trying to think of the answers in their heads before the participating students because soon it will be their turn.
• Make the flashcards available for students who finish their assignments early. It can be an extra-time learning center. Students really like to play school or pretend to be the teacher and quiz each other with the flashcards.
• Use the words and phrases as weekly spelling words or as bonus spelling words.

When the idea for The King Joe Series was initially created, the very first thing the author did was actually sit down with all the student and teacher editions of the 13 previously listed textbook series. She scanned every single page, highlighting the key words and phrases in every book. These nearly 800 words and phrases were then entered into a database and categorized by State Standard topic. You might say, she “Let the cards fall where they may.” Therefore, it was actually the vocabulary presented in these textbooks that determined which vocabulary words would be presented in each of The King Joe Units. You may view the specific vocabulary words and phrases for all completed King Joe Units on our web site in the “Products” section.

No, The King Joe Series is intended to reinforce the concepts you are currently teaching in your classroom and provide you with a fun way to introduce and expose vital math vocabulary words and phrases. It is also intended to give you an invaluable tool to prepare students for standardized testing. Thirdly, by recommending it to your students’ parents, it provides you with reinforcement at home and helps to strengthen the home/school connection. Therefore, it should be viewed as supplemental, reinforcement and test preparation material (as well as just great stories to read aloud).

As a former teacher, the author knows from experience that students are unable to demonstrate their full knowledge and capabilities due to the difficult vocabulary used in math questions and directions. For example, a child may hear a word during classroom instruction, but never actually see it in print until they take a standardized test. The purpose of The King Joe Series is to introduce, explain and reinforce all integral vocabulary, which will allow children to demonstrate their actual mathematical ability and knowledge. Exposure to these approximately 800 vital math words and phrases will definitely give your children an edge and lead the way to improved classroom and testing success as well as greater self-esteem.

The King Joe Series was originally designed for second grade and the words were gathered from second grade textbooks, but we are finding great success in grades Pre-K through 6th grade. This is because every child is unique and in a different place in their learning cycle. For Pre-K through 1st grade, it may be used as advanced learning material, while in 5th and 6th grade it may be administered for remedial and review purposes. We have even had 8th grade parents purchase the units for their children’s learning remediation.

There are many implementation methods for The King Joe Series. During the summer, it is an easy way to maintain your child’s math vocabulary in an entertaining manner. During standardized testing, it is especially important to review the flashcards numerous times, making sure that they can not only read the word, but give a definition and example for each word or phrase. The King Joe series is also just a fun bedtime reading activity. Sometimes it is nice just to enjoy the stories without purposefully teaching a math lesson. The children are still hearing and seeing the words, and therefore learning.

King Joe and his accompanying friends are appealing to children of all ages. Children who are not yet ready to read the story on their own will love being read to by parents, grandparents, siblings or teachers. Reading to children is a fun, quality-time activity that not only promotes learning, but brings families closer together.

If your child’s teacher is not already using The King Joe Series, you should definitely introduce them to our products.

The King Joe Series is a great way to combine reading and math skills, the two largest subjects taught in your child’s classroom. By talking with your child about what they are learning in math and overseeing their math homework, you can reinforce their classroom skills with discussions about King Joe and the accompanying vocabulary words.

If your child’s teacher is currently implementing The King Joe Series, your child will love telling you about King Joe and his adventures and maybe even reading you the stories!