Billy Bees Learning
So much "more than" beautifully illustrated maths storybooks...
"These books provide a different and revolutionary way of teaching maths..."
- Katrina Cochrane
Director and Founder - Positive Dyslexia Ltd
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BOOKS
NUMBER FRIENDS
LET'S WRITE NUMBERS
This book helps children to learn how to form numbers.
With ten short stories and fun illustrations, the book is designed to appeal to a range of learning styles, including dyslexia and dyscalculia.
In this book, each number (from one to ten) has its own character, colour, story, and memorable rhyme to help children recall the digit formation. Each number also has a fun illustration with things to spot, to help build an understanding of each number having a value. So, for the three little pigs, there are three clouds to spot, three apples on a tree, three bees near the honey pot etc. Because the Early Years framework is so cross curricular and play based, the stories are linked to other areas of learning; so, looking at the three little pigs again, children could build dens or maybe make some honey on toast and talk about instructions and the importance of ordering and sequencing. This book links to many areas of the Early Years curriculum including colours, prepositions, day and night, animals, exploring different materials, healthy eating, music and activities to help develop gross motor and fine motor skills. There are lots of ideas for learning and fun activities at the back of the book.
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NUMBER FRIENDS
AND THE DOUBLING DOORWAY
Number Friends and the Doubling Doorway is an entertaining way to explore the concept of doubling or consolidate the two times tables.
This book is also designed to appeal to a range of learning styles, including dyslexia and dyscalculia.
The idea behind this book is that Tommy and Tilly host a pirate party for the Number Friends and discover an old shipwreck, within which they find a ‘doubling doorway’. All the Number Friends take it in turn to go through the magical doorway and get doubled. There are instructions at the back of the book to make a ‘doubling doorway’; children can decorate a mirror and then put objects in front of it to see the objects doubled. Simple, but very effective for visual and tactile learners!
NUMBER FRIENDS
AND THE NUMBER BOND SPORTS DAY
This book looks at ‘number bonds’ to ten, and the ‘part-whole model’ which is often used in schools when learning about number bonds.
As with all our books, it designed to appeal to a range of learning styles, including dyslexia and dyscalculia.
This book looks at ‘number bonds’ to ten, so is hosted by The Grand Old Duke, who represents the number ten. The story has a sports day theme, and each team of friends just so happens to be a number bond (so 3 and 7, or 4 and 6). The book has subtle social stories about teamwork, friendship, and inclusivity. For example, the mice are unable to swim so make a paper boat for the swimming race instead of being left out. Each character is awarded a balloon by the Duke, and this illustration mirrors the ‘part-whole model’ often used in schools when learning about number bonds.
OLLIE O'CLOCK
Meet Ollie O’Clock!
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He’s a sweet, little, cake-loving monster who is learning how to tell the time….as long as it involves pieces of cake!
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This book is a great introduction to the rather complicated topic of learning to tell the time.
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This book is a great introduction to the rather complicated topic of learning how to tell the time on analogue clocks. The carefully thought-out colour scheme helps children to remember the various aspects of telling the time. Ollie has come up with 12 different pictures to simplify telling the time, by chunking the minutes into segments and by showing the hours as a number-line wrapped around the clock face. This then helps children put the information into a 'time sentence'. The 12 different clock faces are printed at the back of the book for you to cut out and use. There is also a certificate to cut out and keep, and a craft page so you can make your own clock to help with learning! This book has been designed to appeal to a range of learning styles, and to be dyslexia and dyscalculia friendly.
GARY AND MATHS
Gary has dyscalculia and dyslexia, which can make remembering things tricky.
Luckily, he has a super helpful little sidekick to help him…mini-Gary!
Join Gary and mini-Gary at school as they problem solve, defeat fire dudes, and collect bonus coins … all in a day’s work!
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This book has been designed to help raise awareness of dyscalculia. Written from a child’s point of view, it looks at some of the challenges a dyscalculic or dyslexic child may face, and how much of a ‘hidden workload’ they often cope with.
GARY AND SCIENCE
Gary and mini-Gary are back!
Join them for Mr. Conicle's science lesson as they find periodic elements and invent the coolest ever space homework!
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This book has been designed to help raise awareness of dyscalculia and its effect on short-term memory.
It is written from a child’s point of view and looks at some of the challenges a dyscalculic or dyslexic child may face both at home and at school.
ABOUT
Hello, I'm Bridget. I'm an qualified Early Years teacher ... and my little four-legged friend here is Billy!
During my teacher training and early career, I learnt how to teach phonics and could never understand why there wasn’t a similar approach for early maths. I decided to see if I could make a resource to help teach number formation and, what started out as a few doodles in my sketch pad, has now become three actual books!
Learning Needs:
Dyslexia and/or dyscalculia (or any unmet learning need for that matter) may be having an impact on a child’s early learning but may not be picked up for years. To me, it feels unfair that a child may be being left behind with their learning through no fault of their own.
I wanted to create resources that would be inclusive, fun, and accessible to a range of learning styles.
CONTACT
For all enquiries you can contact us at the following:
Billy Bees Learning | International House | 64 Nile Street
London | N1 7SR | billybeeslearning@gmail.com
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