Two Plus Two Is Not Five AND Five Times Five Is Not Ten

Name: Two Plus Two Is Not Five AND Five Times Five Is Not Ten
Brand: Longevity Publishing LLC

by Longevity Publishing LLC

MathGrades 1–4

About This Curriculum

<cite index="1-4,1-7">These workbooks provide strategies and practice pages to help any age child learn and memorize addition, subtraction, and multiplication math facts</cite>. <cite index="3-5,3-6">Two Plus Two Is Not Five focuses on addition and subtraction facts while Five Times Five Is Not Ten teaches multiplication strategies</cite>.

What makes it unique: <cite index="1-20,11-8">Uses named tricks and strategies for learning math facts, not just drill and practice, to bridge the way between counting and memorization</cite>

Two Plus Two Is Not Five AND Five Times Five Is Not Ten: Fact-Based Workbooks

These are traditional workbooks focused on teaching math fact memorization through mnemonic strategies and drill practice. The curriculum covers addition, subtraction, and multiplication facts for grades 1-4 using named "tricks" to help students remember basic math facts.

Best for

Homeschool families and teachers seeking supplemental math fact memorization practice for grades 1-4, particularly for students who struggle with traditional math fact learning

Evaluation Criteria

3 strengths · 2 concerns · 3 neutral · 1 insufficient evidence

Direct InstructionStrength

The workbook format supports direct instruction with clear strategy introductions and structured practice.

Reviews describe '33 sets of strategy introductions' followed by systematic practice, suggesting a teacher-led approach with explicit instruction on each strategy

Retrieval PracticeStrength

Strong emphasis on retrieval practice through repeated drill and cumulative review.

Rainbow Resource mentions 'daily drill and practice' and describes 'practice, review, and cumulative review pages' while Cathy Duffy notes 'lots of practice sets' including cumulative work

Sequencing ApproachStrength

Uses a strategic, non-sequential approach that presents facts incrementally rather than in numerical order.

Rainbow Resource review notes that 'math facts [are presented] incrementally and strategically rather than in numerical order' with '33 sets of strategy introductions followed by practice, review, and cumulative review pages'

Word ProblemsConcern

No evidence of word problem instruction or real-world application.

Reviews focus exclusively on math fact memorization and drill practice with no mention of word problems or application contexts

Conceptual Procedural BalanceConcern

The curriculum heavily emphasizes procedural fluency through memorization strategies with minimal conceptual development.

Reviews describe the books as focusing on 'tricks for learning math facts' with 'traditional worksheets' for practice and drill, with strategies meant to 'bridge the way between counting and memorization'

Teacher TrainingNeutral

Includes record-keeping materials but limited pedagogical guidance beyond strategy explanations.

Cathy Duffy mentions 'record-keeping pages both for tracking when you teach each math fact and when students demonstrate mastery' but no comprehensive teacher training materials

Assessment DiagnosticNeutral

Includes mastery tracking but limited diagnostic assessment capabilities.

Reviews mention record-keeping for tracking 'when students demonstrate mastery' but no discussion of diagnostic tools to identify specific learning gaps

Visual RepresentationsNeutral

Minimal use of visual representations, though some finger-based strategies are included in the multiplication book.

Cathy Duffy notes that 'in Five Times Five some strategies have students use their hands and fingers as part of the tricks' but describes the approach as primarily worksheet-based

Worked ExamplesInsufficient Evidence

Limited evidence of worked examples, with focus primarily on teaching mnemonic strategies.

Reviews mention 'tricks' and 'strategies' but do not describe step-by-step worked examples or modeling of problem-solving processes

Sources: cathyduffyreviews.com, rainbowresource.com