Tag:

math manipulatives

Digital Math Tools

by Lori Gracey April 28, 2021

written by Lori Gracey

As a former ELA teacher, math instruction has always seemed like the quest for the Grail to me. First off, the content seems very foreign (at least to me!) and then there is the great need for paper and pencil to do the work with. Of course, in today’s classroom, math education is just as innovative as any other subject area due to a large number of excellent tools available for the students. In this blog, I share some math resources that you may not be familiar with.

Collaborative Math Tools

Math Whiteboard is a fabulous, free, collaborative tool designed specifically for math education. It allows the teacher, who shares a link to a collaborative board, to see the work of every student at one time. You can import PDFs for students to work on and annotate, use the included graphing calculator, take advantage of the powerful Computer Algebra System that allows for calculations from arithmetic to calculus, and write or type math formulas and numbers. The site runs in any browser and so works on any device.

math tools

The Math Card Games site has more than 30 free card games that focus on place value, operations, fractions, and decimals. As the teacher, you can watch the students play in real-time, which can give you excellent feedback on their understanding. The games are really good, but it does require a little work to get started. The teacher downloads a game template and then goes to PlayingCards.io. You start a blank room and then upload the template, finally creating a copy of the game for each pair of students. (There is an excellent video on how to do all of this.) Each game also comes with a two-to-three minute video with directions on how to play.

Open Middle

If you are using the Open Middle approach in your math classroom, be sure to check its website. They have tons of resources there, including the ability to browse by standard or grade level and student worksheets in English and Spanish (downloadable in Google Slides). Each question set includes directions on how to use it, as well as hints.

There is a fantastic Depth of Knowledge Matrix based on the Open Middle concept for Algebra 2 available from Robert Kaplinsky. He also has these matrices:

Elementary and secondary matrix (a selection from eight grade levels)
Elementary matrix (kindergarten through 5th grade)
Secondary matrix (6th grade through calculus)
3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2 matrices (separate matrices for each grade level)

Alice Keeler shares how to use Google Jamboard with the Open Middle concept. She explains the process clearly and then includes a sample problem and an example.

math tools

Elementary Math Tools

MathBots offers a variety of resources for basic math instruction, including manipulatives, question generators, puzzles, printables, and more. I really like the Starters section which offers bell ringer activities to get kids warmed up and ready to learn. It also has a great Tools section where you’ll find more than 25 different digital math resources perfect for exploratory learning or for teacher-led instruction.

The SolveMe website is all about supporting algebraic reasoning in a fun and interactive format. Students use logic to solve visual, interactive mathematical puzzles in one of three games: Mobiles (equation practice using mobiles), Who Am I (use clues to determine the digits of a mystery number), and Mystery Grid (place all the tiles on the grid so that every row and every column contains exactly one type of tile, and so that the tiles fit the clues). There are hundreds of them to solve, so it can carry your students through the whole year. Most of the games are geared toward the elementary grades. No login or registration is required.

Sneak in Solving Linear Equations — SolveMe Mobiles – Mr. Orr is a Geek.com

Boddle offers a 3D math game approach with very cute characters for grades K-6. The teacher registers for a free account and then sets up her students with access. The students log in and start playing. There is also a free iOS app.

Once students have been introduced to a math concept and are needing guided practice, Zearn is a great resource. Created by a nonprofit, their digital lessons for grades 1-5 are completely free. They include short videos that explain the concept, problem-solving with interactive tools, “pause points” where students top and do math, and real-time feedback on every problem. I also like that they include kids explaining some of the concepts in the videos. Each digital lesson takes about 30 minutes to complete.

Zearn Math: Top-rated math program created for teachers, by teachers

Secondary Math Tools

Typing a math formula into a Google Doc or Slide can be difficult. But that was before Equatio. This Google extension is free for teachers. I found it a little hard to use at first. But Eric Curts has a great blog with very clear instructions. (By the way, it’s also great for scientific formulas!

If these math tools aren’t enough for you, be sure to check the others mentioned in this TCEA blog. And you should also look at the long, compiled list, again from the fabulous Eric Curts, with new math resources added every month.

Protractor Tools

Check out this transparent online protractor from Ginifab.
TeachableMath shares an interactive protractor app to practice measuring angles on the screen.
Oryx has an online protractor tool built to practice measuring and estimating angles.
MathsPad is a newer interactive graphing tool that includes a protractor tool.

Happy mathing!

April 28, 2021 1 comment

Content Areas

Summer Learning with Games and Math

by Miguel Guhlin June 13, 2019

written by Miguel Guhlin

“Here, why don’t we find you something fun?” Jessica passed the iPad to her child. Walk into any home, you’ll find children hovering over their gadgets, trying to keep busy. Abandoned by the school system for a short period of time, they wander online. They hope to find something, anything of interest. While it’s doubtful you’ll be able to steer your kids only towards academic pursuits, try. In this blog entry, we’ll explore two fun websites you can get started your child started on.

summer slide math

Website #1 – Toy Theater

Looking for a collection of content area games? Look no further than Toy Theater, whose motto is “Learn * Create * Play.” Toy Theater describes itself in this way:

Toy Theater is an online game website for kids. It is chock full of interactive art games, fun reading games, and cool math games. Designed for kids in grades K-3 classrooms, it offers free online educational games. Teachers from around the world trust them to provide real classroom value.

Some quick points about the site:

Math games focus on counting, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and more. Toy Theater also offers graphing games that include line plots, pictographs, and pie charts.
Reading games include hidden picture, spelling, and word search using original art. Free online books, including the Beatrix Potter stories, are available.
Art games support art, design, and math. Students learn about symmetry, balance, painting, coloring, and scribbling. Activities include holiday celebrations, animal explorations, and learning about famous artists.
Brain teasers and online puzzles are also available. Intended to build memory, engage problem solving skills, and develop spatial rotation, they are all fun and free.

Want to introduce your children to classic games you played as a child? Then you’ll be happy to know they include Tic Tac Toe, chess, checkers, Balloon Pop, and others. Most of what Toy Theater offers works on mobile devices. Adobe Flash-friendly activities will work, if you have a desktop computer browser.

Research Alert – Worksheets Are Insufficient to Prevent Summer Slide in Math

A summer math intervention study drew some interesting conclusions. Students used online math programs and worksheets. The researchers saw no improvement as a result. Assigning worksheets without mentoring or guidance won’t correct summer math loss (Harvard Graduate School of Education).

Worksheets not your thing? Maybe some interactive geometry fun (e.g. tangrams and more) will get your children thinking.

Website #2 – Symmetry Artist

Wish you could introduce your children to symmetry before they get into a tough math class? Then the Math Is Fun website is for you as it has a whole page dedicated to geometry and symmetry. Your child will tons of fun drawing in the online tool. I don’t know about you, but this tool alone would provide hours of fun no matter what the age. Your child(ren) can save or print their designs. To increase the learning, why not save those designs and then have them make a narrated slideshow explaining them?

summer slide math

If you explore the Math Is Fun website , you’ll find many other exciting activities and games.

As summer begins, keep those brains active and thinking. Remember, you won’t want to give kids a device and turn them loose. Instead, sit with them and spend time working through concepts and problem solving. Your relationship will be the better for it. And, as the Harvard-based research above shows, your child(ren) will retain more.

June 13, 2019 1 comment

Modernizing Math Manipulatives

by Guest Blogger November 14, 2018

written by Guest Blogger

Have you ever become extremely frustrated during math instruction when trying to pass out a million math manipulatives to your students? Over the past few years in my 1:1 iPad first-grade classroom, I have been experimenting with using digital manipulatives instead of physical manipulatives. Along my journey, I have found the following applications the most beneficial for instruction:

Here are some of the ways I’ve used these tools in my math classroom.

Engaging the Many

A few years ago during my formal observation by one of my assistant principals, she pointed out that using the interactive whiteboard was only engaging one student at a time. That’s when it occurred to me that I needed to find a different way to engage all learners at the same time. After some doing some research, Nearpod seemed to be the answer. I introduced a Nearpod whole group to my students and they blew me away.

I assigned my students a 3D-shape lesson that used many of Nearpod’s tools. My students watched a video that introduced each shape. Then they used the drawing feature to identify the 3D shapes with real-world objects. After we identified shapes, students then used the collaboration feature. They were able to search within the tool for real world examples of each shape to share with the class. Students were excited and commenting on each other’s images. As a result of our discussion while using this tool, math became real and lived beyond the four walls of our classroom. Afterwards, students completed a quick quiz within the tool and it sent me the data immediately.

Blending and Flipping

This past year, I decided to implement a blended learning model during my math block. I created Nearpods for my students to complete independently during their technology station. I began flipping my math block by assigning self-paced Nearpod lessons. The lesson would begin with students watching a quick video explaining the math skill. I would have added audio to slides that would further teach the skill. Then students would complete a few practice problems using different Nearpod tools. After finishing this station, students then would meet me for small group instruction. I could look at their data quickly from the Nearpod and use it to guide my lesson and correct any misconceptions.

Digital Manipulatives

During small group instruction, my students show their learning by using digital manipulative applications. My favorite application for math is SchoolKit Math because it houses almost any manipulative an elementary student would need. We have used many of the manipulatives, but the one that stands out most is when my students are able to create examples of time with clock hands and write the digital form beside their clock inside of the application. In addition to teaching time, learners have created different amounts of money using the coins in SchoolKit Math. They can erase their board quickly and we can move right on to the next amount of money. It makes for easy clean up and no loss of instruction time.

Other applications such as Pieces Basic allow students to model their thinking and record their answers directly on the screen. After my students have become comfortable with the applications, they begin to share their learning. We use Seesaw The Learning Journal in my classroom to connect home to school and to give my students an audience for their learning. When students feel like they have mastered the new math skill, they screenshot the application and upload it into their Seesaw Journal. It’s amazing because they are able to voice record their thinking and how they modeled their problem before fully uploading the image. After it is uploaded, other students can comment on their work, as well as their parents. This has strengthened the connection between home and school.

Experimenting with digital manipulatives and flipping my first-grade classroom has changed the way I teach. I urge teachers to take a chance with the amazing opportunities of the digital world. It’s that digital footprint we encourage our students to make that will give them the edge in their future endeavors. Choosing not to embrace, teach, and use technology is failing the ones we are pushing so hard to succeed—our students.

This is a guest blog by Brittany Beaird. Brittany is a first grade teacher at Nash Elementary in Texarkana, Texas. She has taught for 11 years, with experience in teaching both first- and second-grade students. She has a passion for finding new technology to keep all first-grade students engaged in the learning process, as well as teaching her peers how to use technology effectively in the classroom.

November 14, 2018 0 comments