Recommended Online Math Resources

Many students have 4-6 weeks off of school between June and September. Students are “scheduled” during the school year and do need “down” time. However, given our informational age, letting our brains pause for too long could have negative effects too, especially in regards to math. Learning is all about the lens we choose to view it in…let us promote learning as a fun, year-long, life-long process.  Encouraging those around us of any age, to get excited about reviewing our knowledge or learning something new. Having the ability to learn is a gift, and is something that should be celebrated.

For summer introduction, practice, mastery or review these sites are a good place for students in grades K-12 to explore mathematic concepts. I have also recommended these sites as homework resources too.

Discovery Education

Grades 1-8

Visit Website: https://school.discoveryeducation.com

Enjoy the fun and challenges of mathematics. Students can click on “Homework Help” or “Games and Interactives” to review math concepts and skills. This site offers resources to help students master the basics of mathematics of numbers and number operations. Videos and tutorials explain basic operations and help with the mastery of math skills in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division–essential building blocks for success in mathematics.

 

Front Row

Grades K-8

Visit Website: https://www.frontrowed.com/

Zero in on math and ELA with personalized practice and assessments

 

SoftSchools.com

Grades K-12

Visit Website: http://www.softschools.com/math/games/

Interactive free math games

 

Prodigy

Grades: 1-8

Visit Website: https://www.prodigygame.com/

Adaptive math practice wrapped in role-playing adventure

 

Get the Math

Grades: 7-10

Visit Website: http://www.thirteen.org/get-the-math/category/the-challenges/

Solve real-life algebra problems

 

AAA Math

Grades: K-8

Visit Website: http://www.aaamath.com

Get introduced, practice, master or review math concepts outlined per grade level

 

Khan Academy

Grades: K-12

Visit Website: https://www.khanacademy.org

Mini math instructional videos that cover a wide array of math concepts. Parents/students can personalize learning by setting up a free online classroom.

 

Kuta Software

Visit Website: https://www.kutasoftware.com

Grades 6-12

Download free worksheets ranging from Pre-Algebra to Infinite Calculus

 

SoftSchools.com

Grades: 6-8

Visit Website: http://www.softschools.com/math/algebra/

Algebra Worksheets, Quizzes and Activities

 

May we continue to seek knowledge in all things~

Denise

Author Websites with Games and Activities… Think Eragon, Reading Rainbow and The Ranger’s Apprentice

Some great author websites with games and activities for all ages this summer!

Oceanhouse Media Great educational book apps and so much more. Check out often for FREE downloads to help your child learn letters, phonics & math!

http://www.oceanhousemedia.com/

Christopher Paolini’s “Eragon” Series Games and Activities for Tweens and Teens…Great Teacher Resource Too

http://www.alagaesia.com/
John Flannagan’s “Ranger’s Apprentice” Series Games and Activities for Tweens and Teens…Great Teacher Resource Too (one of my favorite series)

http://www.rangersapprentice.com.au/

The 39 Clues Website A fun clue hunt!

http://the39clues.scholastic.com/

The Mysterious Benedict Society Top Secret Adventures, Passwords and Amazing FUN!

http://www.mysteriousbenedictsociety.com/

Remember Reading Rainbow…check out this great reading resource for FREE!

Think classroom IPad or whiteboard resource

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/reading-rainbow-read-along/id512350210?mt=8

May we continue ot seek knowledge in all things~

Denise

Summer Resources for Learning

Summertime is not a time to halt learning but a time to look at learning through a new and creative lens. learning occurs all around us in and out of the house, in grandma’s back yard, while on a long road trip etc.

Children will rise to whatever learning expectation you set for them.

Have some fun and check out some of the ideas below. If you have a great summer learning activity for children, we would love to hear about it and share it here at Unlock the Teacher!

Summer Learning Day-June 20th

http://www.summerlearning.org/?page=summer_learning_day

Summer Learning Day Activities

http://www.summerlearning.org/?page=SLDCelebrate

National Parks Lesson Plans and Teacher Resources

Click Here to Access Free Curriculum Materials

Click Here to Request Free Curriculum Kit

Education Closet

http://educationcloset.com/arts-integration-lessons/

Great Science App for Children who LOVE Science

Chemist is one of the only virtual chemistry labs for tablets that enables users to conduct chemistry investigations and explore chemistry reactions with different lab tools. Students can try mixing chemicals by pouring them into beakers or test tubes. They can heat the chemicals with a Bunsen burner or put a piece of cesium into water. The 3-D stage enables the parallax effect from different angles. Chemist has a built-in database with more than 200 chemical reagents, and additional reagents will be offered periodically through the online CloudLab database for testing more chemical reactions. Developed by Thix, the app is available for iPad and Android tablets. Cost: $4.99

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/chemist/id440666387

Paper the Web

Teens who love to sketch can sketch away using FiftyThree’s Paper, a free sketching app for the iPad. Known for its simplicity as well as its sharing functionality, the app provides built-in tools that let students share their sketches on Twitter, tumbler and Facebook as well as connect with others who sketch using the #MadeWithPaper hashtag. Students can also submit their sketches to FiftyThree’s website and see what others are creating with the app. Cost: Free

http://www.fiftythree.com/paper

May we continue to seek knowledge in all things~

Denise

 

Educational Websites to Utilize in the Classroom for Grades 4-12

At a recent principal’s meeting, the Web 2.0 presenter showcased some fabulous online resources that any 21st century educator could utilize to enhance classroom instruction.

www.qwiki.com

This site includes multimedia components and visual displays for presentations.  *Very user-friendly.

www.lessonstream.org

Present information to students integrating a multimedia format.

www.vocabahead.com

Identify real-life connections between words and their use.  *This is a great tool…words with videos!

www.khanacademy.org

This is a site where students can retell stories to demonstrate an understanding of concepts.

www.bitstrips.com

This is an A-M-A-Z-I-N-G site for teachers to utilize really grades 2 on up.  Students can create animated cartoon strips by utilizing a combination of drawing, dictating and writing to narrate a single event or several loosely linked events. This site also has a homework component…great vocabulary builder and speaks to the visual learner.

www.60secondrecap.com

Compare and contrast two or more characters, settings or events in a story or drama. *neat site

www.visuwords.com

Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships and nuances in word meanings.

www.owl.emglish.purdue.edu

Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

www.froguts.com

Great virtual dissects to utilize in class with students.

www.jeapardylabs.com

Draw on information from multiple print or digital sources to locate an answer to a question quickly or to solve a problem efficiently.

www.storybird.com

Add drawings to displays and stories.

This is just a few of the many resources available online. 

 

May we continue to seek knowledge in all things,

Denise

Themed Lessons Online for F-R-E-E…When we Share the Good in Education, we ALL Benefit

Given all the many online resources available to both educators and parents alike, one can spend a whole week educating our youth on days like today…President’s Day and answering the who, what, where and why questions that arise.

The Teacher’s Guide is a fabulous resource site, that provides lesson plans, tips on integrating technology, White Board lessons and so much more.

Hot Chalk is another amazing online resource.  This site is broken down by Classroom, Community and Lesson Plans. One can even sign up for a free eNewsletter too.

A to Z Teacher Stuff is a neat site that has theme-based puzzles, lesson plans and great educational resources to utilize at home or in the classroom.

Education World is one of our favorite online resources.  This site offers lessons broken down by discipline and has a wealth of lessons to choose from.

When we share the good in education, we all benefit!

 

May we continue to see knowledge in all things,

Denise

Great Writing Website Resources for Writers Young and Old for 2012

The Key to Unlocking your Writing Potential...Dare to Dream~BIG!

Happy New Year! 2012 is sure to be a fabulous year chuck full of amazing new discoveries. If you are thinking of writing, like to write or have a child or classroom of students who like to write, here are some sites we recommend that provide advice on writing, pay for writing and stand as a good educational resource for writers young and old.

• Jane Friedmanfor ALL things writing (great tips and suggestions)
• “Promptly” Writer’s Digest Weekly Writing Prompt Contests
• Visit www.writersdigest.com …explore and great ideas
• TEEN INK~ www.teenink.com
• WeBook~ A resource for young writers~ http://www.webook.com
• KidPub~ A site written for kids by kids ~www.kidpub.com
• eBooks~ A site to publish and purchase eBooks  ~www.ebooks.com
• Stone Soup~ A kid and teen site…written for kids by kids~ www.stonesoup.com
• A comparison on the various eBook formats http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_e-book_formats
• Suite 101~ An online magazine ~www.suite101.com

If you have a site that you like or follow an agent who is super fabulous and blogs about writing, please share.  It is in this collaboration and sharing of knowledge that we all grow and learn.

May we continue to seek knowledge in all things,

Denise

Math Games to Utilize at Home or in the Classroom…and Math Chimp~a Great Math Resource Aligned to the Common Core

Math Chimp

A wonderful resource for parents and teachers…and fun for children of all ages. This interactive site engages the brain through math games aligned to the Common Core State Standards. Check it out and let us know your thoughts.

http://www.mathchimp.com/

Sheppards Software

This is a great site for ages 5-16. It offers everything from basic addition to algebraic problems to solve.

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/math.htm

The Math Games

This is a great fraction enhancing website. It offers simple games like matching to help young minds grasp fraction strategies.

http://themathgames.com/

Math Playground

This is a F-U-N site! It offers games like “Escape from Fraction Manor” and “Project T.R.I.G” A great mental workout for even my old mind 😉

http://www.mathplayground.com/games.html

Math-Play

This site offers games for elementary and middle school students.

http://www.math-play.com/

Play Kids Games

This is a great classroom resource too! This site offers classroom to create and upload math games. Sounds like a Best Practice to me…math and fun!

http://www.playkidsgames.com/mathGames.htm

As always, if you find these websites helpful, then we are thrilled. However, if these websites end up being less than expected, please let us know so we can remove them from our recommended lists.

May we continue to seek knowledge in all things,

Denise

From Basic Math Facts to Fractions…Online Learning Math Resources

BASIC FACTS

A+Math

Online flashcards and games for math practice.

Cool Math Games
Fun math games.

Funbrain.com-Math Baseball

Fun game teaches addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and elementary algebra.

Math Fact Cafe-Flashcards

Online flashcards for the elementary grades.  *** I really like this one!

Math Magician Games

More online flashcards, but in a timed setting and a progress report can be printed when finished.

Factor Game

Play this online version of the “Factor Captor” game in 5th Grade Everyday Mathematics.

F-R-A-C-T-I-O-N-S

AAA Math 

Covers all fraction topics.  NOTE:  I think this is a fabulous site for scaffolding the learning process for all things fractions!

FUNBRAIN-Fresh Baked Fractions

A game for simplifying fractions.

Learning Planet.com-Fraction Frenzy

Use a game to practice matching equivalent fractions.

Visual Fractions

Practice identifying fractions and operating with fractions. 

These are some great math sites I found while conducting research this morning.  The fractions sites are so good, that I had to share.  I hope these websites help make the learning process fun for your math learner!

May we seek knowledge in all things,

Denise

Teacher and Parent Resource Websites

 

Parents are the first responders in regards to education.  The following sites can be viewed by parent(s) and or caregiver and lessons or objectives can be giving for children ages 6 to 18 each day to enhance learning over the summer. Many of these sites have free educational webinars or videos where parent and child can learn together and have some educational fun! 20 minutes on computer at one of these sites can help your child explore and learn.  Great ideas can be extrapolated from these sites, in regards to family outings, educational vacations, field trips and fun summertime projects at home.

 

Great Learning Games~ www.funbrain.com

Large Resource for Language Arts, Reading and Writing~ www.mrsgoldsclass.com

Great Science and Math Activities~ www.edheads.com

Create Puzzles ~ www.edhelper.com

Educational Webinars~ www.pbs.org

Everything Jan Brett~ www.janbrett.com/

Great Science Site~ www.chem4kids.com

A Typing Site for Kids~ www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing

Everything Eric Carle~ www.eric-carle.com

A Variety of Activites~ www.apples4theteacher.com/

May we seek knowledge in all things,

Denise

“The Many Mysteries of the Beach” with an Academic Focus to Hit Barnes & Noble this Week

An Academically Enriched Children’s Literature Book

A “mysterious” narrator takes the reader on many mysteries to be learned at the beach.  Learn about the many animals that live on the beach while enhancing sight words and scientific knowledge.  This book is includes a parent and teacher resource section.  For parents or any caregiver, this is a great tool for exploring the teacher within and creating wonderful teaching moments for the learner in your life.

Reading is the cornerstone of all learning.  Regardless if the book is hand held and made of paper, or if it is stored on an electronic device, the words open the door to the imagination, not the physical object.

If we are to teach and be effective in the 21st century, then we need to know its language and understand its abilities as a learning tool. 

Technology is here and it is not going away, in fact, it is changing by the minute.  The goal should be to embrace the good aspect of incorporating technology into the learning platform. 

May we continue to seek knowledge in all things,

Denise