Math Resources

In today’s tech-savvy world, hundreds of thousands of online tools, mobile apps, and learning devices have been developed in order to support children’s growth and development in mathematical thinking.  Below, I have listed just a small sampling of the resources available for children.  These may be utilized in class instruction, during independent practice, or even as an at-home extension for extra practice and learning fun!

1. National Library of Virtual Manipulatives    
   • The National Library of Virtual Manipulatives is exactly what it says it is: an entire library comprised of every visual aid a mathematics teacher could ever need.  This site provides easy access to visual learning tools that could be used in any math lesson, as well as during independent work, and as an additional tool for differentiation.
2. Johnie’s Math Page     
   • Johnie’s Math Page is an excellent resource that includes both visual aids and interactive activities, both formatted for use on a classroom SmartBoard or other compatible variations.  These would be excellent to use during center time on the interactive white board or in the classroom computer center.
3. Illuminations      
   • Illuminations.nctm.com is a well-organized site that offers sample lessons, interactive, games, and (my personal favorite) brain teasers and challenges.  Content matter applying to each of the above can be sorted not only by topic and grade level, but also by Common Core standards for math.
4. Math Game Time      
   • Mathgametime.com is another excellent sources for early childhood math games and activities.  They are organized both by grade level and by topic for quick facilitation to many activities that support current classroom learning.
5. Math Goodies    
   • Mathgoodies.com is an awesome site for students, teachers, and parents!  It offers a greatly extensive list of resources from visual aids and representations, mathematical conversion charts, and scientific calculators, to sample lessons (that can be completed right on the site!) with corresponding interactive assessments, math games & puzzles, a glossary of math terms, and much, much more!
6. Gynzy        
   • Gynzy.com also gives free access to very easy to use and self-checking base-ten blocks.   Another excellent resource for in-class accommodation or at-home work support, this tool can even be embedded into a power point activity or classroom website by copying the embed code displayed at the bottom of the site page. Embedding this onto a classroom website gives parents and students even easier access to the virtual manipulatives as homework help.
7. Curious Hat      
   • Curious Hat is a collaborative group that create quality educational apps for children between the ages of 3 and 10.  They currently offer seven different apps ranging in subjects from fractions, measurements, and simple math, to maps, story-telling, color exploration, and literacy skills.  The lot of apps are interactive, engaging, and chocked full of fun educational development and stimulation.  The seven apps they currently offer are: Curious Ruler, Curious Playground, Oh No Fractions!, InfiniScroll, Eye Paint, Phlip, and Color Vacuum. The apps can be downloaded separately (some even feature spin-offs into multiple subjects!) or are offered in bundles.  This is an EXCELLENT set of creative and innovative tools for education that encourages children to explore the world around them in their learning!
8. Khan Academy        
   • The Khan Academy app offers the collection of Khan videos and articles delivered directly to your mobile device. The list of subjects is very impressive, and has something for everyone and and every topic.  You may find articles on geography, famous novels, and coaching resources, all within a five –second reach of one another.  The Khan Academy app is home to over 4,200 resource videos and articles.  The videos and demonstrations in this app would be exceptional to supplement learning in an older-elementary setting, and even more useful in later grades.  Khan Academy is an easy-to-follow resource for students, and a stimulating tool for the perpetual learner!
9. Brain POP      
   • BrainPOP features a collection of animated “movies” on an extensive variety of topics.  Content covers Mathematics, English, Science, Social Studies, Health, Arts & Music, Engineering and Tech, as well hot topics such as Cyber bullying and Ebola.  Once the video has wrapped, users have the option to participate in an interactive quiz over the subject matter.  BrainPOP is an excellent way to cover a wide variety of material in a fun and entertaining way, while quizzing to increase comprehension and detail articulation.
10. Best Apps for Kids  
    • BestAppsForKids.com lists tons of apps for mathematics learning that are accessible from all kinds of technology devices. I really appreciate the way this site is organized. Apps are grouped by grade, age, rating, subject, and even game characters. The site even includes supportive mobile apps for learners with autism or language/communication gaps (ELL students). This site gives me, as a teacher, an extensive lot of resources to refer to my students’ parents as an at-home learning component. I may introduce a new app in my newsletter each month that corresponds to our classroom learning goals, lessons, or units. Many children nowadays have frequent access to a smart phone, iPad, notebook, computer, or iPod with the capability of downloading applications. These are an excellent way to keep them working on skills in ways that are frequently disguised as games – a win-win situation for students, parents, and teachers alike.