Math Madness

Summer is a good time to view educational websites and to update your school web page as I know many teachers look for links for parents to use at home.

Here are some math links that you may want to share with parents but you'll want to check them out for school use as well. These were recommended primarily from Free Technology for Teachers or from TeachersFirst.

Visual Math Learning
This site stresses the importance of visualization in learning. The mission of this site is to "provide parents and classroom teachers with the means to better employ visual imagery. It is designed as a supplementary resource to help students in their mastery of mathematics. It is also designed to help parents to better understand mathematical concepts as they work to assist their children in home learning". The site includes practice exercises and games over integers, fractions, division, and other basic math concepts for elementary and middle school students. http://www.visualmathlearning.com/index.html


The Math Worksheet Site
This site offers a free section of worksheet generators with limited customizing features for elementary math basics. Math and subtraction problems are offered in both horizontal and vertical formats and you can specify the number of numbers to appear on the page. There is a subscription fee for individuals and school use that offers additional features. This site might be useful when you want to send a practice page to inform parents of a math skill needing practice at home or an extra review page when you have a substitute.
http://themathworksheetsite.com/


The Problem Site
From TeachersFirst, this free site offers math and word games as well as some printable game worksheets appropriate for grades PK- 12. Games include magic squares, hangman, treasure hunts, strategy games, and others. Do note that this site includes ads on sidebars which may distract younger students. This would be a good site for review practice at school or at home.
http://www.theproblemsite.com/


Funbrain Math Arcade
This site offers 25 games but you have to win one to progress to the next game. Games are appropriate for grades 1-8. Students determine their level at the beginning of the activity with directions provided for each game. These arcade type games would be fun for review on a SmartBoard in the classroom as well as at home. http://www.funbrain.com/brain/MathBrain/MathBrain.html


More games to explore

Elementary Interactive Math http://edweb.tusd.k12.az.us/ekowalcz/math/elementary_web_sites.htm

Homework Spot Math
http://www.homeworkspot.com/elementary/math/


For teachers
You might be interested to browse these sites for suggestions to assist special needs learners or to provide background information on mathematical concepts.

About.com: Mathematics http://math.about.com/

Apples 4 the Teacher Math http://www.apples4theteacher.com/math.html

Reading and Math Strategies http://www.evgschool.org/reading_and_math_strategies.htm

The Access Center http://www.k8accesscenter.org/training_resources/math.asp

Jim Wright: Intervention Ideas for Mathematics http://www.jimwrightonline.com/php/interventionista/interventionista_intv_list.php?prob_type=mathematics

Enjoy these last days of summer to explore "math madness" inside the cool of your home!