The Resource Room

Math

Lessons and articles:

• Annenberg Media: Learner.org

  http://www.learner.org/resources/browse.html?discipline=5 This is absolutely my favorite site for “math for the rest of us.” Algebra in Simplest Terms http://www.learner.org/resources/series66.html has videos of classes where we can see that by taking the time and providing structure, students really can discover algebra and move from enduring class to engaging in it.

• Online Times Tables Practice

• Guidelines for understanding and practicing the times tables (4/2000).

• Teaching Adding Fractions with Different Denominators: using motor memory.

• Multisensory Teaching: Positive and Negative Integers June, 2002. Lesson plans and ideas for making sense out of positive and negative numbers, including links to other resources.

• Using manipulatives in middle and secondary school math

• Dyslexia and Mathematics from Perspectives, Fall 1998

• The role of manipulatives in introducing and developing mathematical concepts in elementary and middle grades 5/86 by Susan Jones: analysis of research about using manipulatives to teach mathematical concepts.

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Books & Resources:

• Tools for the Times Tables,a book for learning the times tables through concepts and multisensory methods. The author, Dr. Steve Chinn, is founder of Mark College, a specialist school for dyslexic students in Somerset; and is an international lecturer on numeracy and dyslexia (including October 1999 at the International Dyslexia Association conference in Chicago). Susan Jones, M.Ed., of Team Prairie (responsible for this site) "translated" it into American English and wrote an accompanying workbook. Ordering information, more information and sample chapters
  

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Links:

As with reading, there are many, many sites about math. Here are some with a multisensory flavor!

• Teach Your Child The Multiplication Tables: review of pattern and visuals-based book about the times tables. Check it out!

• National Library of Virtual Manipulatives - Many of these are abstract and don't have structured lessons with them, but they are worth browsing.

  • Adding Fractions http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/grade_g_2.html -; shows a visual of a block split into slices which I found visually confusing. It also started with fractions with different denominators.

  • Naming Fractions http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/frames_asid_104_g_2_t_1.html More basic and user-friendly; students name numerator and denominator of parts of shapes.

  • Multiplying Fractions http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/frames_asid_194_g_2_t_1.html shows fractions times fractions by dividing a block into rows and columns.

  • Multiplying whole numbers on a graph http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/frames_asid_192_g_2_t_1.html shows multiplication as rows x columns, and “lattice” and “Common” displays with rows and columns color-coded for place values, so multidigit multiplication is shown visually.

  • Number Line Bar http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/frames_asid_180_g_2_t_1.html?open=activities this says that all four operations can be done with it, but it's not clear how. I think it's got potential if some time is spent with it.

  • Place Value http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/topic_t_1.html - basic numbers with manipulatives. Blocks of different sizes stand for ones, tens and hundreds. Again, with some time spent on designing lessons, this could be very useful.

   

• Renee's Resources for a long time, just about the *only* website about math difficulties!

• Make your own manipulatives - how to make them and some fun activities at various levels

• AAA Math http://www.aaamath.com
  Lots and lots of practice with immediate feedback for many, many math computation skills

• "Fruity" Rounding - this is FUN! Uses the round cereal of your choice to teach the rounding procedure.

• Michele's Multiplication Tips - a great way to introduce and systematically teach the times tables so they will stick. The rest of this site is also worth exploring :-)

• Multiplication: An Adventure in Number Sense - explanation of math facts and how they can be memorized more easily by understanding them. Lots of good tricks here!

• Generalising Whole Number Place Value Properties - a good explanation of the challenges of comprehending place value; ways to explain it and ways students can misinterpret the concept.

• The Number Line - These explanations of integers and absolute value are very verbal but lively and interesting. Could make the concepts "click" for some!

• http://www.funbrain.com/ Lots of math games here.

• Virtual Workshop" - this company provides many different kinds of manipulatives including Alge-tiles. The "workshops" are short and move quickly - much more quickly than the ideas would actually be taught, but there is enough information for the visitor tounderstand the principles behind the manipulatives.

• Times Tales - mnemonic stories for learning the upper times tables
  
• Tools for Understanding "A resource guide for extending mathematical understanding in secondary schools."

• A Difficult Child" This anecdote by a mathematics professor does not, sadly, describe an isolated phenomenon. He describes the essay as "a sad, true story of the consequences of math education in a local school system."
  

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