Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

Nobelprize.org is the official website of the Nobel Prize. Here you find information about Alfred Nobel, the prizewinners, interviews, and photos. Videos of interviews of Nobel peace prizewinners, speeches, ceremonies, interviews, banquets, lectures, announcements, award ceremonies, and documentaries fill the gamut of all of the prizewinners. The Nobel prizes awards are in literature, chemistry, medicine, peace, economics, and physics. Under the Education tab at the top find arieties of educational games/activities and lesson plans help explain many of the Nobel Award winners' work. This site clearly explains and illustrates the purpose of the awards, the award winners, and their ideas. Videos give an insider look at each of the winners.

tag(s): creativity (86), literature (221), medicine (57)

This site provides a wonderful chronology of mathematical information starting about 3000 BC on up to the 21st Century. Information can be accessed in several ways. Upon entering the site there is a timeline across the top and all information included is in list form on the main page, simply scroll through to view all items. Searches can be narrowed to defined time periods by mousing over that area on the timeline or typing dates into the blank box at the right of the timeline. There is also a link to a chronology index which leads to time periods already broken into smaller portions. Also available is a biographical index which can be used by time period, or choose female mathematicians or use the alphabetical index as an option.

tag(s): biographies (94), cross cultural understanding (173), timelines (56)

This PBS site is a reorganized collection of over 16,000+ public media offerings (including radio and photographs), arranged specifically for preK-12 teachers. You can search by subject (the landing page subject is physical education) and grade level across many subjects. After viewing three offerings, you must join (for free) to continue. Membership includes the option of saving favorites. Use the search box at the top to find correlations to state standards. The site is still in development, so material is being added frequently.

tag(s): alphabet (53), careers (156), dance (31), data (151), decimals (85), diseases (66), fitness (39), human body (93), mark twain (8), multimedia (53), music theory (46), percent (59), probability (99), problem solving (233), psychology (65)

This site offers many songs related to math, social studies, and science concepts. Science concepts include water & pollution, scientific inquiry, changes in matter, and much more. Math concepts range from order of operations to quadratic and exponential functions. After choosing a topic, you can listen to the song online, download the mp3, view lyrics, and possibly view an accompanying video. (Not all topics include the video.) Some topics also include a teacher guide with lesson suggestions. This site does mention that you can create your own videos. However, at the time of this review, that feature was not working.

tag(s): africa (148), area (53), atoms (43), bill of rights (33), branches of government (65), cells (82), civil war (139), constitution (96), elements (33), equations (119), exponents (35), factoring (25), factors (29), functions (52), inquiry (24), integers (21), matter (45), nutrition (140), oceans (149), order of operations (29), quadratics (27), rainforests (18), ratios (47), songs (46), sound (72), volume (33), water (102), world war 2 (161)

This site is a non-profit website dedicated to answering the question, "When Will I Use Math?" The site describes the importance of mathematics and many career opportunities available to students who discover mathematics. Although there is a store and social links on the site, it is worth the visit for the information provided. The Careers Using Math link provides an extensive list of careers that use mathematics along with the approximate salary scale. Clicking the title of the Careers in Math leads you to a biography of someone with this career, their education, math required and used in this career, potential employers, and other facts. Other interesting sections of the site include a Blog that offers other math problems and information and Featured Math Tidbits (tidbits and trivia related to math). There is also a link for teachers with other math resources, and information about math competitions.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): biographies (94), careers (156), statistics (121)

Math Video Tutorials offers 5,000 free math videos organized by course and topic. And the offerings are constantly growing. Videos are hosted on YouTube and SchoolTube and are all 10 minutes or less in length. Content includes arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, business calculus, and calculus. Each main topic includes links to the videos organized by more specific topics - for example, algebra videos are sorted by an introduction to algebra, rational expressions, equations and functions, equations and percentages, exponential and logarithmic functions, graphing, linear equations, and more. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable.

tag(s): area (53), business (52), charts and graphs (171), equations (119), factoring (25), functions (52), integers (21), measurement (122), operations (72), order of operations (29), percent (59), place value (34), prime numbers (26), ratios (47), test prep (69), tutorials (52), volume (33)

This site offers several interesting interactives for practicing math concepts at the elementary level. Many games go beyond the standard rote-type practice and involve critical thinking skills. For example, Beads on a String asks you to create a bead necklace using a pattern, but then asks that bead number 102 be blue adding difficulty to the challenge. Other activities involve estimation, money, logic, and symmetry. Activities can be sorted by age (5-12). Parts of this site appear in Dutch and you may have to simply hit the "translate" button to see the instruction in English.

tag(s): critical thinking (127), estimation (33), logic (161), money (113), puzzles (149), symmetry (26), time (91)

This site is perfect for anyone learning or teaching Algebra 1 concepts. The Math Dude approaches a different concept for each episode and explains it in easy to understand terms through highly entertaining videos. There are 30 videos - created to coincide with Algebra 1 instruction. A new video is meant to be used each week. Each Flash video is approximately 5 minutes in length and is available for download to computers as a Quick Time file as well as through ITunes as a podcast.

tag(s): equations (119), factors (29), polynomials (20), test prep (69)

Curriki is a nonprofit organization that encourages teachers and learners' to collaborate in developing quality educational materials in a global community. Click What We Do from the top menu and slide to CurikiStudio, and click Creators to create a free account and find resources like questions, photos/images, multimedia, and more for interactive lesson creation. Next under Solutions is CurrikiGo, where you will publish your lessons, etc. Last on the dropdown list is the CurrikiLibrary, where you can search by subject area, grade level, or resource type (interactive, video, or podcast). For a thorough summary of Curriki click the Explore a CurrikiStudio Activity. Join different groups for a more involved way to explore new areas in online learning, subject area interests, or focus questions. Create collections of your resources to keep private or share with others. This site focuses on providing free access to teachers, schools, students, or parents to many new creative ideas for in-class learning, digital learning, and hybrid or blended learning in a global community. Free membership includes monthly newsletters. Follow Curriki on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), or blogs.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): graphic organizers (48), literacy (122), OER (43), operations (72), resources (83), rubrics (37), Teacher Utilities (198)

This site offers practice with computation in several different areas of math. Math problems are organized into 86 levels (and increasing), ranging from simple ordering of numbers to addition and subtraction (with/without carrying, borrowing, word problems, using whole numbers, fractions, decimals, and more). There is also multiplication, division (simple as well as long), fractions, time, algebra, geometry, etc. You can sign up and register your class to receive feedback on student progress. It will grade the submitted answers and you will get the scores for all your students.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): addition (129), decimals (85), division (98), fractions (160), multiplication (122), numbers (120), problem solving (233), subtraction (110), time (91), whole numbers (9)

TuLyn Video Clips on YouTube provides over 2000 math video tutorial clips for grades 1 through 12. Available items can be viewed by searching by topic, grade level, or school level. After choosing a topic there is a short explanation, definitions, and links to available resources by format. Choices include video tutorials, worksheets, word problems, discussions, and books. All worksheets are in PDF format for easy saving and printing. Be aware, this site has many advertisements. You may want to peruse the site and get the video (or other activity) prepared ahead of time, to avoid the advertisements.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): problem solving (233), tutorials (52), video (266), worksheets (69)

Studyladder offers a sequential learning program with videos, interactive activities, worksheets and assessments for reporting to teachers and to parents. Activities are highly engaging and motivating. You can create classes, have unlimited access to all features on the site, and students can access homework features from home. Topics included on the site are Math, Literacy, Numeracy, Spelling Bee, and Interactive Whiteboard activities. Each section provides many activities categorized in several ways such as topic, type of activity, grade levels, and extras. Registration also allows access to progress reports on school and homework results, 2000 printable worksheets, and student rewards such as certificates, special avatars, and access to reward rooms. The site is free for teachers and for limited homework use with one student after registration. However, there is also a paid portion of the site if desired.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): factoring (25), fractions (160), homework (29), iwb (31), literacy (122), negative numbers (13), number sense (69), numbers (120), prime numbers (26)

This site contains more than 4,800 (at the time of this review) math problems for students pre-kindergarten to high school. There are activities/math problems learning to count, write numbers, understand place value, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, prime numbers, composite numbers, least common multiples, greatest common factors, factoring whole numbers, fractions and lots more. The site is divided into topics such as word problems, geometry, telling time, and others. Each portion contains a section on tips and tricks section that explains the concept including vocabulary and illustrations. Be sure to also check out the resources section for printable graph paper, number lines, and an assignment measure graph for keeping track of student progress. This site has some interactive activities and many printable pages.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): charts and graphs (171), data (151), division (98), factoring (25), fractions (160), multiplication (122), operations (72), prime numbers (26), problem solving (233), time (91), worksheets (69)

Mr. P offers a site loaded with Math humor, facts, problems, songs, videos, quotes, puzzles, games, poems, and lesson plans. Especially helpful are the math videos (which require QuickTime). The Math Poems and Songs are great for your more auditory learners. The problem of the month is offered with the solution provided at the end of the month; however, previous problems, with their solutions, are archived and available to use.

tag(s): equations (119), humor (15), polynomials (20), puzzles (149)

This site was created for teachers to help students see the fun and creative side of Math! There are many games here to be used in the classroom. Some activities include printables. Activities are categorized by math topic and grade level. Be sure to check out the Math Tricks for fun shortcuts and tricks to amaze students! Some worksheets are available on the site; however, most activities are hands-on practice for students. Teachers and parents can sign up to receive a monthly newsletter with tips and ideas.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): addition (129), counting (60), division (98), multiplication (122), printables (36), subtraction (110), worksheets (69)

Use this fun and easy flashcard site to learn information and concepts. Create flashcards easily or use the search function to find existing sets that can be used for study. Play the "Challenge" feature to compete with friends for high scores. Play a variety of games for review of the flashcard set. The variety of options keeps the learning experience fresh.

tag(s): flash cards (44), game based learning (205), grammar (137), operations (72), verbs (26)

"I decided to put together Mathstory.com to keep students smiling and engaged as they mastered mathematical concepts," is Mr. R's explanation for this site that includes many resources for elementary teachers along with a few lessons for Jr High and High School teachers. Be sure to check out the Math Videos page which includes 20 homemade videos created for learning strategies for counting and multiplying (the page may be slow to load because of the number of videos included). The Math Story link currently leads you to the online book, Fourth Grade and the Evil Wizard of Math. Each chapter contains math problems. There are many math lessons included for all grade levels. Don't miss the interesting math poems to learn geometric shapes. There is A LOT here to explore!
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): geometric shapes (134), interactive stories (22), poetry (193), video (266)

Mathebook.net has Online Tutorials as well as Downloadable pdf tutorials which you can save on a computer and use later. It can be used by teachers for home work purpose. The pdf is editable and students can e-mail the homework tutorials by e-mail back to teachers. To begin using the site, you simple choose from kindergarten, elementary, middle school, or high school levels. Within each of those sections is a list of topics, and then a choice of virtual or ebook. Virtual activities are those done on the computer and cannot be saved. These are items such as fact practice where feedback will be given as to the correctness of answers. eWorkbook items are PDF documents that can be printed and used as worksheets. You can either print and use them, or the answers can be inputted online, saved, then emailed to the instructor. The site also includes a math dictionary, video tutorials, and downloadable worksheets.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): addition (129), decimals (85), division (98), factors (29), fractions (160), measurement (122), multiplication (122), number sense (69), subtraction (110), time (91), video (266), worksheets (69)

Upon first entering this site it appears to be a resource for flashcards; however, delving deeper, there is much more. This site also provides practice with higher math skills such as order of operations, decimals and percentages, negative numbers, and more. You may want to explore the link on the left side of the page to Math Teachers' News & Index. Here there is an alphabetical index of activities beginning with adding from 1 to 9 objects all the way to printable math worksheets. Each activity and is simple to use, directions are included, most feedback is provided in the form of number of correct answers given in a series.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): addition (129), decimals (85), flash cards (44), mixed numbers (8), negative numbers (13), operations (72), order of operations (29), percent (59), subtraction (110), worksheets (69)

If you are looking for puzzles, this site offers hundreds of choices in many different forms. Try solving weight puzzles, color sum puzzles, or pyramid puzzles. If unsure, puzzles are also sorted by easy, medium, or hard levels. Solutions are available for all puzzles.

tag(s): logic (161), puzzles (149)