Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

Math Nation is an intensive, interactive Algebra site. Although specifically created for Florida students, material is applicable for any Algebra students. This program was originally created for students to use at home after school and on weekends. Interesting fact: you access all materials through a Facebook account! Enter Math Nation through the link provided to connect with a Facebook account. If you are not associated with a Florida High School, type "other" when prompted to enter a school name. Once logged in, choose any topic from the large list of videos explaining and breaking down featured problems. Use the study guides to follow along and practice independently. Choose the Teacher Resources link and register to access the section created for teachers. This includes videos and other classroom resources. If your school does not allow students to access individual Facebook accounts, why not create a class account under your name (or class number). All students can use the same login information for Facebook.

tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (147), equations (119), exponents (35), factoring (25), fractions (160), order of operations (29), polynomials (20), venn diagrams (15)

Math Champs offers 30 free math activities for ages 5 though 11 shared via PDF. Choose an age group from three different levels to begin. Topics begin with simple addition and subtraction, but also include more challenging multiplication and division. Activities provide short instructions to begin play. Turn sound off or on using the button near the top of each game. Choose from most popular games and view high scores. Scores are recorded only after signing up for the site newsletter, but membership is not necessary to play games. This site was created for the UK so American English speakers may find some slightly different spellings.

tag(s): addition (129), decimals (85), division (98), logic (161), multiples (15), multiplication (122), numbers (120), preK (271), subtraction (110)

Living Wage Calculator provides information to estimate the cost of living in any community or region. Enter a location in the search box or choose from the state list to begin. Results are provided for an entire state, county, or specific city. The "calculator" provides typical expenses for the location along with living wage, poverty wage, and minimum wage. View typical wages for different occupations in that location. The wages at poverty level are indicated in red.

tag(s): careers (157), financial literacy (94)

Join Curious George in his adventures with the Man in the Yellow Hat. Enjoy the antics of Curious George through online games, printables, and videos. Games feature matching, numbers, sounds, categorizing, shapes, Spanish, movement/dance, and animal sounds. Earn stickers with successful completion of each game. In the teacher section, there are 16 "ready to go" activities. Each activity includes a description, topic, and tips!

tag(s): animals (294), dance (31), geometric shapes (134), matching (8), numbers (120), preK (271)

Looking for a way to add challenges to your middle school math curriculum or gifted classes? Try Figure This, a site of math challenges developed by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Figure This offers a number of challenges in English and Spanish to be used in a classroom or offered to families for math challenges at home. A PowerPoint is included to help increase parent involvement. Learn why most manholes are round, how fast your heart beats, and numerous other interesting topics. At the time of this review, there were 80 "Challenges" to explore. All of high interest and intriguing topics! Although mainly math activity, many border on science topics as well. Each activity offers hints and answers explained in many ways. Finding the answer is rather tricky! Scroll to the bottom of the page and look for the link to Answer. Don't miss the Teachers Corner. It includes all beginning materials; PowerPoints, forms, and ideas you need to begin!

tag(s): critical thinking (128), geometric shapes (134), logic (161), percent (59), probability (99), problem solving (233), statistics (121)

Turn any image into a fully functional QR Code in 3 easy steps that take less than one minute. Upload your image or choose one from Visualead's online gallery. Set the desired destination for your QR code. Place the QR code where you choose on the image. Upload your image from your computer file or drag and drop from a folder on your computer. Choose from options for the QR link: choose url, vCard, YouTube video, Facebook, or many other web-based media choices. Drag, resize and place your code anywhere on the image. When finished, click on generate to complete the QR code generation process. Login using Facebook, Google, or email to receive the finished image. Share using the social media links or download to your computer. Here is a (link to an example).

A tip: when creating your QR Code, you will see a link to "generate your image" on the last step. It will give you the options of "try again" or "next." Choose "next" to go to the final step. "Try again doesn't mean that your image wasn't created, it just gives you the option for personalizing the code differently before completing the process.

tag(s): qr codes (19)

Create magical looking artwork as you click and drag with this beautiful site. Personalize the images using the color and format links at the bottom of the screen. Choose from vertical or four-way symmetry or symmetry off. Include new age music to add to the magical effects or turn music off with a simple click. Share your creations through links to X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, email, or copy the link. Share your art with using email, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), or Pinterest. Althought there is no option to print or save a finished design, you could take a screenshot (Shift+ Command +4 on a mac or Prtscrn key on Windows) and save or paste it into a document to write about or save.

tag(s): colors (63), symmetry (26)

The virtual geoboard provides an online geoboard experience for elementary and middle school students. Choose a rubber band color and drag to any peg. Move the rubber band to form new shapes and angles. Make any shape created on a regular geoboard to demonstrate lines, angles, triangle formation and more. Fill and unfill shapes using the color tool provided. Choose from a 5 X 5 or 15 X 10 pegboard using the link at the bottom of the page. Want to learn more? See the i link.

tag(s): angles (52), geometric shapes (134), manipulatives (9)

Listen to soundscapes recorded all over the world. Find a place of interest on the map, listen to the recording, and read the information about the location. Some locations have a link to a Google Map tour. Upload your own soundscapes using the site or through the iPhone/iPad app.

tag(s): cross cultural understanding (173), listening (93), maps (220), senses (20), sound (72), sounds (43)

Math Monday is a weekly column discussing fun, experiential, and puzzling topics in mathematics. Each article takes a math idea, explains the concept, and uses images (and/or videos) to put the concept into action. Sample topics include hula hoop geometry, large stars, mathematical quilting, and much more. Subscribe to the RSS feed to view new topics each Monday using the link at the top of the page. (Or add the feed to your Flipboard account if you have a tablet.) There is also a very long list of archives to explore and try!

tag(s): colors (63), fractions (160), geometric shapes (134), origami (14), pi (29), puzzles (150)

Practice number sense skills using beads on the virtual number rack (similar to an abacus). Movable beads encourage you to think in groups of fives and tens while practicing addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division strategies. Add or subtract rows of beads using links provided. Display up to 100 beads at one time. Use the shade key to hide beads or drag the corner of the bead to move or change its size. Use the start over button to clear the rack and start with a new set of beads. Be sure to visit the information portion of the site for free resources, including a 10 page activity book for use with the virtual number rack. Click on the lowercase "i" at the bottom right for complete directions.

tag(s): addition (129), counting (60), division (98), manipulatives (9), multiplication (122), number sense (69), numbers (120), operations (72), preK (271), subtraction (110)

Use this tool to find the median household income of the US by each Census tract. Search by city or state. Or click the "little orange man" and drag him to the location you want to view on the US map. You will be taken to "Street View" (see the street up close) to view the income for that exact block. Find the median income by color blocks.

tag(s): census (13), maps (220)

Kinteractive Learning offers several free and useful teacher tools for use on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Use the dartboard selector to randomly choose students from your class. Import your class from a txt file or input names manually. Easily edit your class list with absent students. Once ready, click to spin the dartboard, launch a dart and see what names appear! Open each tool in a new window for a larger viewing area. At the time of this review, the other free tools included a random name generator, scoreboard, and stopwatch. Access to all tools is available after registration with email and a password. Note that other areas of this site are subscription-based.

tag(s): classroom management (120)

Join Jackie, Matt, and Inez in the PBS world of Cyberchase, using the magical powers of math and science to take adventures. The "Motherboard" heads the team against the evils of the universe, Hacker. Visit "Games" to find interactives. There are printables found at the "Activities" link. And finally, watch different episodes (see Video) of Cyberchase to practice various math skills. After the show, find links to the math presented in the show. Examples of content topics include: fractions, geometry, math, weather, money, problem solving, using data, using numbers, science and engineering, pre-algebra, measurement, math and sports, and geometry.

tag(s): data (151), engineering (129), fractions (160), money (113), problem solving (233), sports (82), weather (160)

Practice your multiplication skills using this comprehensive site including games, tips, tricks, free worksheets, quizzes, flash cards, and bingo cards. There are also addition and subtraction activities. Discover a multiplication table that has a picture with a story for every multiplication fact. Listen to a story about every fact. Beginning (or struggling) learners will benefit from the plethora of multiplication activities that will interest, intrigue, and motivate the varied style of learners in your classroom.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): multiplication (122), operations (72)

Join Ruff Ruffman in the PBS Kids Game show, Fetch. Learn about animal science as you view (and participate) on this educational game show including 5 contestants ages 10-14. "Ruff" hosts the game show, reality style with children contestants, learning about science and also crazy challenges. Topics include (but are not limited to) animals, engineering, deserted islands, dinosaur footprints, hover crafts, mummies, song birds, and more. There are past episodes and games available.

tag(s): animal homes (57), birds (46), dinosaurs (43), diseases (66), literacy (121), machines (17), simple machines (19), vocabulary (238)

Scoop.it considers itself a free "publishing-by-curation" tool on the web. You create a Scoop topic and add articles and websites to the topic. People who view your Scoop see what you want them to see. This is a way to deliver subject focused articles and information to a specific audience. Scoops can be shared through social media or using a widget to embed on your website.

tag(s): bookmarks (43)

E is for Explore! offers many learning activities and opportunities for classroom exploration (and fun) that conforms to Common Core. Explore the blog by scrolling through the many activities or search using keyword tags on the right of the page. Choose from popular posts such as Lego fractions or ABC handprints or St. Patrick's Day skittles. All activities include simple directions, and some include links to printables for completing activities. Be aware: some of the activities include comments from other users. At the time of this review all comments were appropriate.

tag(s): addition (129), alphabet (53), angles (52), branches of government (65), charts and graphs (172), density (17), dinosaurs (43), division (98), electricity (61), erosion (15), fractions (160), geology (62), geometric shapes (134), inferencing (7), literacy (121), logic (161), minerals (13), money (113), multiplication (122), place value (34), reading comprehension (149), rocks (35), senses (20), subtraction (110), transformations (12), weather (160)

Check out this online journal with a twist. Each day the site sends an email with questions about your day to prompt you to write. Respond to the email with your entry for automatic posting. Images can also be added to entries. Personalize the site using your choice of color and fonts. View entries as a PDF for easy printing as desired. Register with an email and unique name for your diary.

tag(s): blogs (65), creative writing (124), journals (15), writing (324), writing prompts (61)

This is a wonderful site for finding quality images to use in projects. Use these images for either personal or professional projects. Registration is not necessary to download them. All images are copyright free. Search images by name (or category - photos, video, illustrations and vector) and filter by orientation (landscape or portrait) and image type (photo, clipart, video, or vector.) Be sure to use the filters at the top. Right click to download. Use good search terms to find the best pictures possible. You must know where to save images on your computer. Be sure to give credit to the person who took the picture and show their name wherever the image is used. Consider adding images to this site to increase the number of options and expand the ideas of Creative Commons. Adding images does require you to join the site (email required).

tag(s): creative commons (28), images (264), photography (131), search engines (48)