Photomath Is Where It's At!

New to me application for both iOS and Android, phone and tablet devices - Photomath by the folks of Microblink - takes Math and Augmented Reality to a new level!

Aim the device at a math problem that is either handwritten or typed and it automatically solves the problem and gives step-by-step directions to getting the answer. Edit the problem using the handy calculator and swipe right to left to see problems answered before.

The app also gives extra tips and tricks, all with colorful explanations and an extra nice feature is the option of translating in to a variety of languages.



I can see this as a helpful application with math homework or for that student that just needs another explanation of the steps.

Choose one problem on the page or a page full of problems to answer, and a way you go!

For a complete tour of the application, visit their webpage for all the details: https://photomath.net/en/

Thinking Blocks - Math Apps for the Visual Learner!

Thinking Blocks (http://www.mathplayground.com/thinkingblocks.html) by MathPlayGround, are new-to-me Math Apps that are perfect for the visual learner!  Each app, which is not only web based, but comes in iOS and Android versions, clearly maps out and scaffolds addition & subtraction, fractions, multiplication & division and ratio & proportion type math word problems.  It makes it so easy to see how each type of math problem is modeled and then solved.

Thinking Blocks now comes in a version for our 1st & 2nd Grade friends in Thinking Blocks Jr (http://www.mathplayground.com/tb_addition_jr/thinking_blocks_junior.html)

Personally, I like the graphics, the drag & drop feature, the helpful & easy to understand tips for solving and then, at the end, the summary of the process. I also like how you can see your progress.  It's a nice product all the way around!

Teachers can use Thinking Blocks to demonstrate to the whole class, groups can use these apps during Math Centers or Students can use these apps to practice at home.

Origami

This is not very techy, but I had to share, never-the-less.  I've been tinkering with Origami over the summer...it's been fun!  I'm not very creative, so this was my stretch goal. I've created flowers, airplanes, boxes; you name it.  Well, it got me to thinking...why not use Origami with a math activity, or a geometry lesson. Students could replicate tangram shapes and more.

Here's a listing of some books that might lend a hand or inspire via Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/pwwj4nq

And here's a link for online instructions: http://tinyurl.com/clgya8t

Inspired!

Elana Moore

Some Favorite Math Links for K-5 Students

These are some of my favorite Math links for Students in Kindergarten through 5th.  Thanks in part to the folks of mathlearningcenter.org who created most of these and give free access to them.  I also added a graphing link from the folks of Kids Zone (nces.ed.gov), which is a quick and easy way to have Students graph their work.  All of these useful tools help integrate technology into even a Math lesson.  Most all also have tablet apps, Free in iTunes and for Android users.  Click on any picture below and check them out!


Elana Moore

NUMBER FRAMES	MATH VOCAB	GEOBOARD
NUMBER LINE	NUMBER PIECES	NUMBER PIECES
NUMBER RACK	CREATE A GRAPH

Graphs....Graphs....Graphs....

I do an extensive unit with spreadsheets, charting and graphing in the Tech Lab with older Students, but here's a cool and easy resource if you or your Students need a quick and easy graphing program: Kids Zone's "Create a Graph"  ( http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createAgraph/default.aspx)

I like it and have tinkered quite a bit with it. The program gives step by step instructions for creating a variety of graphs. It even gives examples and explains how each graph works and how to read the results from each.  The program is kid-friendly, easy to look at and even easier to navigate in and around.  The user selects the type of graph to use and puts in the various parameters using the side bar options. Saving and printing are simple and nice as well.

Realistically, I rate this for high-2nd thru 5th Grades, for AIG Students and is a nice resource for our ESL Friends!

I'm still a firm believer in the power of EXCEL for detailed charting and graphs, but this is a strong resource for Students to use

Well....would you look at that Line Graph!!!

Elana Moore