Christine Mazzocchi- Blog Post 3.5

1) Brainpop (www.brainpop.com/math)

Brainpop is a website and an app available for students to use. The purpose of this resource is to provide a fun and interactive way to review math skills. Brain pop tests the knowledge of students ranging from algebra to geometry, to probability. Students have the ability to choose a topic of their choice and then get to watch a video which explains the topic and then students have the opportunity to take a quiz to test their knowledge. There are also some activities and worksheets to accompany the video. 

Skills students need are to:

-Read and interpret printed text

-Be able to use an app or click bubbles on the internet

-Read and interpret mathematical symbols

-Understand basic and intermediate math skills (algebra, geometry,  measurement, probability, data analysis, ratios, percents, etc.) 

This resource would be appropriate for students who are in third to eighth grade. The website and app are very easy to navigate because of the clear labels of all of the subjects. The videos may not fit every student’s learning style, but it is a different approach to hear the basis of a topic from someone other than their classroom teacher. 

In my opinion, this website can be used by teachers in their classrooms because they can incorporate the videos into their lesson plans. Students might find this different way of teaching to be intriguing and actually pay attention. The interactive quizzes at the end of videos will be fun for the students to complete as a whole class. At home, children might need to be supervised to keep them on track in the math section, because BrainPop does have other subjects besides math. 

2) AplusMath (www.aplusmath.com)

AplusMath is a website which has interactive math resources for teachers, students, and parents. This website has worksheets, games, flashcards, and homework help available. Students have the option to choose a topic of their choice and then choose the activity that will benefit them the most. Students, teachers, and parents are able to print out the worksheets, as well as the option to view answer keys to check their progress. Such games include MATHO(math and bingo combined) and solving the hidden picture by solving math problems. 

Skills students need are to:

-Read and interpret printed text

-Be able to have access to the internet 

-Read and interpret mathematical symbols

-Understand the following math concepts (addition, subtraction, fractions, geometry, algebra, multiplication, division)

This resource would be appropriate for students in grades one to eight. This website provides many different techniques for each math topic provided. This means that students with different learning abilities will find this website helpful because they could choose what technique helps them better understand the material. 

In my opinion, this website can be used as a tool to help both students and teachers. At home, students can use this website to add to their learning of a particular topic. The website has all of the topics listed at the top, so it is easy for younger students to navigate. This also means that teachers can use this in their classrooms. Children can use this website in a computer lab while the teacher facilitates to the class what they should be doing. 

3) Math Playground (www.mathplayground.com)

Math Playground is an online website which will “give your brain a workout.” This website provides a fun approach to math, which most find difficult and challenging. Students will be able to use this website if they wanted to watch videos which can help clarify a topic or try out games in the arcade which would serve as an aid in their understanding of a particular topic. Students have the option to try out games such as Grand Slam Math, Hungry Puppies, and Dirt Bike Proportions. 

Skills students need are to:

-Read and interpret printed text

-Have access to the internet

-Read and interpret mathematical symbols

-Understand basic math skills including addition, subtraction, percents,   decimals, multiplication, division, and algebra

This resource would be appropriate for students in grades one to six. This website uses a very hands-on approach because it provides and interaction between the computer game and the student. Some games might be considered childish for older students, but the math concept is still conveyed. 

In my opinion, this website should be used by students at home for extra practice in a particular unit of math. This website slightly focuses on games, rather than learning math skills. Especially for younger children, parents should monitor what their children are doing and keeping them on task. 

4) Math Is Fun (www.mathisfun.com)

Math Is Fun is a website, which as it is described in the name, makes math fun! This website is primarily useful for students but, can be used by teachers to become inspired by some of the lessons. After choosing a topic, students will be able to click on links which will bring them to a quick summary of the topic and some basic definitions that they should be aware of to better understand the topic. After students get a little refresher, they can access worksheets and activities which cover topics such as area, symmetry, and time. 

Skills students need are to:

- Read and interpret printed text

- Able to have internet access

- Read and interpret mathematical symbols

- Understand these math skills: numbers, algebra, geometry, measurements, money, puzzles, and data

This resource would be appropriate for those from kindergarten until seventh grade. The children in younger grades might need some direction to veer them away from the sections for older students. Parents can help their children choose which links they should be clicking on and help them when necessary. 

In my opinion, this website should be used at home, when students are trying to reinforce what they learned in class. Students should pay attention in class to what the teacher’s lesson plan is and use this website as an extra resource, not as an alternative.