Teachers share success stories and ideas that stimulate thinking about the effective use of technology in K–grade 6 classrooms. This article describes a set of lessons where sixth graders use virtual pattern blocks to develop proportional reasoning. Students' work with the virtual manipulatives reveals a variety of creative solutions and promotes active engagement. The author suggests that technology is most effective when coupled with worthwhile mathematical tasks and rich classroom discussions.
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Patricia O'Donnell and Amanda Frick
Do you remember clever, energetic Speedy Gonzales, “the fastest mouse in all Mexico,” one of the animated characters in the Warner Brothers Looney Tunes cartoon series? This month our “math by the month” activities, reminiscent of the spirited Speedy, will have your students calling ¡Ándale! ¡Ándale! ¡Arriba! ¡Arriba! (colloquial Spanish for “Come on! Hurry up!”) as they ask for more problem-solving scenarios based on this month's racing theme.
Michael Todd Edwards and Suzanne R. Harper
Use photo editing software as a teaching tool to bring inaccessible polygon definitions within reach of your students' understanding.
