Some of our high school students have a hard time practicing higher math (algebra I, geometry, etc.) because so much of it hinges upon the pencil-and-paper practice examples. Try these websites to shore up their understanding without any need for handwriting!
http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/NAV/grade_g_4.html
http://www.brainpop.com/math/
http://www.regentsprep.org/Regents/math/ALGEBRA/games/Aquiapage.htm
http://math.cudenver.edu/~rbyrne/flash.htm
http://www.shodor.org/interactivate/activities/   http://www.intmath.com/ (will require IT department to download an application)
http://www.mathwords.com/ and http://www.mathwords.com/index_applications.htm
http://education.jlab.org/solquiz/index.html

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 1:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This video presentation shows strategies for fully including students with disabilities in science and math activities. Science and math teachers who view this video will become better prepared to create an inclusive learning environment and accommodate students with disabilities.
http://www.washington.edu/doit/Video/winequ.html

Posted by Kelly Ligon at 12:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

For sample templates and activities that have been created using Math Type go here:
http://www.adeptscience.co.uk/products/mathsim/mathtype/samples/index.html

You can get a free 30 day trial at:

http://www.dessci.com/en/products/mathtype/default.htm

Posted by Mona at 6:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

http://www.dessci.com/en/reference/articles/lwd07-noble.htm

Posted by Mona at 6:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Posted by Mona at 5:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Assistive Technology, Inc. has published a new software bundled to assess and teach early numeracy skills, including number sense. Stages Math: Number Sense was created using the principles of Universal Design, allowing for multiple modes of access and response. The programs can be customized to provide prompting, graphical support, help buttons etc. to support students as they are learning. The software not only assesses, but can be used for instruction. “Use the software every day--the questions are never the same!” Check it out on the web http://www.assistivetch.com

Posted by Kelly Ligon at 2:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Graph paper is beloved by many for its ability to keep us organized and in columns when we write numbers and letters. If this sounds like a sentiment you agree with, check out http://www.mathematicshelpcentral.com/graph_paper.htm for more than a dozen free graph paper options as well as a freeware graph paper printer application!

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 2:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Click on http://home.freeuk.net/elloughton13/scramble1.htm for a pretty good online version of math magnets. Warning: requires some mouse control and avoid using the place value board for calculating (it has no zero).

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 3:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

To read the article, click on this impossibly long URL: http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2007&m=December&x=200712041642461CJsamohT0.8393061.

You can access the MathTrax website at http://prime.jsc.nasa.gov/mathtrax.

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 5:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

http://www.sensorysoftware.com/bigcalculator.html

Posted by Mona at 6:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Continue reading "Using Visual Search Mode for Assistive Technology on VCU T/TAC Online Library" »

Posted by at 12:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

http://www.crayola.com/products/splash/tools/TotalTools/index.cfm

Posted by Mona at 4:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Center for Implementing Technology in Education (CITEd) and the National Center for Technology Innovation (NCTI) have made available two databases that present evidence for the use of products and technologies that support the instruction of reading and mathematics for students with special needs. Click on http://www.techmatrix.org to reach both of them.
A few of the categories used to rate products: Adjustable Difficulty, Customizable by User Profile, Font Control, Response Time, Prompt Time, Input Mouse/Touchscreen, Switch, Text to Speech Reads the Problem, Corrective, Approximate Grade Level.

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 6:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Click on http://www.shodor.org/interactivate/activities to see 137 math activities for a single student or pair of students, ranging from elementary to postsecondary math. Once there, click on the Instructor tab to see directions and standards connections. For example, the game "Arithmetic Four" has this description:

This activity allows two users to play a game of estimation where each player tries to connect four game pieces in a row before his or her opponent does. The players can choose to answer problems involving whole number and integer addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. They can also choose the difficulty level and the number of players. This activity would work well in groups of 2 for about 25-30 minutes if you use the exploration questions and 15-20 minutes otherwise.

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 5:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/vlibrary.html is a great resource for all students-easy for students with limited mobility as well as students without mobility difficulties. Try the "complete the pattern" application ( http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/frames_asid_184_g_1_t_1.html)--it's fun! (My second favorite is the Sieve of Eratosthenes at http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/frames_asid_158_g_1_t_1.html)

Clicking on the "Parent/Teacher" icon at the top of each page provides:
- Objectives
- Lesson Plan
- Extension
- Assessment
- Materials
- Cross References

Clicking on the "Standards" button takes you to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics' Principles and Standards for School Mathematics page that correlates to the activity.

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 5:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Click on http://www.exceptionalcomputing.com/curriculum_sharing.htm and explore Kristen Haugen's curriculum ideas. Materials include:

Multiple Intelligences and Technology
Activities for Single Switch Toys and Appliances
Strategies Using Low Cost Voice Output
KidPix Worksheet Ideas
Math Focus: Money Magic
Developing a Thematic Unit with Accessible Activities
Thematic Unit Planning Outline
Brainstorm for a "Trains" Theme

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 5:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Check out http://illuminations.nctm.org/Activities.aspx?grade=3&srchstr=fraction for an example of middle school fraction activities, and http://illuminations.nctm.org/ActivitySearch.aspx to conduct your own activity search.

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 5:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Check out http://www.ldonline.org/article/13709 for an article on Dyscalculia with some suggestions for supporting students with math disabilities. Suggestions are practical and easy, such as: "Use graph paper for students who have difficulty organizing ideas on paper."

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 5:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I can't do this site justice with my words- you'll just have to click and play: http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/

Here's what they say: "We have several fun online interactive activities here to help you...improve your mental maths skills...These pages are aimed at 7 -11 year olds. "

I had fun with division and multiplication...still playing...

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 5:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Graph Club software is available for checkout from our AT lab. Here's what Graph Club is, according to the publisher's website ( http://www.tomsnyder.com/products/product.asp?SKU=GRPV20):

! The Graph Club is an innovative, easy-to-use software tool for creating, exploring, interpreting, and printing graphs. The program's friendly, hands-on environment helps young students make the transition from graphing with manipulatives to graphing in the abstract. As students create and compare up to five different graph types, they develop essential graphing and math skills.

MEETS STATE AND NATIONAL STANDARDS
Your students will: Formulate questions that can be addressed with data
Collect,organize,and display data to answer questions
Represent data using five different graph types: picture, bar, circle, and line graphs, plus tables
Compare different representations of the same data
Describe parts of the data and the set of data as a whole

Product Features Easily create picture, bar, circle, and line graphs, plus tables
Over 100 standards-aligned,ready-made activities in math, science,social studies, and language arts
Reproducible assessment tools including rubrics, checklists, and sample graphs
450 built-in symbols - or import and save your own
On-screen notebook with audio recorder lets students describe their graphs orally or in writing
Graph up to 12 categories with a scale of up to 1,000
A built-in, animated tutorial guides teachers and students step-by-step through the program's features

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 5:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI) serves as a special public school in the continuum of statewide placements for students who have a visual impairment and has some really nice materials available on the website. Click on http://www.tsbvi.edu/math/teaching.htm for the best list of math strategies for students with VI that I have seen! Topics include:

Collaborative/Inclusive Strategies
Challenges in Teaching Mathematics to the Visually Impaired
Arithmetic Calculation Using the Braillewriter
Solving Quadratic Equations
Solving Systems of Equations in Three Variables
Linear Measure, Perimeter, and Area
Transformations, Line Symmetry, and Tessellations
Geometric Constructions
Teaching a blind student how to graph on a coordinate plane: No tech, low tech, and high tech tools

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 5:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Download file

Posted by Mona at 11:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Posted by Sharon Jones at 9:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

http://www.shodor.org/interactivate/activities/

Posted by Mona at 3:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The 4-in-1 Activity Center from SuperDuper Inc. is a great tool that includes a magnetic board, card holder, mirror, and write-on/wipe-off board. Click this link to see a full-sized flyer with the many uses of this tool:
View image

Interested in checking out the 4-in-1 Activity Center for 3 weeks and trying it with your students? Contact our Region 8 AT lab toll-free at 866-465-0412 and let us know!

Need a link to our library and AT lab? Click here: http://www.vcu.edu/ttac/Library/Library.htm

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 5:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 5:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 5:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Save some time and use this Microsoft Word version of a Hundreds Chart: print it, laminate it, project it, whatever you can think of! Click on this link to download the chart: Download file

Here's an example of virtual highlighting:
highlighted hundreds chart.bmp

Idea: To find least common multiple of 8 and 6, highlight the multiples of 6 in yellow--when you hit one that should be both blue AND yellow, make it green! That's a common multiple!

You might want to pre-highlight one (8s or 6s) and have students do the other. Other ideas?

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 4:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Virtual Vine is a great website for teachers of students in preK-2 or any of us focusing on early learning skills. The webmaster, Cindy, has 19 years experience as a Special Education Resource Teacher, teaching range of students with mild to significant cognitive disabilities. Hew website, http://www.thevirtualvine.com, is full of great ideas for centers using no tech and low/light tech manipulatives.

Here's an example of one:

Counting by 2s, 5s, & 10s: I use my number chart and "highlighter tape" to help my students see the patterns of counting by 2s, 5s, & 10s. The highlighter tape is actually cling on bookcovers that I purchased by the box at Office Depot. You just cut the film to the size you need, then it easily sticks and and can be easily removed without any sticky residue. Eventually dust and grime will get stuck to the back, so you just throw it away and cut new pieces. I've been using the same box for years!

Click here to visit the math section of her site and see her hundreds chart with "highlights" http://www.thevirtualvine.com/math.html
A great way to prompt any and all students during choral response counting activities!

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 4:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The Palm Beach County Schools Dept of Exceptional Student Education has posted the SETT framework questions as a considerations document that can be completed and shared by IEP team members. Check out http://www.palmbeach.k12.fl.us/Records/PDF/1859.pdf.

The areas of handwriting, reading, math, learning/study skills, and computer access are included in the considerations form, with a multitude of suggestions for students and their IEP teams to try (Magic Rub erasers, highlighter tape). A column in the document is provided to evaluate effectiveness.

SETT Framework Consideration Intervention.bmp

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 6:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 5:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tech4Learning has a wonderful resource, Recipe4Success, for supporting teachers and students using technology in the classroom. This resource includes software tutorials and guides for particular features, tools for creating graphic organizers or rubrics, as well as a multitude of many other resources available for free once your subscribe. This resource will save you lots of time and will allow your students to become more self-directed learners and better cooks! You need to check it out! Go to http://www.myt4l.com/

Posted by Kelly Ligon at 2:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Recently we searched for a graphing calculator (such as the TI-83/84/89) that has large keys...the bad news (and ideas for dealing with the issue) comes from CATEA, the Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access ( http://www.catea.org/quickrefguides/guides/Calculators.php):

This is a highly sought product that, unfortunately, is not yet available. The only current option is to use a computer-based program that emulates the calculator, along with an appropriate keyboard. Computer software options include:

- TI InterActive! is a software version of the TI-83 graphing calculator. It is available from Texas Instruments for about $50.

- The Larsen Interactive Pre-calculus CD ROM series includes tutorials for algebra, college algebra, trigonometry and pre-calculus. All CD-ROM's have a built-in graphing calculator with TI82 or TI83 functions as part of the package. It is available from Houghton Mifflin Company.

Is there a way that I could feel a graph?

Products exist that convert mathematical data and forms to tactile form. The following are a few examples.

Geometry Tactile Graphics Kit is a set of raised line drawings depicting concepts, figures, and relationships covered in geometry texts. The drawings are embossed in thermoform plastic, and are available from American Printing House for the Blind.

Generate a graph on a scientific graphing calculator program such as Graph-It, then emboss an image of the graph using a braille embosser.

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 5:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Interesting posting on the website for Sabine Parish, LA: A quick checklist for determining student-specific modifications ( http://www.sabine.k12.la.us/standards/CSmchecklis.htm). Some good ideas for us AT-minded folks!

Only one note: many of the "modifications" they list are things I would see not as modifications, but as accommodations or simply differentiated or alternate instruction...

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 5:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

...because we can't stop brainstorming uses for the wax-covered yarn and are so glad to see even more ideas posted online at wikkistix.com:
wikki funfractions.jpg
...and the manufacturer's site now posts occupational therapy uses for the cool light-tech learning tools ( http://www.wikkistix.com/otuses.htm) as well as general educational uses ( http://www.wikkistix.com/educational.htm).
wikki bestfit.jpg

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 6:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If you are looking for some good math software, for SOL content in grades 1-6, check out the following online software review article. "Electronic Resources - Using Mathematics Software to Enhance Elementary Students’ Learning" is a well-written and researched article available in the National Council for Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) online journal ( http://my.nctm.org/eresources/view_article.asp?article_id=6479&page=1). The authors included screen shots of many of the titles they review.

Added bonus: This is software that meets the needs of many students with disabilities while still being appropriate for all students! A great way to create centers that are automatically leveled to each student's math needs.

Some of the software referred to:
Building Perspectives Deluxe.
The Cruncher 2.0.
Data Explorer.
Factory Deluxe.
Fathom Dynamic Statistics.
The Geometer’s Sketchpad.
The Graph Club 2.0 Deluxe.
Graphers.
Green Globs and Graphing Equations.
How the West Was One + Three x Four.
Math Arena.
Math Munchers Deluxe.
Oregon Trail.
Zoombinis Logical Journey.

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 5:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 7:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Keep pace with Miss Dixon at her blog, http://inclusion-in-mathematics.blogspot.com/. She is posting all summer about the nuts and bolts of helping kids learn in inclusive middle school mathematics classes . Benefit from her knowledge--down in Alabama, even warmer than we have it here!--and offer your own specialized AT knowledge by posting comments to her blog!

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 8:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

How many of us have thrown up our hands in despair at reading an accommodation on a student's IEP that indicates the need for "hands-on activities and manipulatives" in our Middle School Math or Algebra class? Fear not! Donna Roberts provides a way that Algebra tiles can be easily (and cheaply) constructed and distributed to an entire class on her website http://regentsprep.org/Regents/math/teachres/ttiles.htm. These Algebra tiles allow students to manipulate a range of problems, and Ms. Roberts offers links to activities that use the Algebra tiles to address concepts including signed numbers, the distributive property, adding and subtracting polynomials, and quadratic equations.

As an added bonus, Ms. Roberts notes,

Many of the commercial versions of algebra tiles are made from plastic and possess a "projectile" quality. I have found that the homemade tiles are seldom "airborne" since they are aerodynamically deficient.

Happy Tiling!

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 8:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Continue reading "Fun and Flexible Fractions...." »

Posted by Susanne Croasdaile at 3:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)