Teacher Resources
"Proofiness has power over us because we're blind to this impurity. Numbers, figures, and graphs all have an aura of perfection. They seem like absolute truth; they seem indisputable. But this is nothing but an illusion. The numbers of our everyday world - the numbers we care about - are flawed, and not just because measurements are imperfect. They can be changed and tinkered with, manipulated and spun and turned upside down. And because those lies are clad in the divine white garb of irrefutable fact, they are incredibly powerful. This is what makes proofiness so very dangerous." (Seife, p. 11)
Are we preparing young people for the real-world of math? Young people need more than answers, they need to be able to collect evidence and make arguments using math concepts.
According to Charles Seife, "the only antidote to proofiness is, ironically, mathematics. Numbers can shatter myths and can disprove falsehoods. They can be turned against their abusers. They can banish proofiness - or at least reduce its influence." (p. 242)
Try It
From maps to manipulatives, it can be expensive to collect the materials needed for inquiry. Consider creating an Amazon wish list. Parents and community members enjoy buying the materials to help with teaching and learning.
Background Information
- General Teaching Resources
- Data Sources
- Data from Swivel - Collaborative environment for sharing and visualizing data
- Escrapbooking Data
- USA Today Snapshots - Great graphics for writing and discussion
- FedStatistics and USA.gov - search government agencies such as ATV Safety
- FedStats Kids - links to kid's pages
- Online Graphing Tutorials
- Feed the Pig - financial game for tweens
- Grades PreK-1 Picture Graphs - great on SmartBoard
- Math Web Lessons K-5
- All Together from Pearson Learning - look for resources at your own textbook publishers.
- Scholastic Math Mavens
- NASA Newsbreaks (K-2) and (3-5)
- What's a Graph (K-2) - movie
Teacher Websites
STEM
- Toys from Trash (scroll down to the math section)
Math
- Mr. Nussbaum Math
- Cool Math
- Practical Money Sites for Life
- Math-Kitecture - math architecture
- MathBits
Science
- Mr. Myer
- Geometry Lessons with keynote, powerpoint, pdf, and handouts.
- Mr. Nussbaum Science
- Physics Central
Need Ideas for Problem-based Approaches?
Math/Science Teacher Blogs and Podcasts
Follow other math teachers who think "out of the box" and "around the edges" to keep your brain moving with new ideas throughout the school year. Use Google Reader or another feed reader. Use these to spark your imagination:
- Math
- 10-minute Math. This is a great blog for people who are looking for springboard activities.
- Be Aware, Math is Everywhere by Steven Diaz
- dy/dan by Dan Meyer (Watch as great TED video featuring Dan Meyer)
- Dr. Nicki's Guided Math Blog
- Great Maths Teaching Ideas
- Intersections - Poetry with Mathematics
- f(t) by Kate Nowak
- Math Hombre
- Math and Multimedia
- Math Spig
- MathStories
- Number Warrior
- Teaching College Math
- Teaching with Smartboard
- Technomaths
- Web Maths by Jeff Trevaskis
- Reflections of a High School Math Teacher
- Without Geometry, Life is Pointless
- For mathematics with students, check out Mr. Kuropatwa's Classes (Applied Math 40S - W07, W08, PreCalc 20S - F06, PreCalc 30S - F06, PreCal 40S - F06, W06, W07, APCalc AB - W07, Calc 45S - S06). He uses blogs, collaboration, and images to enhance the social and emotional aspects of his classes.
- Looking for more ideas? Go to Math Education Bloggers, Top 25 Blogs for Math in the Classroom
- Science
- Technology
- Concrete Classroom by Michael Kaechele
- Free Technology for Teachers
Math/Science Teacher Podcasts
Big Picture Resources
- Count on It
- Math 2.0 Interest Group
- Math in Daily Life
- MathActive
- Math Can Take You Places
- MathsLinks
- Natural Math
- Nrich - STEM
- Online Math Applications
- Plus Magazine - contains lots of ideas for math-science connections
- PBS Math Resources (Grades 3-5) (Grades 6-8)
- PBS Math (3-5) (6-8)
- Cyberchase (lessons)
- Your Life Your Money
- PBS Science
- Real World Math
- SMART Measurement. Provides links to resources that can be used with electronic whiteboards.
- SMART Geometry. Provides links to resources that can be used with electronic whiteboards.
- STEM Education Coalition
- Teacher Engineering
- Thinkfinity
- ThinkPort
- Utah Curriculum Resources (Elementary, Secondary)
Games and Activities
- Calculation Nation from Illuminations allows users to compete with others online. Explore the Grades 3-8 math games.
- Games in Education: Math
- Illuminations from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
- Math Snacks from New Mexico State
- NCTM Activities
- Distance, Speed, and Time Relationships
- Rescue Mission Game (Math/Science 3-5) - create charts online
- Weighing Your Car (Math 6-8) - create a shared speadsheet with class information
- Weather Data
- Cell Phone Data
- Think Math! from Harcourt (Grades K-5)
Resources
Boaler, Jo. What's Math Go To Do With It? (US Perspective)
Boaler, Jo. The Elephant in the Classroom (UK Perspective)
Dudley, Underwood. What is Mathematics For? (PDF) Notices of the AMS, Volume 57, Number 5, p 608-613.
Muschla, Gary Robert & Muschla, Judith A. (1996). Hands-On Math Projects with Real-Life Applications.The Center for Applied Research in Education.
Herrington, Jan & Reeves, Thomas (2003). Patterns of Engagement in Authentic Online Learning Environments, Australian Journal of Educational Technology 19(10), 59-71.
Patall, E., Cooper, H., & Robinson, J. C. (2008). The effects of choice on intrinsic motivation and related outcomes: A meta-analysis of research findings. Psychological Bulletin, 134(2), 270–300.
Schoenfeld, Alan H. (1992). Learning to Think Mathematically. In D. Gruws (Ed). Handbook for Research on Mathematics Teaching and Learning New York: MacMillan, p 334-370.
Teaching Math: A Video Library, K-4
Use the links on the left to move through this online workshop.