MATH TOOLS NEWSLETTER - JUNE 29, 2007 - No. 53 As you browse the catalog, please take a moment to rate a resource, comment on it, review it -- or start a new discussion! ***FEATURED DISCUSSION Algebra Textbook Recommendation http://mathforum.org/mathtools/discuss.html?&do=m&thread=a_____g-19 Kenny C explains, "I work in a high school continuation program, where students need to be able to learn as much as they can from their textbooks.... Please give me recommendations of what Algebra texts you feel would be most helpful for students in this situation." ***FEATURED ACTIVITY Slope Pix Lab Kathy Traylor http://mathforum.org/mathtools/activity/31775/ This is a computer activity using Sketchpad and specially selected pictures located online to help students understand the concept of slope. ***FEATURED TOOL Secret Worlds: The Universe Within Matthew J. Parry-Hill, Christopher A. Burdett, Michael W. Davidson http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/31892/ View the Milky Way at 10 million light years from the Earth. Then move through space towards the Earth in successive orders of magnitude until you reach a tall oak tree in Tallahassee, Florida. After that, begin to move from the actual size of a leaf into a microscopic world that reveals leaf cell walls, the cell nucleus, chromatin, DNA and finally, into the subatomic universe of electrons and protons. ***FEATURED TOOL Understanding Averages Birmingham Grid for Learning http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/31675/ The aim of the Understanding Averages topic area is to introduce learners to averages, calculating the mean and finding the range. Linked resources include factsheets, games, quizzes, and worksheets. ***FEATURED TOOL Probability BBC: Skillwise http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/31674/ The 'Probability' module looks at the probability scale (from 0 to 1) and uses fractions to represent probability. It also touches on using percentages and decimals to express probabilities, by converting between fractions, decimals and percentages. ***FEATURED TOOL Mental Addition and Subtraction BBC: Skillwise http://mathforum.org/mathtools/tool/31673/ The Mental Addition and Subtraction module can be used as a starting point for: learning different methods of mental addition and subtraction. Linked resources include factsheets, games, quizzes, and worksheets. \|/ ***OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 9-10 The MathMentor http://mathforum.org/cooke/ The Math Forum @ Drexel is offering the MathMentor, an online mentoring program that is designed to expand students' career aspirations and help them to develop interest in math, science and technology. Applications are currently being accepted. ***OPPORTUNITY FOR TEACHERS OF GRADES 3-5 Free Online Professional Development Workshops Tools for Building Math Concepts http://mathforum.org/toolsandconcepts/ This workshop sponsored by Microsoft Corporation introduces the use of computers to develop fundamental concepts of multiplication, fractions, division and area through the process of generating data and examining patterns. ***OPPORTUNITY FOR TEACHERS OF GRADES 5-9 Free Online Professional Development Workshops Using Technology and Problem Solving to Build Algebraic Reasoning http://mathforum.org/nsdl_mathtech/online/ Teachers explore how technology can help students build algebraic reasoning as they model and solve contextualized problems using a variety of representations, including graphs, tables, equations, and words. CHECK OUT THE MATH TOOLS SITE: Math Tools http://mathforum.org/mathtools/ Register http://mathforum.org/mathtools/register.html Discussions http://mathforum.org/mathtools/discuss.html Research Area http://mathforum.org/mathtools/research/ Developers Area http://mathforum.org/mathtools/developers/ Newsletter Archive http://mathforum.org/mathtools/newsletter/ \`. .--------------.___________) \ |//////////////|___________[ ] `--------------' ) ( '-' The Math Forum @ Drexel -- 29 June 2007