Free Math Practice out of New York!

I'm not sure if I shared this yet, but here are a couple links to some free math help. There are some Prealgebra items and a bunch of Algebra items. Apparently (and New Yorkers, please tell me if I'm wrong), but there is a state test that students must take. The Oswego City School District of New York provides these free lessons and practice problems.

Click here for link to Prealgebra/Basic Math material

Click here for link to Algebra material (Algebra II/Intermediate Algebra/College Algebra/Trigonometry)

Click here for the main page for Regents Exam Practice (all subjects)

Hope this helps! Thanks, Oswego!

Upcyled Juice Lids Teach Integer Operations

Juice lids help teach signed numbers operations!

Click to enlarge: Red (dark) lids = negative, silver lids = positive

I've used the "chip method" to teach adding signed integers (the whole numbers and "negative whole" numbers) and to teach prime factorization, but I've never used them to teach multiplying and dividing integers. Until today. Thanks to my beautiful ride to school today, this method popped in my head on the drive. I hope my Elementary Algebra students found this helpful!

Note: These are the metal lids from the top of frozen juice concentrate.  

Click here for tips on another  good lid source!

The example above shows that every pair of reds (negatives) when multiplied will equal a silver (positive). In the numerator:

(-3)(-2) = (red)(red) = silver

and in the denominator:

(-1)(-3) = (red)(red)  = silver

Then

silver/silver = silver (positive)

For those students (like me) who need manipulatives, who are better when they can touch something that can be so abstract, I think the magnet lids are the way to go! Again, this is why I collect all sorts of lids and caps... imagine the possibilities in ANY math classroom or home.

How to Study: Foldables Idea!

THINK OF THE POSSIBILITIES! 

Foldables from The Inspired Classroom

The blog The Inspired Classroom  has some wonderful teaching and learning ideas. The above picture is a nice technique for learning the scientific method, but OH! Think of the possibilities here one could do with math! Someone could make a foldable using basic math terms (factor, multiple, prime,... ) or algebra terms (like terms, coefficient, constant, variable, ...). My students are welcome to give this a try for some extra credit points. Creating study materials is part of learning!

By Request: Dividing Whole Numbers

I decided to not reinvent the wheel and just provide links to the famous Kahn Academy website. I use a trick for double and triple digit divisor division that cuts down on the work, but I will post that with my Smartpen ASAP. For now, I hope these help. This guy is good!

Before reviewing division, here are links to review multiplication facts -- very important to make life easier to divide. Since after all, division is the opposite of multiplying.

If you know the blue, you know the purple! And what are the diagonal numbers called??

Multiplication Facts Links

Multiplication table with tips -- only need to memorize HALF of the table!

Multiplication timed online quiz


Dividing with Kahn Academy Links

Dividing with single digit divisor

Dividing with double digit divisor

More dividing with whole numbers

How to make a foldable for studying! Link below.

Bonus! Here's a study tip that looks a bit more fun to make and use than flash cards. Maybe think of how YOU can make one of these to create a multiplication or division study foldable!

Short Awesome Video: Equivalent Fractions

Cute video teaching equivalent fractions

 Check out this short video summarizing the concept of equivalent fractions. Thanks, Miss T Allen!