Hawkins_www4HigherLevel

= Jaclyn Hawkins  Websites for Higher Level Thinking Skills in Mathematics

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__Project Description __
With the implementation of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) just around the corner, I wanted to find more online resources for helping our students prepare for the new way they will be tested. The CCSS Mathematics involves a huge focus on rigor and problem solving skills rather than memorization of algorithms. This is a huge jump for most students, and I wanted to see what kind of resources I could find online that would help students and teachers through this transition. I searched for classroom activities, interactive games, rich tasks, problem solving examples, teacher resources, and information about the CCSS in Mathematics.

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===Click for a PDF version of the websites I found most useful and a brief description for each. === =__Resources __=

Websites with Higher Level Thinking Activities and Resources for Teachers
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 * Math talk lesson about cylinders.
 * National Library of Virtual Manipulatives.
 * NRICH enriching mathematics
 * NCTM’s Illuminations
 * Internet4Classrooms
 * Math activities to see how math works. Interactivate
 * Interactive Math Activities Online.
 * ThinkQuest. Students create projects online for other students to learn from.
 * Inside Mathematics. Resource for new rich tasks and problem solving based on CCSS. Rubrics and student answer examples.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Sample rich tasks online. Similar to what the computerized standardized tests will be like. Toolbox
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">List of problem solving tasks available in pdf. Balanced Assessment

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; text-align: center;">Higher Level Math Games for Students
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 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Kids Numbers.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Math Maven’s Mysteries. Scholastics problem solving.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">PBS math problem solving games.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Apples for the Teacher. Math Games.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Villainy Inc. Thinkport.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Mathematical Logic Puzzles. Brain Food.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Interactive Higher Level Math Games.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Wide Variety of math games.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Math Games, Logic, CCSS. Math Playground
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Primary Games, games requiring creative thinking.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Math games aligned to the CCSS.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; text-align: center;">Common Core State Standards
My Delicious page has more resources you may find useful, check it out! =__<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Content uses of this Technology __= <span style="display: block; font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: left;">Websites for higher level thinking skills in mathematics can be used in math classes in the general education classroom. The focus of my search was grades 3-8, because those are the grades that are tested on the standards. This technology can be used within lessons in the classroom, as activities for math centers, as extra practice for homework, and during any free time the students may have access to a computer when at school. <span style="display: block; font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: left;">Almost all of the websites I found are directly aligned with the CCSS in Mathematics, however there are some that were from other countries, but the activities had a lot of rigor to them so I included them as well.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">PARCC online Common Core resources.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Common Core State Standards Toolbox
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Common Core State Standards Initiative.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Ohio Department of Education CCSS

<span style="display: block; font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: left;">I believe that this technology covers some indicators under the following two technology standards for teachers: <span style="display: block; font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: left;"> ** 1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity ** <span style="display: block; font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: left;"> ** Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments. ** <span style="color: #5a5a5a; display: block; font-family: HelveticaNeueLTStd-Th; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"> a. Promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness <span style="color: #5a5a5a; display: block; font-family: HelveticaNeueLTStd-Th; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"> b. Engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools <span style="color: #5a5a5a; display: block; font-family: HelveticaNeueLTStd-Th; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"> and resources <span style="color: #5a5a5a; display: block; font-family: HelveticaNeueLTStd-Th; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"> c. Promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students’ conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes <span style="color: #5a5a5a; display: block; font-family: HelveticaNeueLTStd-Th; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"> d. Model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments <span style="display: block; font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: left;"> ** 5. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership ** <span style="display: block; font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: left;"> ** Teachers continuously improve their professional practice, model lifelong learning, and exhibit leadership in their school and professional community by promoting and demonstrating the effective use of digital tools and resources. ** <span style="color: #5a5a5a; display: block; font-family: HelveticaNeueLTStd-Th; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"> a. Participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning <span style="color: #5a5a5a; display: block; font-family: HelveticaNeueLTStd-Th; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"> b. Exhibit leadership by demonstrating a vision of technology infusion, participating in shared decision making and community building, and developing the leadership and technology skills of others <span style="color: #5a5a5a; display: block; font-family: HelveticaNeueLTStd-Th; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"> c. Evaluate and reflect on current research and professional practice on a regular basis to make effective use of existing and emerging digital tools and resources in support of student learning <span style="color: #5a5a5a; display: block; font-family: HelveticaNeueLTStd-Th; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"> d. Contribute to the effectiveness, vitality, and selfrenewal of the teaching profession and of their school and community

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NETS·T © 2008 International Society for Technology in Education.ISTE® is a registered trademark of the International Society for Technology in Education. =__<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Pedagogical Considerations for this Technology __= <span style="display: block; font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: left;">Teachers that want to include these activities and lesson resources in their own lessons would need an interactive whiteboard such as a SmartBoard, Promethean Board, or at least a projector that the teacher can use through their computer. This technology could easily be integrated into lessons to help students practice building their problem solving skills. That is, if the school has the proper equipment of course. If the students have access to computers, the teacher can integrate the interactive websites for students by the topic they are covering in class into their lessons or homework assignments.

=__<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Where to purchase or acquire __= <span style="display: block; font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: left;">I made an effort to choose websites that do not require memberships, or that have free memberships for teachers and students. As long as the school has computers with internet access and updated Java/flash players, this technology is easy and simple to acquire.

<span style="display: block; font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: left;">Dan MeyerThis is a very interesting video on how our teaching in math needs to change in order to meet the needs of our students. If you have the time, I would strongly recommend watching it. <span style="display: block; font-family: georgia,serif; line-height: 0px; overflow: hidden; text-align: left;">media type="custom" key="22157552" align="left"