Transcript File - Jennifer Wutka

Jenny Wutka
“Our goal is to develop effective, efficient, adaptive,
and intrinsically rewarding supplemental math
activities.”
I was introduced to XtraMath through my placement at Ridgeview Elementary.
My CT began using it in her transitional first grade classroom a few weeks into the
semester and the students really seem to be enjoying it. Once we get into the computer
lab the students are able to log on by themselves and get stared as Mr. C talks them
through what they will be doing.
This resource has the ability to accommodate all grade and math skill levels and
help students master addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Unfortunately
there is no formal address to the special needs population. However, students can choose
to use the mouse or keyboard when selecting their answers so they can decide which
method will be the best fits their needs.
XtraMath provides the teacher with student progress reports so teachers can
reflect and assess what math instruction the students still need.
I would use this tool over others because the students have the ability to listen
to Mr. C to get the instruction they need in order to be successful on the site. This would
decrease the amount of guidance the teacher would need to provide to every individual
student as they progress at their own rate. This is a free site so the teachers would also be
able to send information home with the students so they could practice after school. The
sessions always provide the parent or teacher with a progress report so keeping track or
students accomplishments would be simple.
Final project
The people
& future
behind
classroom
XtraMath
https://xtramath.org/#/home/index
ABOUT US
XtraMath is a Seattle nonprofit organization dedicated
to math achievement for all.
This site accepts tax-deductible donations in order to
support and improve XtraMath to reach more kids that
need help. I believe that this site has not created bias in
the materials because they are a nonprofit
organization.
From left to right: David Jeschke, Irene Nelson, Christopher Robert, Jennifer
Truluck, Sterling Nelson, Erika Newell, and Claudia Mesa.
More information about the people behind XtraMath
Final project & future classroom use
This resource could be used in my final project as an initial
assessment to see what mathematical level my students are
performing at to be able to guide the instruction in the right
direction for the benefit of each student. As the teacher you can
set up what grade level your students are and where they mostly
are performing. The students first begin with an assessment on
XtraMath that will help guide them through problems that are
appropriate in order to practice and push their math skills. This
resource could also be used in my future classroom for the same
reasons. Students can use this site to get immediate results on
how they are doing with their math facts. As well as during school
use, this resource can also be used at home. Parents have the
ability to make accounts on their personal computers and allow
their children to have extra practice or complete homework given
by teacher. However, if XtraMath were to be used for homework
assignments, the teacher would have to unsure that every
student had access to the internet at home.
Who
We
Are
Check out these
awesome
features
I found this site from a resource portal, which is a site that organizes lessons and
resources according to subject area, grade level, and standards. I was provided with a list of
examples so I was able to choose one that I thought would be a best fit for me. I chose
Illuminations because I thought that it would fit best with my final project which will be
focused towards math. This site increases access to quality standards-based resources for
teaching and learning mathematics. In my final project and in my future classroom this site
would be very useful because it provides standards-based resources, including interactive
tools for students and instructional support for teachers.
This site provides you with 66 pages of K-12 common core math standards that you
can choose from when developing lessons for your classroom. A few of which address,
properties, comparing, fact families, weight, balance, outliers, fractions, histograms, etc. This
site targets grades K-12 and has lessons and interactives for number & operations, algebra,
geometry, measurement, and data analysis & probability.
I would use this site over others because it is free and very user friendly. This site
has simple navigation that can help you quickly narrow your search down to subject and/or
grade level. The standards that are addressed in each lesson are clearly stated so choosing a
lesson to fit specific standards would be much easier with this site, compared to others.
Teachers can be very involved in what they are receiving in this site by making suggestions
and creating extension to lessons to fit the needs of your own students.
https://illuminations.nctm.org/Default.aspx
WHO WE ARE
Illuminations is a project designed the
National Council of Teachers of
Mathematics (NCTM). This site
encourages input from users asking for
success stories, other free online math
resources that have been useful, puzzles
that students loved, lesson plan input, and
typos, extension suggestions, and what
has enhanced lessons used in the
classroom. I believe that because this is a
free site there is not bias in the materials.
This site asks for feedback from its users
which keeps it user friendly for all
classrooms.
About
MobyMax
I found MobyMax while checking out Abbie Reed’s blog, she had mentioned this
site in her technology inventory for Steeby Elementary. MobyMax has adaptive
differentiation which provides users with diagnostic testing, adaptive lessons, IEPs,
progress monitoring, assessments, and daily goals. These features are provided to address
and accommodate all learners.
This site targets finding and fixing learning gaps for every k-8 subject. This site is
so well rounded, which is specifically why I would choose tool over another option.
Registration is free and can be done by teachers, administrators, and parents. I also
noticed the awards that MobyMax has recently received which helps me see that this,
over others, is being recognized for the good that it is doing for the education of students.
This resource addressed mathematics, early reading, reading, language, writing, science,
social students, as well as state test prep and touch curriculum.
For my final project, as well as in my future classroom I could use MobyMax to
find and fix missing math skills that are essential for math comprehension. The
comprehensive lessons within the site can especially be used for teaching students key
language skills.
http://www.mobymax.com
ABOUT US
A message from Glynn and Wade
Co-founders Wade Willett and Glynn Willett
MobyMax is a free site that provides teachers,
administrators, and parents access to the many features
that Co-founders Wade and Glynn Willet have created.
This site doesn’t rely on paid resources however its hard
to tell if the site accepts suggestions, extensions, lesson
inputs, etc. to make it accommodating for all.
Final project
& future
classroom
I found my last resource, IXL, by performing a Google search, “elementary math
sites.” Following the search this is the second site that was displayed and it looked familiar so
I decided I would take a deeper look. It turns out that IXL is an excellent source for math,
language arts, science, and social studies. The Common Core State Standards can be found
through the site and address grades K-12. Looking just through the first grade standards I
found lessons for operations and algebraic thinking, number and operations in base ten,
measurement and data, and geometry.
This site offer free trials to teachers and has a starting rate of $9.95/month for
parents. If you decide to purchase the site for your classroom or school, IXL provides each
individual with a quote for the site. This is the first site that does not provide free
memberships to their teachers with leads me to wonder what this site has that
other sites don’t.
https://www.ixl.com
Final project & future classroom use
This resource could be used in my final project to help my
students with the real-world scenarios that are incorporated with
math. A lot of the time students are not motivated to do math
because they cant see a connection between what they are doing
and how they will use it in the real-world. This site can help me
show the students the importance of math beyond the classroom.
This real-world connection can also be useful in my future
classroom. Looking in another direction, his site could be used in
my future classroom because IXL now offers free printable
materials such as certificates to class charts to keep my students
motivated. This site also provides textbook alignments, which
would be beneficial if I an using a textbook in my classroom or if I
am looking for one to use.