Overview

Computers and software programs allow students who have difficulty using math tools to participate in math activities to construct and manipulate objects for counting, sorting, combining and completing related work sheets. These Assistive Technology options ease access to classroom math materials and technology.

This module identifies specific tools to help students apply math in real world settings and to solve problems through a variety of alternate means. We also offer a handout on Vendors of Math products. Further information on Math for students with disabilities can be found in our Non-Computer Aids module.

Standards of learning for mathematics in elementary grades focus on the understanding of math concepts, using tools and computing facts and then applying them to life situations.

There are several tools required for use during math activities in the elementary grades. They include but are not limited to calculators, rulers, compasses, and protractors. Many are designed with features making them more accessible to all students.

Calculators

Calculators are considered an essential tool for math or primary grades and higher. Commercial, off-the-shelf hand held calculators are available with features such as big buttons, enlarged displays and speech capabilities. Look for these features help to address the needs of young users.

Operating System Calculators

For students who have difficulty accessing hand held calculators or who prefer to have a computerized calculator available onscreen for any software program they are using, computer operating systems offer some solutions.

Windows '95 and '98

Found under Programs/Accessories/Calculator
Includes both standard functions (4X4") as well as a scientific calculator (change type under View menu option). They are not resizable on the screen. Student uses the mouse (or alternate pointing system) to point to and click on the keys.

standard function calculator

scientific calculator

Macintosh

Includes 2 calculators within the operating system: a small (1 X2") onscreen calculator with basic functions and a scientific calculator for equations producing 2-3 dimensional graphs.

standard function calculator

scientific calculator

Online Calculators

Although calculators that are included in current computer operating systems may prove sufficient for many students, other students may need calculators with larger buttons, different key layouts, and/or speech output.

Edmark's Algebra Calculator
This free calculator is designed for solving algebra equations using decimals and fractions as well as basic calculations.

Martindale's Reference Desk: Calculators Online Center: Mathematics
Currently the Calculators On-Line Center contains over 18,640 Calculators to be used for thousands of activities from calculated farm prices, measuring dry ingredients and distances, to mathematics calculators.

Software Calculators

Talking Calculator (Premier Programming)
Every button and edit area talks on this free onscreen calculator. It is easy to use with large keys and contrasting colors. It has three display areas, and actually displays the equation so that you can easily see or hear your last process. This allows students who required to show their work, they can cut and paste it into a document. Download from the website.

Big:Calc (Don Johnston, Inc.)
This software program provides a talking onscreen calculator that provides options for larger keys in versatile layouts. How the key buttons look -- their font, size, color and background -- can be changed to meet the needs and preferences of the user. The two examples shown are two of six basic layouts and include a number line layout.

Auditory feedback associated with each key press and calculation helps a student to check his key selection. It also reinforces learning by increasing awareness. All keys, buttons, results and entire equations can be spoken aloud. Students can use it alone or with database or math programs. Big:Calc also includes the ability to scan key choices for single switch users. (Mac)

Manipulation

Using manipulatives to demonstrate math concepts increases the student's ability to grasp skills and concepts. All students need opportunities for manipulating objects for counting, sorting, comparing and combining. Concepts of same/different, bigger than, lighter than, more, less, and same as (equal) result from such manipulation. Students with sensory, cognitive and/or physical disabilities may need alternate strategies to hands-on manipulation. Adaptive materials and software programs are available that support/simulate these opportunities.

Examples

IntelliMathics (IntelliTools, Inc.)
Students are able to move, rotate and size objects to different problems with a collection of onscreen manipulative tools. Sets of problems focusing on sorting, classifying, geometry and probability are offered; or create your own. Some include sorting bins, Venn diagrams, fraction bars, For students with reading difficulties, the program offers full text-to-speech support. Can be used with IntelliKeys, switches or a mouse. (Mac/Win)

The Geometer's SketchPad (Key Curriculum)
Sketchpad is a dynamic construction and exploration tool that enables students to explore and understand mathematics. It allows students to define, combine, evaluate, graph, and differentiate functions - a useful tool for algebra and calculus as well as for geometry. Although designed for grades 5 and up, Sketchpad’s visual approach allows younger students to develop the concrete foundation they need to move ahead to more advanced levels of study.

Blocks in Motion (Don Johnston, Inc)
Blocks are placed or changed with a single mouse click. The student can use the blocks to learn ones, tens and hundreds, group like objects, plot data on a grid, learn geometrical shapes and participate in other "virtual" manipulation experiences.

KidPix (Broderbund)
This drawing program can be used by students and teachers to create electronic sorting, classification, patterns and other activities.

Worksheets

Completing worksheets is a typical practice activity used primarily in the classroom and for homework. Software is available that provides for the generation of worksheets in a variety of formats. This may be timesaving for teachers with students with different abilities in a class, allowing for customized worksheets. Students then complete the worksheets with a writing or marking tool. It provides a way for students to reproduce the problems in a legible format.

Other software programs are available for students who have difficulty using pencil and paper to complete math problems or who can be more independent interacting with computer programs having speech output. These programs provide a forum for the student to solve the problems independently using a computer. Because these worksheets can be accessed via the computer, any input method can be used: touch screen, mouse, trackball, expanded keyboard, etc.

Create Worksheets

Arithmefonts (Visions Technology)
This is special font software that makes typing fractions and other math expressions easy. Teachers and parents can create math activity sheets for the student to complete. Arithmefonts includes symbols for clocks, coins, shapes, geometric expressions and number lines as well as long division, roots and set notations. (Mac/Win)

Math Companion I and II (Visions Technology)
The software program provides a way to create professional looking worksheets in seconds. The teacher selects from a list of 120 K-8 math objectives from addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of whole numbers, to fractions, decimals and more. Word problems are available or can be added. Time, money and counting objectives are included in II. The program automatically creates the worksheets from a variety of formats. (Mac/Win)

Create and Solve Worksheets

Access to Math (Don Johnston)
This program is for teachers and students. Teachers can create and store math worksheets with addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division problems. Students can complete them with pencil and paper when printed out, or on the computer.

When using the computer, the program includes text-to-speech features that add voice to the math problems and answers! This can be complex to use by a student, but does offer problems in a linear (horizontal) design. (Mac Only)
Cost: $79.00

MathPad (IntelliTools)
Add, subtract, multiply, divide. Make your own worksheets for any student; determine the number of problems and their content. These worksheets are typically solved on the screen for students with skill levels from grades K-2. Math pad will read the problems aloud to the student. Carrying and borrowing are features that are graphically depicted. Students complete each problem one at a time; completed problems are printed out as a single worksheet. (Mac/Win)
Cost: $79.95

MathPad Plus (IntelliTools)
A new Math Sheet program for intermediate (grades 3-5) classrooms that includes problems with fractions and decimals, including word problems. Problems can be viewed as fraction pies, rods or decimal grids. Comes with a built-in calculator; includes a User's Guide, Tutorial, and 2 double-sided overlays for IntelliKeys. (Mac/Win)
Cost: $99.95

ReadyMade Activities (IntelliTools)
Curriculum based activities to provide instruction and practice on fractions at 2 levels.
Cost: $49.95 @

MathType (Design Science, Inc.)
MathType is a tool that you use with your favorite word processor, presentation program or web page to add mathematical equations for worksheets and reports. It allows your students to do fractions, integrals, exponents and create formulas for symbols and functions, etc. When used with MS Word, a floating toolbar makes editing equations easy. You can also save these files as webpages for access anytime.

Online Worksheets

There are several available online worksheet resources. Look for ones to be completed online and others to be printed out and used. Many sites offer a range of math activities and topics from simple computations to math games to algebra problems.

A+ Math
Offers printed or online math sheets along with flashcards and games for kids.

EdHelper
Thousands of free mathematical worksheets: Algebra, Decimals, Fractions, Ratios, Measurement, Probability, Statistics, Trigonometry, Polynomials. Plus Puzzles, Spelling, and Vocabulary

Math Worksheets
Create and print math worksheets for children learning simple arithmetic (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division)

RHL School
Math computation and problem solving worksheets are available to print and use.

School Express
The worksheet sections includes math topics: basic functions plus telling time to print and use. In the Online area you can create problems online to solve. Children can answer the problems and have them graded online, or print the worksheet for offline.

SuperKids Math Worksheet Creator
Simply select the type of problem, the maximum and minimum numbers to be used in the problems, then click on the button! A worksheet will be created to your specifications, ready to be printed for use.

Money & Coins

These software programs provide opportunities to learn and practice new skills on the computer. Specifically, they provide a great way to teach basic math and functional money skills.

Examples

Basic Coins (Attainment Co.)
Basic Coins has three progressively challenging segments: name, match and purchase. This program includes the penny, nickel, dime, quarter, half-dollar and the new golden dollar coin. Interlines overlays for Basic Coins are also available through this company. (Mac/Windows)
Cost: $59.00

Dollars and Cents (Attainment Co.)
Features realistic money, match to sample money mats, activity cards with calculator, money stickers, reproducible worksheets, illustrated shopping lists and instructor's guide. (Mac/Windows)
Cost: $99.00

Coin Changer (Heart soft)
Coin Changer teaches drills students in K-2 on coin value and recognition of each coin: penny, nickel, dime, and quarter, are introduced in separate modules and then used together
Cost: $39.95

Coin Critters (Nordic Software)
Students in grades K-6 learn to count coins and make change. Problems are spoken aloud; practice worksheets included. Motivating games help to practice new skills.
Cost: $39.95

Time

The ability to tell time is a skill that is contained in measurement standards. It is important for students to be able to translate time between analog and digital clocks. These programs focus on the skills needed from conceptualizing time (today, yesterday, calendar/time concepts), units of time (minutes, hours) to accurately telling time.

Examples

Match Time (Attainment Co.)
Offers four progressive levels of difficulty for both digital and analog time telling. (Mac/Windows)
Cost: $99.00

Trudy's Time and Place (Riverdeep)
For children in primary grades, this software provides opportunities to explore the concepts of time. Can also be purchased in a school (with suggestions for classroom activities) or Spanish versions. (Mac/Windows)
Cost: $19.95

Curricular Software

For younger children, look for programs that foster discovery and learning. Try to find programs that complement the classroom curriculum with activities that reinforce what is going on in school.

Examples

SwitchIt! Early Math with Spider and Friends (IntelliTools)
Early Math provides a variety of multimedia early learning activities that focus on mathematic concepts in grades K-2. Students get to practice sorting, matching, copying, drawing, counting, and more. This program was designed for single switch use but can be controlled with a mouse. (Mac/Win)
Cost: $49.95

Number Concepts 1 (IntelliTools)
Number Concepts 1 helps build a foundation for mathematical thinking for students in grades K-2. Correlated with national math standards, students practice counting in different environmental contexts. Students can discover learning in "Explore Mode", and solve problems in "Questions & Answer Mode". Programs can be easily customized for different students; their progress can also be tracked.(Mac/Win)
Cost: $79.95

Number Concepts 2 (IntelliTools)
Designed for fundamental math skills in grades 3-5, this program provides ways for students to master skip counting, place value, factoring, and use of the hundreds chart. As in #1, it offers customizable features for each student as well as a built-in tracking system monitors students' progress. (Mac/Win)
Cost: $79.95

IntelliMathics (IntelliTools)
IntelliMathics provides students with disabilities the opportunity to work with on-screen manipulatives similar to those found in most classrooms. The program offers teachers a powerful tool for customizing manipulative-based activities for individual users. IntelliMathics also comes with many sample activities that are ready for immediate classroom use. Students can print their work and save files within their own portfolios.
Cost: $139.95

Mighty Math Series: (Riverdeep) K-2
Carnival Countdown
Zoo Zillions
These software programs help teach math basics, concepts and problem-solving skills. For younger students they offer activities using addition, subtraction, story problems, number facts, 3D shapes, counting money and making change. (Mac/Win)

Mighty Math Series: (Riverdeep) 3-6
Calculating Crew
Number Heroes
These programs work together to teach math basics, concepts and problem-solving skills. They provide activities to teach multiplication and division of whole numbers and decimals, number line concepts, 2D geometry and probability 3D solids and their properties, money transactions and much more. dozens of math concepts and solve thousands of problems while learning multiplication and division, fractions. (Mac/Win)

Millie's Math House (Riverdeep) PreK-2
Explore numbers, shapes, patterns, addition and subtraction concepts through interactive learning. (Mac/Win)

Turbo Math Facts (Nordic Software) K-6
Through educational games in a race car format, students develop math skills in addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
Cost: $49.95

BasketMath (Science Academy Software) 4-7
Using a basketball format to practice math skills, this software is based on standardized tests designed for grades 4-7.

Online Activity Resources

Dyscalculia - LD Online
Dyscalculia refers to learning disabilities in the area of mathematics. Links to articles and the latest research on this topic.

Eisenhower National Clearinghouse
Search the math topics for activities on various sites.

Illuminations
NCTM's online math activities, all tied to the standards, plus links to more math sites.

Interactive Mathematics
National library of virtual manipulatives for interactive mathematics. Have online activities for numbers + operations, algebra, geometry, measurement and data analysis for grades K-12.

KidsPsych
Highly interactive, this colorful site features online puzzles and games parents and children (1 to 5; 6 to 9) can play together. The games are designed to help children with thinking skills, deductive reasoning and also just to have some fun! (Note: Shockwave is necessary to access site.)

The Math Forum: Lesson Plans Page
Look for Math Resources by Subject for K-12 grades; specifically Arithmetic Lesson Plans.

Math Stories
This site looks to help grade school children improve their math problem-solving and critical thinking skills. It has over 4500 math word problems.

MegaMath
This site offers a collection of exciting and unusual math topics for the elementary level, including map coloring, networks, topology, infinity, and logical reasoning. Lesson plans for activities included in this well-designed site are supported by background information, concepts, materials, and more. MegaMath is a project of the Computer Research and Applications Group at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

PBS Mathline
Teacher lesson plans, online activities for students, classroom resources, and professional development projects for elementary math are available at this public PBS education Web site.

Project Participate
Colorado's Project Participate offers opportunities to increase active participation in the classroom; explore or download the curriculum creations on the Curricular Creations page.

Pro-Teacher: Mathematics
ProTeacher is for elementary school teachers, specialists, and student teachers in grades preK-6. The site features BusyBoard discussion boards, mailings, and an extensive directory of teacher-selected lesson plans, teaching ideas and resources.

Quia
Math Games are available for addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and rounding activities. You can make your own games or play others. Great for practice! In addition to math games, the site offers games in 40 subjects.

Riverdeep Online Resources
Check under both Teacher and Student Resources; Cool Calculators are one example of free downloads. Software downloads are parts of commercial software.

TrackStar
TrackStar is an on-line interface that helps instructors organize and annotate Web sites (URLs) into lessons. Look for "Elementary Math Activities" for great games.