Factors

I've noticed my Pre-Algebra class really has trouble dividing because about half of them do not have their multiplication facts down solid while the other half have the facts down, they just can't go in reverse.  So as a way to help them, I put the students on Prime Smash, a wonderful free game by Panasonic.


Prime Smash is great for having students identify prime and composite numbers.  With three levels, I am able to differentiate instruction so that I am meeting all of student needs.  Those who struggle a bit more, did the easiest level while my more advanced students chose the hard level.

It was awesome.  The students were totally involved and did not want to put the iPads away to go to lunch.  They had such a blast.  There were so involved with the game, no one misbehaved, no one was off task.  I plan to run this again to help them with factoring.

On another front, my geometry class was on top of everything.  Today we started learning AAS and ASA.  Due to my having taken time to make them color triangle before writing proofs for SSS and SAS, my students immediately were able to spot which triangles were AAS and ASA after my short talk.   Yeah!!!!!!!

They immediately grabbed the colored pencils and started coloring the same angles and sides so when we write simple proofs tomorrow, they are ready and should be able to do it with very little trouble.  They transferred knowledge.  I am so proud of them.  Yeah.  It was a good day.

Factoring

As I was working on deciding exactly what my students should know in each class I teach, I realized that factoring is extremely important in more than algebraic fractions.  I discovered a nice game on prime numbers and prime factorization that also shows factoring in a way students can see how prime numbers are used as factors.  It is Prime Smash by Panasonic  and Risupia.  This game has three levels where balls bounce up one at at time and you decide if they are prime numbers or composite.  If they are prime you tap and if they are composite you swipe the number to split it up, tap a prime or swipe a composite and you break it down till it has been totally factored. Sometimes the program splits a number into a prime and a composite or two composite numbers.  You have to think quickly when you play this game.
It has a nice fun facts sections that defines prime numbers, defines twin primes, shows emirps and Palindrmic primes, and talks a bit about how to distinguish prime numbers and how they are used for incription.  This is a free app and a really nice one.
I am having fun on the easy level learning to play the game.  I've tried the medium level but its a bit fast for me quite yet.  This game is actually lots of fun once you get the hang of using it and I can see having students play this game on a regular bases.