Start algebra

This is a nice little app which has students solving two step equations.  When the app is opened you see the problem with the second step ready for you to use the keypad at the bottom to input the answer.

If the answer is correct, it will take you to the next step otherwise it says you did not get the correct answer.

The app has you input the answer.

What I like is the student cannot proceed until they do the problem correctly.  It does not show what the student did wrong, it just has the student remain on the problem until lit is done correctly.

I think I will be using this regularly in class so students can practice solving two step equations.

Annotating photos

Last night I got to thinking about ways that students can either identify steps or explain what they did when they solved a problem.  The group of students I work with are students who are classified as ELL (English Language Learners) and they hate to write.  So my idea is to have them work a problem, snap a screenshot, annotate the photo and send the photo to me or put it in a Dropbox.

I used the free drawing app to create the equation and then added the steps using Typic plus which is the paid version but there is a free version.  I think students would be more willing to do this type of writing rather than doing it on paper.

X blok

X Blox uses manipulatives to model various activities starting with expressions and moving up to quadratics.  

The first level starts out easily with a number or simple expression such as 4 + (-2).  As the student progresses through the levels, the problems will become more complex.  This app has a way for students to e-mail progress reported to the teacher and you can reset the levels already completed if you have to start a new class on this app.

There is the learn mode which is what is shown above.  If you click. In play, there are three more activities.

First is the sandbox which is where you can play and just explore.  Next is the X Blox express where the student can work on interpreting the manipulatives.

Finally is the factor challenge where the student is able to practice factoring.

I can see using this quite a lot in the pre-algebra and algebra classes.  The students need to complete the tutorial section so they understand exactly how the program and manipulatives work before they can use the additional play sections.  If they rush to the play sections, they may get too frustrated and shut down.  This is set up so students acquire a foundation before moving on.

Math.trig by calc apps

This is an app that pretty much let's you either draw the triangle or put in two sides and it provides the missing side and angles.  

Although the default is a 3-4-5 right triangle, you can make an adjustment so that you can do equilateral, isosceles, or scalene triangles.  What sets this apart from similar apps is that it provides an explanation for every problem done.  You can also save your triangles.  So this is a triangle solving app with explanations.  One use I see for this is to help students see how the triangle inequality theorem works.  If you enter three values that do not make a triangle, it will let you know why it is not a triangle.

I like that it provides an explanation on why it does not work.  I also like the program allows you to see the use of the pathagorean theorem or the law of cosines to find missing values.  I can use this in two or three classes so students can check their work and get an explanation.

Geometry app

I found a nice little geometry app that helps students practice their vocabulary.  The app offers students the choice of a geometric shape.  One they choose a shape, the game begins.

A picture with a statement appears showing them what the item is.  There are blanks below this with possible letters under that.  If you select the correct letter, it flies into the blank place otherwise it flies up and then back to its place.  If the letter is correct it turns green, otherwise, it goes red.

You do have to do the letters in the correct order.  Notice that there are two types of hints, one puts a letter in the blanks, the other removes a possibility out of the available letters.  Since I work with ELL students, this will reinforce and help with their language development.

Algebra start by Xr

This is a lovely app that covers a variety of topics such as the introduction, products, powers, brackets, simplifying, like terms and division.  Each section provides instruction with examples.  Then there are three levels of practice and each question offers the choice of actually completing the problem or requesting another example.  Furthermore, if a student is incorrect, the program explains the correct answer and then the student tries again.  This will be good to help student practice each topics and will be used for a decent part of the pre-algebra and algebra 1 class.  This is a nice program.

Right angle

This app is a free app but to unlock its full potential you need to pay for access to two of the three calculators.  Yes, you read that correctly.  You put in a certain amount of data and the app will fill in the remaining data and calculate the area and preimeter.

The free section covers right triangles.  Notice it allows you to use the hypotenuse, degrees, base or rise measurements and then it does the rest of the work.

The two sections you must pay for are oblique triangles and circles.

The other two sections are priced at $2.99 each or $5.99 for both and $0.99 to remove the adds.  For my students, the only real use I see for it is for them to check their answers, otherwise I don't see using it in my classroom this coming year.  The idea is nice but at the moment it is not a real possibly for use in my classroom.