1. Rob Schupbach Web Resources
CRIN E07: Elementary Math Curriculum and Instruction
Dr. Margie Mason
September 5, 2011
Coolmath.com
Address: http://www.coolmath.com
Description of contents:
Coolmath.com is bright website created for, “the frustrated, the confused, the bored
students of the world who hate math,” and also for, “the math geeks of the world
who love math and want more, more, more!” Specifically, Coolmath.com is
designed to offer math lessons, math practice, and a math dictionary to students
ages 13 to 100. However, Coolmath.com also offers links to different websites
such as FianceFREAK.com, a site for teens and grown-ups that offers personal
finance lessons, and Coolmath4kids.com, a site geared toward ages 3-12.
Coolmath4kids.com includes numerous lessons on addition, subtraction,
multiplication, and division. Also included are a number of “brain benders.” Billed
as “an amusement park of math,” this colorful website is capable of holding a
child’s attention while allowing them to conduct math drills.
How you can use this source:
 Navigate through the Coolmath.com site to find math lessons. At the top of
each page, you'll find a link for lessons. You'll also see links for practice
problems.
 Click on Online Calculators for a list of links that connect you to a variety of
calculators from arithmetic to scientific.
http://www.coolmath.com/calculators/index.html
 Download and print free flash cards for addition, subtraction, multiplication,
and division. http://www.coolmath4kids.com/free-online-math-flash-
cards.html
Coolmath.com. (1997). Retrieved September 5, 2011, from
http://www.coolmath.com
1

2. Rob Schupbach Web Resources
CRIN E07: Elementary Math Curriculum and Instruction
Dr. Margie Mason
September 5, 2011
Figure This! Math Challenges for Families
Address: http://www.figurethis.org
Description of contents:
Figure This! Math Challenges for Families offers a plethora of engaging challenges
for middle school students and their families to solve together. However, I believe
that these challenges can be used in both the home and the classroom. With over
eighty problem-solving challenges, students are forced to think outside the box, use
existing knowledge, and discover new abilities. Each challenge contains links
labeled Getting Started, Answer, Try These, Think about This…, Did you know?,
and Resources that will guide and enrich the student’s exploration. A joint project
of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the National Action Council
for Minorities in Engineering, and Widmeyer Communications, with support from
the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Education, Figure
This! holds the vision that the website will challenge students to think beyond rote
memory and help develop strategies for problem-solving. Included are sections for
both teachers and for families on how to use the challenges to improve students’
reasoning skills.
How you can use this source:
 Use the Math Index to find the math concept you would like to emphasize.
The links will send you to the challenge that reinforces the concepts.
 Teachers can download and/or print the challenges. Also, there is a
PowerPoint presentation that can be used to introduce families to the use of
the challenges in the home.
http://www.figurethis.org/powerpoint/presentation.htm
Figure This! Math Challenges for Families. (n.d.). Retrieved September 5,
2011, from http://figurethis.org
2

3. Rob Schupbach Web Resources
CRIN E07: Elementary Math Curriculum and Instruction
Dr. Margie Mason
September 5, 2011
Mathwire.com: Standards-Based Math Activities
Address: http://mathwire.com
Description of contents:
Mathwire.com provides activities and worksheets for teachers that “support the
constructivist approach to learning mathematics and the NCTM standards.” These
resources also help foster strategies for active participation. Listed are a searchable
A-Z list, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics standards, and a
Mathwire Blog where teachers can connect and share ideas. The best resource on
this website is the Topics section that offers twenty-one topics such as Morning
Math Routines, Glyphs, Discrete Math, and Instructional Strategies. A click on one
of these topics leads to a treasure trove of resources that can be used by K-12 math
teachers. Overall, this simply designed website offers helpful activities and
worksheets, but most importantly it is a site with a surplus of active links to
investigate.
How you can use this source:
 Click on the topic “Writing in Math Class” to read about resources on how
to integrate writing into the mathematics curriculum. Numerous other online
resources are listed at the bottom of the page that will directed you to
examples of how writing can prompt mathematical understanding.
 Under topics, click on Problem-Solving Strategies. Here you will find links
divided by grades groups K-2, 3-4, and 5-8. Also available are links to
Problem Solving websites and Test Preparation websites.
Kawas, T. (2011). Mathwire.com: Standards-based math activities. Retrieved
September 5, 2011, from http://mathwire.com
3

4. Rob Schupbach Web Resources
CRIN E07: Elementary Math Curriculum and Instruction
Dr. Margie Mason
September 5, 2011
PBS Teachers
Address: http://www.pbs.org/teachers
Description of contents:
A wonderfully reliable resource for pre-K through 12 grade teachers, PBS
Teachers encompasses all content areas. These high-quality resources are arranged
by both subject and grade level. Lesson plans, teaching activities, on-demand
videos, and interactive games and simulations are just of the few features available
to teachers for their classrooms. “PBS Teachers provides thousands of lesson
plans, interactive games and simulations, maps, photos, essays and more on all
major educational topics.” Other features include links to services offered by your
local PBS stations and PBS TeacherLine, which offers professional development
opportunities for teachers.
How you can use this source:
 Click on the tab for grades 3-5 for Classroom Resources, Discussions, and
Professional Development. A click on the STEM: Math Resources will open
a portal to Pre-K through 5th grade resources from CyberChase, MathActive,
and Count On It. Teachers can share and save these resources.
 PBS Kids in the Classroom (http://www.pbs.org/teachers/kidsclassroom) can
be click on to help teachers reinforce learning in the classroom. The PBS
KIDS programming (both on-air and Web-original) offers supplemental
material for teachers including lessons, classroom activities, and online
extensions for learning.
PBS Teachers. (n.d.). Retrieved September 5, 2011, from
http://www.pbs.org/teachers
4

5. Rob Schupbach Web Resources
CRIN E07: Elementary Math Curriculum and Instruction
Dr. Margie Mason
September 5, 2011
United States Department of Labor: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Address: http://www.bls.gov
Description of contents:
The Bureau of Labor Statistics from the United State Department of Labor gives
current and vital details about the labor for in the United States. Students can use
the labor statistics in their career exploration and to help with their homework.
Teachers can use our resources to enhance curriculums using real world examples
such as the latest statistics on employment, prices, and wages.
How you can use this source:
 Links to the Career Information for Students and the Occupational Outlook
Handbook will allow your students to search for a vocation by favorite
subject area and search over 60 occupations by interest. You can read about
the nature of the work, education and training requirements, advancement
opportunities, employment, salary, and ten-year job outlook for hundreds of
occupations.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2011). Retrieved September 5, 2011, from
http://www.bls.gov
5