Christina's+Tool+Kit+Page

=Resources Tool Kit =

Below you will discover a list of 6 Web Links designed for teachers and administrators. Additionally, these web links can be learning resources for students and parents.Some of them address additional tools that can be used supplementary to the Greatest Common Factor lesson. While others address a more broad relation to literacy and mathematics. I hope that you find these useful.

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**Illuminations: The Venn Factor **
This resource is the lesson plan that prompted my Greatest Common Factor lesson plan. It's content and procedures vary from my lesson,but the underlying process in finding greatest common factors are essentially the same. Most lessons introducing the greatest common factor use the use of Venn Diagrams because they are an excellent visual representation to use. I highly recommend teachers visit the illuminations website because it holds mathematics lesson plans that relate to the new common core standards. These lessons provide a great foundation for teachers, especially for future educators or for teachers who are looking to try something new. []

**The Factor Tree Game **
This link is to an online practice game that helps students through the process of finding the prime factorization of one number. It illustrates factor trees in a clear cut manner, thus it reduces confusion for students. Additionally, the use of squares and circles to illustrate why certain numbers need to be further factored, provide extra help visually for students. []

**Prime and Common Factors *with the Venn Diagram **
This resource illustrates the power that YouTube videos can have on learning mathematical vocabulary and concepts. These two YouTube videos can be implemented before the Venn diagram hands on activity in my GCF lesson because the video helps students recall prior knowledge of Venn diagrams. Additionally, it introduces the concept of placing factors in a Venn diagram. Thus, students will have a visual approach before constructing their own Venn Diagram during the lesson. Similarly, if students are struggling with the activity, parents and students can watch the video at home and slow down the instruction to help students understanding. [] []

**BrainPop **
BrainPop are educational videos that are typically seen in science classrooms. However, there are also BrainPop videos for content in the schools mathematics curriculum. BrianPop videos are an excellent audio-visual approach that strengthen students understanding and knowledge of math concepts. These videos follow Tim and his robot Moby's story, as they walk through virtual lessons while addressing a math problem or concept. It is an excellent additional resource that can be added to the classroom or that can be watched at home for further understanding on a topic. Additionally, these videos can integrate writing into the classroom by having students complete a writing prompt or create their own writing prompt for others after they have viewed the video, to illustrate that they understood the content addressed. @http://www.brainpop.com/math/

**Children's Books **
Using children's books that relate to mathematics is a unique approach to enhance students understanding. I find that there are a wide variety of math children's books that have yet to be explored by some teachers, parents, and students. They are an excellent way to get students engaged in literacy and mathematics through a story. If you take time to research and discover such books, students will love it when you read the book to the class. Specifically, below is a link to the series of Sir Circumference books. These books can be used in pre-middle school grades and middle school grades. The books are meant for all readers, whether student, teacher or parent. In relation to writing in the content area, if teachers desire to do so, they can create small writing prompts for students once the book has been read. There are endless possibilities with children's books, all you have to do is be creative. @http://www.livingmath.net/Reviews/ReviewsChildrensMathLit/SirCumferenceSeries/tabid/414/language/en-US/Default.aspx

**Thinkfinity **
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Thinkfinity is a powerful resource tool for teachers. The first link below directs you to the Math Group within Thinkfinity, where you can find recent discussions about mathematics and education. This site provides a great opportunity for teachers to connect with one another and discuss questions and topics that they have in relation to education, math and mathematics education. Specifically, the second link directs you to the Math across Disciplines blog. Here teachers discuss and give one another feedback and suggestions for integrating other subjects into the mathematics instruction. Parents can even become apart of the discussion, if they wish to aid their children in making connections and understanding. @http://www.thinkfinity.org/groups/math http://www.thinkfinity.org/message/65108#65108