Virginia Mathematics Teacher Spring 2017

Hauser, J. (2004). Concrete-representational- abstract instructional approach . Retrieved from http://165.139.150.129/intervention/ ConcreteRepresentationalAbstractInstructio nalApproach.pdf on February 25, 2017. Hoven, J. & Garelick, B. (2007). Singapore Math: Simple or Complex? Educational Leadership, 65(3), 28-31. Hudson, P., Miller, S.P., & Butler, F. (2006). Adapting and Merging Explicit Instruction Within Reform Based Mathematics Classrooms. American Secondary Education, 35(1) , 19-32. MacDonald, B. L., & Shumway, J. F. (2016). Subitizing Games: Assessing Preschoolers' Number Understanding: Reflect and Discuss. Teaching Children Mathematics , 22 (6), 340-348. Paulsen, K.J. (2005). Infusing Evidence-Based Practices into the Special Education

Preparation Curriculum. Teacher Education and Special Education, 28 (1). Russell, S.J. (2000). Developing computational fluency with whole numbers. T eaching Children Mathematics, 154-158. Witzel, B.S. (2005). Using CRA to Teach Algebra to Students with Math Difficulties in Inclusive Settings. Learning Disabilities: A Contemporary Journal, 3(2), 49-60.

Kateri Thunder Faculty

Robert Berry NCTM President elect University of Virginia rqb3e@eservices.virginia.edu

James Madison University katerithunder@gmail.com

Technology Review Section Editor: Christophe Hirel

In this section, we feature websites, online manipulatives, and web-based applications that are appropriate for K-12 mathematics instruction. We are looking for critical reviews of technologies which focus on both the benefits and limitations of using these tools in a K- 12 mathematics classroom. If you use a technological tool and wish to share with us, please respond to the call for manuscripts on page 36. PhotoMath

Christophe Hirel Section Editor, Technology Review chirel69@yahoo.com

Photomath is an app available for android and iOS devices that solves math problems algebraically by taking a picture. The user points his/her camera towards any mathematical expression printed or handwritten and Photomath shows the solution. In most cases, the app also provides a step by step outline for how it arrived at the answer. The Photomath app is designed to support not only simple addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication, but complex equations as well. It can solve algebraic expressions, linear equations, quadratic equations, absolute value equations, inequalities, systems of equations, trigonometric

expressions, logarithmic functions, derivation, and integration. The app was designed as an educational tool, but how useful is this app in the mathematics classroom? And would you consider using it? Why or why not? Here are some of our observations when using the app. 1. The app provides a solution, but it might not be the most effective procedure or algorithm. One way the app could be used in the classroom is to examine the solution it provides for the elegance of the algorithm. As we know, there is more than one way to solve an algebraic problem, but the app only provides a single set of steps to the solution. It may be a worthwhile activity to see if students can

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