Math

Low tech math tools

Calculators- come with options of large buttons, talking (auditory feedback)

Graph paper- easier to line up numbers and stay organized. Various graph paper styles including large square grids.

Stencils and rulers- for graphing and geometry

Manipulatives-  are objects that help kids solve math problems in alternative ways. Manipulatives can also illustrate math concepts. A classic example is the number line. Kids can use a number line to add or subtract numbers, without having to write down any numbers or symbols. They can also use it to help them understand the concepts of adding and subtracting.  

Graphic organizers- help kids break down and lay out the steps for solving math problems. For instance, a graphic organizer for a word problem may have spaces for kids to write and keep track of important numbers. It may help kids think through what the question is asking. Graphic organizers can be digital or pen and paper.  Dinah Zike’s Teaching Mathematics with Foldables is a curriculum focusing on graphic organizers.

App or web based math tools

(many found on understood.org)

Mathshare allows teachers to create accessible math worksheets for visually impaired students. Students can then solve the problems by typing or dictating the answers in. Free web tool.

EquatIO (from the makers of Read and Write) is a program that allows dictation or prediction of Math/STEM subjects. Has free trial available. Kids can type or handwrite virtually any mathematical expression directly on the keyboard or touchscreen. They can create mathematical equations, formulas, graphs, and more—all without needing to use complicated code or programming languages. Kids can even dictate a formula aloud. Premium version is $100/year 

ModMath- iOS app math processor to help with math work organization, free (coming for Android and Chromebooks!)

MathPaper- iOS app similar to ModMath with more depth / symbols, $20

MathEditor - online math editing (digital, shareable worksheet), allows for voice input for explanations

Equation solving tools-  are digital tools that help kids work with equations. Unlike calculators, equation-solving tools don’t solve a problem. They help kids figure out how to solve a problem. MathPapa (free), QuickMath (free)

Prodigy- FREE math and English gamified! Places students per their skill level, can progress monitor, supported on multiple platforms including web-based and app-based

Khan Academy- FREE online lessons, Khanmigo- AI-powered tutor

KiwiWrite- online math tool (digital math paper) that allows students to use keyboard and/or mouse to write out math problems. Also allows importing of worksheets and inserting answers on worksheets. $9.99/mo or $99.99/year

Visual currency calculator- visual money representation calculator, free iOS app

Desmos- online math tool including graphing, scientific, geometric/3D, matrix, and 4 function calculators, with accessibility features! Free

MathWhiteboard turns handwriting into typed work or type with a keyboard. Free online

OrbitNote is a PDF annotation toolbar (very similar to Read and Write toolbar) that recognizes handwriting, allows voice typing and has math tools built in. 

Graspable Math- allows manipulation of algebraic equations. Free trial the $5 a month. You can get scholarship for free access! Teacher assigns tasks and is provided with data tracking.

FX Equations- lets you type out math equations at secondary school level. Windows or Mac ($65/yr for individual)

Mac/Windows:

Calculator: Free (built into Mac), Calculator, Text to speech, Kids can use it to do simple arithmetic. They can also choose scientific or programming calculators. Kids can also convert between common measures. For example, they can convert miles per hour to knots, or Celsius to Fahrenheit. This program can be used as a talking calculator that reads aloud buttons that are pressed and also answers. 

FX MathPack (includes FX Draw, FX Equation, FX Graph and FX Stat): $65 (Mac or Windows). You can also buy the individual programs separately. 

• Math notation- FX Equation lets kids write out equations very quickly. Kids can type in the equation using their keyboards. They can also easily insert the equations they create into Word, PowerPoint and other programs. , 

• Graphing tool -Kids can type out an equation and plot it or draw various lines and curves directly on virtual graph paper. They can then print out the results. Kids can also view the plot in 3D, add math notations, shading and notes to different sections. 

• Drawing tool.

Geogebra: Free (Mac or Windows). Kids can also use it for free online. 

• Calculator

• Graphing tool- Kids can plot the path of equations. There are many options for viewing and annotating the plotted graphs. 

• Drawing tool- Kids can draw lines, points, shapes and other features. When they do, the program gives the corresponding equation. 

• Equation-solving tool- The program has a simple equation solver. By clicking on an equation, kids can solve for one or more variables. 

Kidspiration: (Mac or Windows) 

• Virtual manipulatives- Aimed at grade-schoolers, this program has several sets of virtual objects. These include fraction tiles, base ten blocks and more. After kids use the objects, they can save their work as image files. 

• Graphic organizers- The program has a “Step Workspace” that lets kids show and explain their steps as they do math problems. Kids can add as many steps as they need. 

MathType: $57 for students (Mac or Windows), Math notation- By typing out or clicking on commands, kids can generate complex math equations using thousands of symbols. MathType can handle advanced math like derivatives, statistics, and matrices. Once kids type out their answers, they can print or save and email their work. Mathtype can also be used to create screen-reader-accessible math problems for visually impaired students.

Matti Math: $24.95 (Mac or Windows) The tools in this software are also available for free online at the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives. Kids have access to dozens of virtual objects like number lines, pie charts, algebra balance scales and more to help them understand math concepts. The virtual objects are organized by type of math, and by grade level.

Mathigon: free online resource that provides virtual math manipulatives. Has lesson plans, tutorials and the Polypad with the manipulatives for math skills up to high school level. 

Chrome Extensions:

Calculator -Free This simple calculator opens in a pop-up window in Chrome. It can do basic arithmetic, but it also has many advanced functions, like exponents, logarithms, and sine, cosine and tangent. It requires kids to use a mouse or trackpad to click on buttons—they can’t type in math problems. If your child prefers to type in math problems rather than click, they may want to try the official Chrome calculator tool.

Cloudy Calculator also opens in a pop-up window. It’s a flexible tool that kids can use for many different math problems. If they type in words (“five times five”) the answer will be in numeral form. Kids can create their own variables and even get basic facts like the population of a city. Search engines like Google can also do these things. But this tool gives simple one-line answers that are stored in the tool’s history. This way kids can access them for further calculations. Kids can also enlarge text and change fonts. To learn how to get the most out of this tool, kids should review available commands by clicking “Help.”

Graspable Math  (free) opens in a sidebar window in Chrome. It lets kids manipulate math equations. Kids can pull equations from websites, or type in their own. Then with special click commands, they can move, combine and separate the numbers and variables. This can be especially helpful for kids who struggle with handwriting. The tool can also do basic math like adding and subtracting. That includes math problems with fractions. It can also be used with equations that have powers and exponents. Each command has an accompanying video on the Graspable Math website that shows how it’s used. May soon no longer be supported.

The Math Learning Center  (free) has 10 stand-alone Chrome apps for math manipulatives. These are virtual objects like number lines and blocks that kids can manipulate to understand math concepts. Each of these apps opens in a separate Chrome window. The apps include fractions, money pieces, number lines and more. Another resource for manipulatives is the National Library of Math Manipulatives.

Wolfram Alpha is a powerful computation engine. Kids can type in math problems, definitions and equations. The tool will do the computation and give detailed answers in a new tab. For example, if kids type “calculate the area of a circle," the tool will bring up a formula where they can input the radius and get an answer. The Pro version will show a step-by-step solution for the problem. Search engines like Google can also compute answers and give formulas. But this tool does it without giving all the search results, which can be distracting. Price: Free (Pro version for students is $4.95/month)