Your mission to spark the curiosity and passion for math in the young minds of your learners is crucial. However, we know that teaching math can be both thrilling and challenging. That’s why I’m here to be your sidekick, armed with a collection of must-have math teacher resources and tools, custom-tailored just for you. I’ve got everything from handy online calculators and time-saving lesson plan templates to interactive educational apps. Oh, and I’ve even got a fantastic site I’ll share with math activities to keep your students not just engaged but downright excited about learning. So, grab your cape (or calculator), and let’s take the plunge into this math-teaching adventure!
Free Online Calculators for Math Teachers
Let’s talk about some seriously cool online calculators that are about to become your secret tricks in the classroom. They are free to use and can expose your students to tools that might otherwise be cost-prohibitive at the middle school level.
Desmos: The Visual Math Wizard
Meet Desmos, your go-to for making math come alive. It’s not just a calculator but a whole magical world of math exploration. With Desmos, you can create interactive math lessons that’ll have your students on the edge of their seats. Imagine plotting functions and equations in real time, watching graphs transform before your eyes, and making math tangible and exciting.
Desmos is your visual math wizard, ready to turn any math topic into an engaging adventure. From a graphing calculator to a matrix calculator and a scientific calculator to a 3D calculator – you have it all right at your fingertips with Desmos. It’s worth a few minutes to check out this site.
GeoGebra: The Comprehensive Math Toolkit
Next up, we have GeoGebra, the comprehensive math toolkit you’ve been waiting for. It’s like having a math toolbox in your browser. GeoGebra offers a suite of dynamic mathematics tools, including graphing, geometry, and algebra, all rolled into one neat package. Whether you want to demonstrate geometric concepts, explore algebraic equations, or dive into advanced calculus, GeoGebra’s got your back.
It’s perfect for illustrating those tricky mathematical principles, making your lessons crystal clear and super engaging.
Ever wanted to give students access to a tool for a test, but couldn’t because that means they have access to the internet? Not anymore! With the GeoGebra Test Calculators, you can give students access to one of their online calculators and it essentially locks access to everything else! Amazing!
With Desmos and GeoGebra in your collection, you’re all set to take your math lessons to the next level!
Time-Saving Lesson Plan Templates for Math Teachers
Are you looking for a new format for your lesson plans? Having a starting place can be really helpful. That’s where a lesson plan template comes into play. Why reinvent the wheel when you can grab something already done and ready to use?
Before choosing your perfect template, consider a few things:
- What does your administration require to be included in your lesson plans?
- Are you planning a year-long overview, for a month, week, or day?
- What format makes your job easier and saves you time in both the planning and teaching?
Here are a few options that I think you will find helpful. If you head out looking for your own templates, be warned. A general search is going to yield a lot of results. What I found was that many of the sites listed were so inundated with ads that I couldn’t find the actual lesson plans. And when I did, it was obvious that a spreadsheet creator and not a teacher was behind the format. So, I’ve tried to narrow it down for you. While some of these may have ads on the site, these are less intrusive than many of the sites I visited.
If you find a template you like, please download it at your own risk. I have not personally downloaded all of the options on all of these pages. I would make sure that you have the proper software running on your computer to protect you from any issues.
101Planners.com
101Planners.com has some options that would work well. I really liked their weekly planner selection where you can choose by the number of “subjects” you want. I would choose based on the number of different “preps” I have instead of subjects. For example, if I was teaching Pre-Algebra and Honors Pre-Algebra I would choose the option for 2 subjects, assuming that all classes are completing the same activity.
I liked that you have the option of downloading in a variety of different formats. So whether you are a pencil and paper lesson planner or a digital planner, you can choose the option that would work best for you.
k12reader.com
I know that you are thinking, “I teach math, not reading.” While this site is focused on reading instruction, they do have some nice lesson plan template options that are not specific to reading. Check out their weekly and daily options.
TeachersPayTeachers.com
Teachers Pay Teachers has lots of lesson plan templates available. I love that you can narrow down the search to find options that the creator has marked with your specific search criteria. This search includes lesson plan templates for middle school math. You can easily change it up using the variety of filtering options on the left-hand side of the screen.
While these lesson plan templates are not all free, there is a level of confidence that comes from knowing that they were created by teachers. Whether you are looking for printable or digital lesson planning templates there will be lots of great options here. And. . . no ads!
Ready to Use Lessons and Activities
I know that crafting the perfect lesson plan can sometimes feel like you’re solving a complex math problem. Maybe it’s a concept you’ve taught for years, but it just isn’t clicking. Or maybe you’ve been moved to a new course this year and you are building up your lessons. Whatever it is, don’t worry because I’ve got some fantastic tools to make your life easier.
Teachers Pay Teachers
Yes, I just mentioned Teachers Pay Teachers under lesson plan templates. But I would be keeping you from a really great source for lessons and activities if I didn’t mention this site here too! Teachers Pay Teachers is more than templates. It is a site filled with full lesson plans and activities made by teachers, for teachers. Think of it as your one-stop shop for all things lesson-related.
Here, you’ll find a treasure chest of educational resources that will help make your job easier. Whether you are looking for a full curriculum, a stand-alone lesson, or a review game, you can find it on TPT.
If you teach upper elementary or middle school math, the Cognitive Cardio Math store on TPT is a great starting point. While you are there make sure to hit “Follow Me” under the store name so that you get notified of sales, new resources, and special events.
In my TPT store, you will find a variety of engaging skills practice for your math classes. Check out the Color by Code activities or use the math wheels to help students take ownership of their math notes. There are games, centers, and so much more!
Khan Academy: Your Personal Math Mentor
I can’t have a post on must-have math tools without mentioning the math legend itself—Khan Academy. Think of it as your personal math mentor, available 24/7 to help you and your students conquer math challenges. Khan Academy’s interactive lessons and exercises cover a broad spectrum of math topics, from basic arithmetic to advanced calculus. It’s like having a math genie in your pocket!
Sometimes our students need to hear an explanation from more than one person. Using Khan Academy is a great way to do this. And your students will love that it is a little different from the norm. You can also use it in the classroom for supplementary learning, or recommend it to your students as a resource for those lightbulb moments at home. Khan Academy is your go-to math teacher resource that brings the magic of math to life.
Prodigy: Where Math Teacher Resources Meet Gaming Fun
Now, prepare to be amazed by Prodigy, the game-based math platform that turns learning into an epic quest. Picture this: your students battling mythical creatures and solving math problems to save the day. Sounds too good to be true, right? Well, Prodigy makes it a reality. It’s not just an excellent tool for reinforcing concepts, it’s also a fun-filled math adventure that keeps your students engaged and excited. With standards-aligned math skills through 8th grade, it is a great option.
Prodigy transforms math practice into an interactive gaming experience, making those math concepts stick like never before. It’s like math homework meets a video game, and it’s as awesome as it sounds!
IXL – A Versatile Math Teacher Resource
Let’s talk about IXL, the online math wizard that’s here to make middle school math way more exciting! IXL is your personalized math coach but in digital form. It’s packed with a ton of math topics based on the standards for each grade level.
Here’s the cool part: IXL doesn’t just throw random math problems their way. Nope, it’s smarter than that. It uses this nifty thing called adaptive technology. What that means is that IXL tailors your learners’ learning journey based on how they’re doing. Missed problems get a review and explanation to help students learn in real-time.
Full access to IXL does require a subscription, BUT don’t let that stop you. Even if you don’t have a subscription, you can do 8 problems per day for free. I love to use those 8 problems as a daily math warm-up and review on a previously taught skill.
Cognitive Cardio Middle School Math Digital Activities
If you haven’t heard about it yet, you’re in for a treat! This isn’t just another website. It’s your secret passage to a world of challenging math activities.
Imagine a collection of interactive math games designed to make learning math enjoyable and downright exciting. Yes, I’m talking about turning math into an adventure your students will enjoy!
Whether you’re looking for a creative way to introduce algebraic equations or want to reinforce geometry concepts, this is the place to be.
What sets it apart is the perfect blend of education and entertainment. You can send your students directly to the site to play these digital math games and activities.
A membership is available to access all of the math games, but it is only $5 per month. There is also a section with free math activities that you can use.
So, remember to check out Cognitive Cardio Middle School Math Digital Activities! Your students will love these activities!
Build Future Mathematicians with These Math Teacher Resources and Tools
In the grand scheme of things, being a middle school math teacher is more than just a job—it’s a superpower.
Armed with interactive calculators, efficient lesson planning, and a slew of fantastic educational apps and activities, you have the tools to inspire the mathematicians of tomorrow. So, as you embark on this teaching journey, remember that these math teacher resources are your trusty sidekicks. They are here to make your life easier and your lessons unforgettable. Your classroom is a place where math becomes not just a subject but a thrilling experience.
Save for Later!
Remember to save this post to your favorite math Pinterest board to keep these math teacher resources and tools handy!
