Tag: products

  • The Best Online Math Dictionary for Kids

    The Best Online Math Dictionary for Kids

    UPDATE June 2026: This tool is still available, however it’s no longer interactive Unless you use the version captured on the Wayback Machine. I’ve included links for both the current static version as well as the Wayback Machine’s interactive version in the post.

    My friend and fellow educator, Jeri, shared with me a super find — A Maths Dictionary for Kids by Jenny Eather (static, interactive).

    I have a lot of math dictionaries, and have seen many online. Generally they all do the same thing — give definitions.

    But the interactive version of A Maths Dictionary for Kids does something more than all the others — it gives kids a chance to experience the words.

    After playing around with it a bit, I’ve decided that it’s the best online math dictionary I’ve ever seen — even better than Wolfram’s MathWorld!

    It’s not just for kids!

    Yes, it’s colorful, interactive and easy to use. But that doesn’t mean you have to be a little one to appreciate it.

    As a grownup you’ll also enjoy the interactive version of A Maths Dictionary for Kids. Head over there now and pick some terms to play with. Here are some good ones to start with:

    • Absolute value
    • Attribute (shown in the video)
    • Centre of rotation
    • MPH
    • Terminating decimal
    • Three-dimentional
    • y-coordinate

    Print it out and use it!

    If you do something cool you can print it out and use it as a handout.

    On the left is what you see on the site, on the right is the printout!

    UPDATE June 2026: The print function doesn’t work in the interactive version from the Wayback Machine. However, you can still do a screenshot.

    What do you think? Can you use it?

    Share your thoughts in the comments or on twitter/x.

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  • The QAMA Calculator — The One Calculator You Shouldn't Burn!

    The QAMA Calculator — The One Calculator You Shouldn't Burn!

    It’s no secret that I’m an opponent of calculators. In fact, I recently suggested to readers of 12Most.com that they burn their calculators!

    But there is one calculator that isn’t burn-worthy.

    The QAMA Calculator requires the user to input a reasonable approximation before it churns out an exact answer.

    So if you asked your QAMA Calculator to find the square root of 5, it would ask you first what \(\sqrt{5}\) is really close to. Like this:

    That’s annoying!

    Okay, maybe. If you need the calculator to do some quick work (the real reason to use a calculator), then you don’t need the darn thing quizzing you about an approximation.

    But the QAMA Calculator people thought of everything. You can turn off that feature!

    But then the kids will cheat!

    Ah! You would think so. But check out what it does when you turn the feature off:

    So what do you think? Will you get a QAMA Calculator? (It’s only about $25 after shipping & handling.) Will you let your kids use it?

    P.S. I paid full price for it — it’s not expensive and it’s a crazy brilliant idea, so I went for it.

    Share your thoughts in the comments or on twitter/x.

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  • Great Finds at CAMT12

    Great Finds at CAMT12

    Last week, Wil and I were at the Conference for the Advancement of Mathematics Teaching. We learned so much and had a great time – and found tons of neat stuff!

    I walked away with so much knowledge and quite a few great products – and Wil ended up with some too. Here are our fun finds and great product choices – look for more information on each soon!

    The MathRack

    The MathRack is an amazing product built by even more amazing folks. They started in their own home, and they still assemble the MathRack by hand in their garage.

    I know I should share a photo of the product, but Scott Rule, owner, founder, chief cook and bottle washer of MathRack, is such a sweetheart – and has worked so hard on the product – I couldn’t resist including this fun photo of us!

    The Ultimate Puzzle

    Anette offered a free Ultimate Puzzle to anyone who could solve it in less than 5 minutes. Both Wil and I tried our hand at this puzzle developed in Estonia.

    There are over a bazillion million hundred billion ways this thing can go together – and only 200 of them will work!

    Alas, I ended up buying one of them.

    Dinah Zike’s Alphabet Tabbed WrapAround

    Last week I put alphabet tabs on a Moleskine book to help me teach K8 to read. Then I found Dinah Zike’s Alphabet Tabbed WrapAround. It’s amazing and I can’t wait to use it!

    Flashdisc – Wheel of Facts

    The Flashdiscs are a nifty little self-checking set of fact helpers. They come in both addition/subtraction and multiplication/division.

    Luckily Wil could actually use a set of these with his tutoring clients — I got him to pay for it!

    Math Olympiads

    Math Olympiads is a monthly competitive math fun for classroom schoolers and homeschoolers. Seems very cost effective and lots of fun for kids of all ages.

    Tons of ideas!

    We learned about numeracy and using “Number of the Day” exercises from two fabulous teachers from Conroe ISD. We learned great ways to use the MathRack from the beautiful and awesome Christina Tondevold.

    We even got some great giveaways from Kaplan Elementary and Frog Publications that we’ll be dissecting so you can use them at home (they’re currently only priced for full classrooms).

    So look for detailed articles on these and other great math learning ideas coming soon. I’m kinda bubbly inside from all I have to write on.

    … and next week is the Homeschool Convention!

    Share your thoughts in the comments or on twitter/x.

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