Thursday, September 29, 2011

Catch of The Day - Thinking Blocks - 9/29/2011

 

Thinking Blocks is a group of tools designed to help students solve math word problems accurately and efficiently using brightly colored blocks. Thinking Blocks makes it possible for teachers to easily integrate model drawing into their math curriculum.

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Students model mathematical relationships and identify known and unknown quantities. The Thinking Blocks models help students organize information and clarify the problem solving process with a powerful visual image. Students can develop stronger reasoning skills which will facilitate the transition to higher levels of mathematics.

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The Thinking Blocks activities provide both guided instruction, Tutorials, and independent practice, Modeling Tool.

The Tutorials sections cover addition and subtraction, multiplication and division, fractions, and ratios. Videos show completed examples from each section.  Students may work on specific skills or randomized problems in each category.

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The Modeling Tool sections cover addition and subtraction, multiplication and division, fractions, ratios, decimals, percent, and algebra. Included are hundreds of word problems or you can enter your own problems. The self-checking feature enables students to compare their own models with those dynamically generated by the program.

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Thinking Blocks features:

  • Student-driven tutorials
  • Numbers and question marks are draggable
  • Tutorial programs include a calculator
  • Full screen option complements interactive whiteboards

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See a video showing Thinking Blocks used to model a ratio problem

Thinking Blocks was developed by Colleen King in 2003 to help students who were struggling with math word problems. Thinking Blocks is free to use in the classroom.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/0

 

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