Pine Hills

Elementary
School
Issue 01

February 26th Welcome to Ms. Kaye’s 3rd Grade

2018 Classroom!

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Inside
Information on Interactive
Technology in the
classroom
The benefits of using
technology in the classroom
Specific examples of the
types of tools we will be
using in the classroom
Welcome to our 3rd grade community! I am so excited to
get to know each student and their family joining us this
year in the classroom. This year I am hoping to
incorporate explorative and social learning into my lesson
plans to reach for meaningful understanding. One way I
hope to do this in the mathematics content area is
through the use of Interactive Technology. These tools
allow students to engage in learning tasks with the
excitement and benefit of using a technological aid. The
students can also access these resources outside the
classroom for additional support on specific concepts.
Since we will be focusing in the upcoming unit on the
study of rational numbers, I have selected to demonstrate
two programs that are related to this area of mathematics
and that I hope will spark your interest and
encouragement of our use of these tools in our classroom!
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to
me!
Ms. Kaye
 Pine Hills Elementary School
What is Interactive Technology?
Interactive Technology brings another
dimension to the mathematics classroom
environment, allowing students to work
with digital manipulatives to develop more
meaningful connections in their learning.
Students are able to solidify the instruction
they have received through reinforcement of
content material through the technology
applications.
What are the benefits?
Interactive technology is able to cater to
the different learning styles of all students
in the classroom and creates an engaging
collaborative environment. Interactive
technology allows students to be active
participants in their learning instead of
passive receivers of teachers lecturing
information. Technology is a growing part
of the social environment of the students
growing up in today’s world. This social
concept should be brought to the learning
environment to teach and assist students
as effectively as possible.
2
Issue 01: Feb 26, 2018
What is
Interactive
Technology?
It’s all about
engagement and
teamwork
Why is it important when developing
an understanding of rational numbers?
Learning rational numbers can seem like a
very concrete mathematical topic, however
Interactive Technology brings the discussion
to a conceptual level. Students are able to
apply their knowledge of the basic concepts
to activities and problems that further push
their understanding and allow them to
explore how mathematical concepts are
situated in a social context.
 National Library of Mission:
Providing “virtual learning environments” where
“Java-based mathematical tools…allow us [as
Virtual Manipulatives teachers] to create exciting new approaches to
interactive mathematical instruction.”

(NVLM)
(https://edtechnology.co.uk/Article/interactive-
“The NLVM is a resource from which teachers may tech-in-the-classroom-its-all-about-engagement)
freely draw to enrich their mathematics classrooms.”
(https://mathfuture.wikispaces.com/NLVM)

Application presents a fraction and asks Student then correctly divides the shape
the student to show the fraction on the into the correct number of parts to the
shape by dividing it and selecting the whole, determined by the denominator,
correct number of parts to the whole. using the arrows.

The student selects the parts of the

Student checks their work and receives
shape, highlighting them in green,
feedback for correcting wrong answers.
determined by the numerator.

The Applet presented here is focused on the understanding of fractions as part of a

whole. How the Applet functions is demonstrated above. The Applet provides
corrective feedback after the student submits their response to be checked and will
prompt them to review either the amount of parts they divided the shape into, or the
amount of pieces they selected to match the fraction given. The Applet does run on
Java, which means the Internet browser used must be compatible, such as Safari
rather than Chrome. The Applet may appear to be a little outdated aesthetically,
however, it appropriately addresses the Mathematics Curriculum Standards for 3 rd
grade regarding fractions. This Applet should be used in conjunction with
supplementary material that addresses fraction equivalence and comparison to
develop an understanding not only in terms of an individual fraction given, but
fractions in comparison to one another.
 Pine Hills Elementary School
Teachers place a “1/2” tile and two “1/4” tiles and
show how the tiles represent the same “length” and
therefore are equal amounts to one another.
Teachers can show and students can explore other
combinations of fraction tiles that match with one
another and visualize this concept on the App. In
this representation students would come to the
conclusion that 5/10 is the same as 2/4, is the same
as 3/6 is the same as 4/8, which are all equivalent
fractions with 1/2.
4
Issue 01: Feb 26, 2018
Braining Camp Fractions
Manipulative
This is a very helpful
manipulative to help students
gain a conceptual understanding
of fraction equivalence. As I
stated above, the first Applet
manipulative instruction would
work well with supplementary
teaching about equivalent
fractions. This App allows for
students to explore the
relationships between fractions of
different wholes in comparison
with one another, providing a
visual representation for students
to associate with the concept.
The Applet functions by allowing
the user to drag appropriate tiles
to the workspace and use the
“pen” options to draw and write
on the board as well. The tiles can
be converted into “slices” of a
circle as well and can be viewed as
decimal values instead of
fractions, which could be used
later in the unit. The Applet has
“clear,” “trash,” and “eraser”
options to reset the workspace or
erase unwanted objects or
drawings. The educational
approach is sound and it is an
appropriate tool, with necessary
guidance from myself to use in the
classroom. The Applet is very
organized and colorful making it
appealing and easy to use.
 I hope you are looking forward to our use of
technology in the classroom this year and
that this newsletter has given you an idea
of how I hope to incorporate the different
resources into our meaningful classroom
instruction. I am hopeful that the
technology will bring our class together,
working as a whole group and when the
technology is being used in small groups or
pairs. I also encourage you to use the Apps
with your scholars at home, if possible to
encourage this manipulative, conceptual,
and visual learning as much as possible. If
you have any questions, comments, or
suggestions, please contact me!

Pine Hills Elementary School Issue 01: Feb 26, 2018

Ms. Kaye

3rd
Grade
Pine Hills Elementary

1234 Teaching Way

Boston, MA 02467